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HOME WORSHIP: 



Selections from the Scriptures, 



MEDITATIONS, PRAYER, AND SONG, 



For Every Day in the Year. 



By REV. JOSEPH P.' THOMPSON, D.D. 



SUBSCRIPTION- EDITION, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. 



r 







/ 



M1H& 



- i 



BOSTON: 
JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY. 

H. A. BROWN & CO., Subscription Managers. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, 

By JAMES R. OSGOOD & CO., 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 




Boston ■• 
Stereotyped and Printed ly Rand, Avery, &° Frye. 



1 



PREFACE. 



NO scene on earth is more sacred, none more tender and beautiful, than a family in the 
act of devotion. Secluded from the outer world, with a domestic life of entire sympa- 
thy and unity in wants, desires, affections, aims, interests, and hopes, they together recognize 
their dependence upon their Father in heaven, confess to him their failings and their needs, 
seek his favor and guidance, and commit themselves in all things to his gracious providence. 
Together they read his Word for instruction in duty ; for consolation in trial ; for the knowl- 
edge of that higher life to which they aspire ; for the perfecting of their love and joy ; for 
the hope of that blessedness, complete and eternal, to which they look forward in their 
Father's house. Together they sing the praise of Him, who, as Creator, Preserver, Redeem- 
er, brings them under daily obligations to his love and grace. Here husband and wife, 
parent and child, master and servant, all are one in acknowledging the same favors, confess- 
ing the same helplessness, supplicating the same mercy. 

In the absence of every motive to ostentation, there is nothing in such a service to foster 
hypocrisy ; and, while its frequency and uniformity guard it from enthusiasm, its simplicity 
and naturalness should preserve it from formalism. 

The greatest poet of Germany, himself the author of the magnificent hymn of angel- 
worship in the prelude to " Faust," though not a man of family, nor much given to acts of 
devotion, has confessed the beauty and power of family worship, both as a poetic and as a 
religious sentiment. 

"When Mendelssohn was in the first dawn of his fame as a composer, he visited Goethe, 
then in the retired evening of life at Weimar. The master of written language was fas- 
cinated with this young interpreter of that more mysterious language which gives the 
spirit utterance through " songs without words ; " and his inner nature responded to that 
religious feeling which so pervaded the music of Mendelssohn. 

In June, 1830, Mendelssohn wrote to his sister, " At the very beginning of my visit to 
Weimar, I spoke of a print, taken from Adrian von Ostade, of a peasant family praying, 
which, nine years ago, made a deep impression on me." This print was in Goethe's own 
collection, where Mendelssohn had seen it on a previous visit. " When I went at an early 
hour to take leave of Goethe, I found him seated beside a large portfolio ; and he said, ' So 
you are actually going away ? I must try to keep all right till you return : but, at all events, 
we won't part now without some pious feelings ; so let us once more look at the praying 
family together.' " 

How touching this homage of a great intellect to simple piety ; of one accustomed in 
solitary grandeur to command invisible powers to the service of his art thus confessing that 



PREFACE. 



a peasant's family upon their knees could teach him the reality, the beauty, the power, 
of religion ! 

Yet a service which is capable of so rich a meaning, which should be so full of beauty 
to children, and of profit to all, is sometimes neglected altogether, sometimes spasmodically 
observed, and too often rendered spiritless and wearisome, or profitless and unedifying, by 
the manner in which it is performed. In very many cases, this is owing, not to indifference 
to religion, nor to the lack of devotional feeling, but to want of thought in providing for 
the service, or want of experience or of confidence in conducting it. It is to encourage 
family worship, by providing facilities for conducting it with regularity and propriety, that 
this book of " Home Worship " has been prepared, in the hope of rendering this delightful 
and useful service more general and uniform. 

Its plan is simple. Each page contains a complete service : and there is one for every 
morning of the year ; an additional one for every Sunday evening throughout the year ; 
with a provision for the extra day in leap-year, and for the occurrence of a fifty-third 
Sunday. By confining the service to a single page, that reasonable brevity is secured 
which is so important for the younger members of the family, and for those who have little 
time at their command. Indeed, brevity promotes edification ; for a few verses of Scripture, 
a short meditation, and a brief but comprehensive prayer, are much more likely to command 
attention at the time, and to be remembered through the day, than a lengthy passage, with 
a homily and a liturgy of corresponding proportions. 

Each service consists of four parts : — 

1. A Selection from the Scriptures. — Due regard has been had to variety in selections 
from the Old and New Testaments ; and these are often brought together so as to shed light 
upon one another. Nearly the whole of the New Testament is contained in the book ; but 
portions of the historical and the prophetical books of the Old Testament, and some of the 
Psalms, have been necessarily omitted. Enough is given, however, fairly to represent the 
Old Testament, both in its spirit and in its order ; and such connected narratives as those 
of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, are continued, without break, from day to day. 
This book is not intended as a substitute for the systematic reading of the whole Bible by 
individual members of the family, or by the family collectively, but to insure the reading 
of a portion of God's word every day by the family together. No selection is repeated. 
In making and arranging the selections, great pains have been taken to give variety without 
sudden transitions, and to promote edification by bringing forth the teachings of the Bible 
in their diversified but harmonious application to all the conditions of human life. 

2. Each Selection is followed by a Meditation. — This is not a dry critical exposition of 
the text ; though it embodies the results of the best criticism of biblical scholars. It is not 
doctrinal in the sense of presenting the theology of any particular school or sect ; yet it aims 
to express the teaching of the passage upon which it is founded. It is never controversial ; 
but it seeks to meet difficulties which lie in the passage itself, or which have been raised in 
the progress of criticism and science. It is not hortatory in form ; yet ij gives a practical 
application to the truth, or suggests topics for personal reflection. In one word, these medi- 
tations are designed to give a spiritual commentary upon the whole Bible. The results of 
years of study in the word of God, and of travel in Bible lands, are here compressed into 
brief sentences, easily read, and easily remembered. With the exception of a few expressions 
from such writers as Alford, Hackett, Robertson, Stier, and Tholuck, — which are always 
indicated by quotation-marks, — the meditations are entirely original, and have been written 



PRE FA CE. 



VH 



expressly for this Avork. It has been the aim of the author to fuse the scriptural selection 
into his own mind, and then to pour it forth as if thinking aloud or talking in his own family, 
in the hope of imparting to this daily Bible-reading a freshness, a simplicity, a tone of living 
reality, that shall make it attractive to the young, and instructive and profitable to all. 

3. A Selection of Hymns and Tunes is arranged at the close of the book ; and, on each 
page, hymns' appropriate to the selection for the day are indicated by their numbers. In 
preparing this part of the work, the author has been much aided by Mr. H. A. Brown. 

4. A Prayer for the Bay. — About one-third of the prayers in the book have been com- 
posed expressly for it. The remainder have been compiled and adapted, with various altera- 
tions, from the standard works of Alford, Goulburn, Harris, Macduff, Oxenden, Stobart, and 
from the Liturgy of the Church of England. These, of course, vary in style, in character, and 
in excellence. It would be impossible to embrace every topic of family devotion in a single 
prayer of forty or fifty lines ; but the range of a week will be found to cover a great variety 
of topics, while the common mercies and wants of every day are uniformly recognized. It 
is a wholesome education in large-hearted philanthropy, that children shall be accustomed 
to remember many objects outside of the family in the daily prayer at the family altar. 

Composed in this spirit, and for these ends, this book is sent forth as a humble visitor 
to the families of the land, with the prayer of the author, that, wherever it finds a welcome, 
it may prove a minister of good, and that it may serve in some measure to prepare all who 
shall use it for the blessed communion of our Father's house on high. 

New York, Sept. 1, 1871. 



DIRECTIONS. 



This book contains a selection for every day of the year, upon a distinct page. Hence, 
at whatever day of the week the reader may begin, the year will come out evenly. Prayers 
for special days are added at the close of the book ; and when one of these is used, if the 
regular selection for that day of the week is omitted, the course will go on as before, or 
the special prayer can be added to the lesson for the day. For some public days, a choice 
of two or three forms is given. There is also in the Appendix a collection of prayers for 
special family occasions ; and the Index will enable the reader to adapt various prayers to 
particular circumstances. In families where there are no children, the sentences in brackets 
may be omitted in reading the prayers. Thus the book, while it provides a service for each 
day, admits a large liberty of selection and adaptation, according to the varying incidents 
and wants of family life. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



The Nativity of Christ (Matt. ii. 9-11) (Cliristmas) . 
Jesus drives out the Monet-Changers (John ii. 15, 16) 
Christ and the Samaritan Woman (John iv. 25, 26) 
Peter and John raising the Lame Man (Acts iii. 5, 6) 
Meeting of Abraham's Servant with Rebekah (Gen. xxiv. 
Parable op the Good Samaritan (Luke x. 33, 34) . 
Meeting of Jacob and Rachel (Gen. xxix. 10-12) 
Christ walking on the Water (Matt. xiv. 30, 31) . 
Joseph sold by his Brethren (Gen. xxxvii. 28) 
Joseph interprets Pharaoh's Dream (Gen. xli. 29, 30) 
Job and the Three Friends (Job i. 20, 21) 
Ruth gleaning in the Field of Boaz (Ruth ii. 8, 9) 
The Prodigal Son's Return (Luke xv. 7) . 
David anointed King of Judah (2 Sam. v. 1-12) 
Elijah fed by Ravens (1 Kings xvii. 5, 6) . 
Daniel interprets the Writing on the Wall (Dan. v. 25- 
Daniel in the Den of Lions (Dan. vi. 16) . 

Esther made Queen (Esther ii. 17) 

The Wise Men presenting Gifts to Jesus (Matt. ii. 10, 11) 
The Flight into Egypt (Matt. ii. 14, 15) . 
Elijah raises the Widow's Son (1 Kings xvii. 21, 22) 
Parable of the Pharisee and Publican (Luke xviii. 11-13) 



7, 1 



PAGE. 

Frontispiece. 
31 
65 
77 
164 
190 
194 
204 
212 
214 
293 
332 
350 
358 
374 
389 
404 
411 
413 
415 
440 
450 



HOME-WORSHIP 



EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Hebrews i. — 1. God, who at sundry times and 
in divers manners spake in time past unto the 
fathers by the prophets, 

2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by 
his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, 
by whom also he made the worlds ; 

3. Who being the brightness of Ms glory, and 
the express image of his person, and upholding all 
things by the word of his power, when he had by 
himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand 
of the Majesty on high ; 

4. Being made so much better than the angels, 
as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excel- 
lent name than they. 

5. For unto which of the angels said he at any 
time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten 
thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and 
he shall be to me a Son ? 

6. And again, when he bringeth in the first-be- 
gotten into the world, he saith, And let all the 
angels of God worship him. 

7. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh 



his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of 
fire. 

8. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, 
God ! is for ever and ever : a sceptre of righteous- 
ness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 

9. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated in- 
iquity : therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed 
thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 

10. And thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid 
the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are 
the works of thine hands. 

11. Tbey shall perish ; but thou remainest: and 
they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 

12. And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, 
and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, 
and thy years shall not fail. 

13. But to which of the angels said he at any 
time, Sit on my right hand until I make thine 
enemies thy footstool ? 

14. Are they not all ministering spirits, sent 
forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of 
salvation ? 



The Bible, which for convenience we read by chapters or 
sections, and which in matter and method admits of many- 
forms of division, is yet, in theme and purpose, always one and 
the same. This unity appears most strikingly in the har- 
mon}' of its teachings concerning God and man and the way 
of salvation. That sixty-six separate books, written by forty 
distinct authors, at intervals during sixteen hundred years, 
composed in every variety of style, and under all possible 
conditions of life, should agree in their teachings upon the 
most momentous problems that have tasked the mind of man, 
is beyond the range of human probability. It was God who 
spoke alike in the Old Testament and in the New. But the 
whole revelation, extending over so wide a range of agencies 



and through so long a period of time, centered in Christ, by 
whom and for whom all things were made. Every token, 
title, work, attribute, office, honor of divinity, is here ascribed 
to Christ. He created the worlds ; he upholds the universe ; 
he sits as God upon the throne of eternity ; he is worshipped 
by the hosts of heaven ; he is the impress of the substance of 
the Godhead, and the brightness of his glory. This ineffable 
Person has spoken to us, has lived among us, has died for us 
that he might purge our sins. What a privilege to have the 
word of Christ ! What a responsibility to neglect it ! As 
we begin the daily reading of his word, let us implore him to 
guide, to teach, to sanctify us by the Spirit of truth, whom 
he has promised to all who shall ask in faith. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 11, 18, 36. 



Almighty God, whom truly to know is ever- 
lasting life ! grant us perfectly to know thy Son 
Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life; 
that, following the steps of thy holy apostles, we 
may steadfastly walk in the way that leadeth to 
eternal life. May thy word which we have now 
read abide in our hearts this day, to warn us from 
sin, to incite us to duty, to quicken our faith, to in- 
spire us with a true devotion unto thee, and a true 
love to our fellow-men, in the name of Him who 
gave himself for us ! When we shall go to thine 
house, may we hear thy word with reverence and 
faith, for the profit of our souls ! and, laying aside 
all worldly thoughts and cares, may we worship thee 
in spirit and in truth ! Do thou, Lord Jesus ! be 
in the assemblies of thy people, and with the gath- 
erings of children for the study of thy word; and 
shed thy peace upon them all. 

Most merciful Father, whose tender care has de- 
fended us from evil in the night, keep us, we pray 
thee, this day from harm, and prosper us in all 



good. May thy favor abide with this family ! 
Oh ! give thine angels charge over us to defend us 
from perils and enemies unseen, and to minister to 
us of thy goodness. [May the children grow up 
in thy love, and all the household in their several 
stations and callings be obedient to thy will !] 
Bless our kindred, friends, and neighbors, with 
the abundant gifts of thy providence and grace. 
Bless our country : may peace and righteousness 
prevail throughout the land! Bless thy Church, 
Lord! with sanctifying grace; and may the 
spirit of glory and of God be upon her ! 

Lord ! we beseech thee to give us, this day, 
patience in troubles, humility in comforts, con- 
stancy in temptations, and victory against all our 
spiritual enemies. Grant us sorrow for our sins, 
thankfulness for thy benefits, fear of thy judg- 
ments, mindfulness of thy presence. Let thy 
mercy cleanse us from all our sins, and let thy 
grace bring forth in us the fruits of everlasting 
life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Luke xxiv. — 13. And, behold, two of theui went 
that same day to a village called Emmaus, which 
was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 

14. And they talked together of all these things 
which had happened. 

15. And it came to pass, that while they com- 
muned together, and reasoned, Jesus himself drew 
near, and went with them. 

16. But their eyes were holden that they should 
not know him. 

17. And he said unto them, What manner of 
communications are these that ye have one to 
another, as ye walk, and are sad? 

18. And the one of them, whose name was Cle- 
opas, answering, said unto him, Art thou only a 
stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the 
things which are come to pass there in these 
days? 

19. And he said unto them, What things ? And 
they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, 
which was a prophet mighty in deed and word be- 
fore God and all the people ; 

20. And how the chief priests and our rulers 
delivered him to be condemned to death, and have 
crucified him. 

21. But we trusted that it had been he which 
should have redeemed Israel; and, besides all this, 
to-day is the third day since these things were 
done. 

22. Yea, and certain women also of our company 



The news of the resurrection had spread eagerly among the 
disciples ; but, as yet, Jesus had been seen only by the women 
and by Peter. Toward evening, as two of the disciples were 
on the way to a village a few miles from the city, Jesus over- 
took them, and, accosting them as a stranger, drew them into 
conversation concerning himself. His purpose was not only 
to manifest himself anew as the risen Lord, but to give them the 
key to his sufferings and death as the true redemption of Israel. 
It was important to the whole body of believers that the 
death and the resurrection of Jesus should be interpreted by 
the prophecies concerning Christ, so as finally to correct the 



made us astonished, which were early at the sep- 
ulchre. 

23. And, when they found not his body, they 
came, saying that they had also seen a vision of 
angels, which said that he was alive. 

21. And certain of them which were with us 
went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the 
women had said ; but him they saw not. 

25. Then he said unto them, fools, and slow of 
heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken ! 

26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these 
things, and to enter into his glory? 

27. And beginning at Moses, and all the pro- 
phets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures 
the things concerning himself. 

28. Arid they drew nigh unto the village whither 
they went; and he made as though he would have 
gone farther. 

29. But they constrained him, saying, Abide 
with us ; for it is toward evening, and the day is 
far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 

30. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with 
them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and 
gave to them. 

31. And their eyes were opened, and they knew 
him; and he vanished out of their sight. 

32. And they said one to another, Did not our 
heart burn within us while he talked with us by 
the way, and while he opened to us the scrip- 
tures ? 



delusion of a temporal Messiah. These events, which, taken 
alone, seemed so strange and portentous, were shown to be the 
conclusion toward which the purpose of God in man's redemp- 
tion had been shaping itself in the prophetic ages. Thus did 
our Lord honor the Holy Scriptures; and, by kindling in the 
hearts of the disciples an enthusiasm for the word of God, 
he prepared them to accept in the most natural manner the 
crowning miracle of the resurrection. It is in the Word that 
we must still seek Christ; and, as with faith and love we read, 
a sudden fervor of devotion may attest his presence, and with 
our believing eyes we shall see the Lord. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



|Nos. 33, 35, 1 99. 



God our heavenly Father! we draw near to thee 
in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour, and present 
unto thee our evening sacrifice of prayer and praise. 

We bless thee for the rest of thine own day. 
We thank thee for the sound of the gospel which 
we have heard; for the comfort and instruction 
provided for us in the house of prayer. May we 
be built up and strengthened in our most holy 
faith ! Have pity, O Lord ! upon those who have 
spent this sabbath in sorrow or suffering or sin ; 
upon those who have had no opportunity of hear- 
ing the gospel of thy grace, and have been taught 
nothing of a Saviour. Teach us the more to prize 
our privileges and mercies ; and, in the spirit of 
our Master, may we seek and save the lost ! 



Water with the dew of thy grace the seed so 
widely scattered by thy servants this day. Cause 
it to take deep and abiding root. Confirm the 
wavering ; comfort the sorrowful ; bind up the 
broken-hearted; give unto them the oil of joy for 
mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of 
heaviness. 

And now, Lord ! may we lie down upon our 
beds at peace with thee ! May the blessing of the 
Saviour tarry with us, and his peace be upon us ! 
May thy statutes be our songs in the house of our 
pilgrimage ! May sabbaths on earth, improved 
and enjoyed, fit us for a happier rest above ! Grant 
this for the sake of Jesus Christ our risen Lord 
and Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



MONDAY. 



Genesis i. — 26. And God said, Let us make 
man in our image, after our likeness ; and let 
them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and 
over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and 
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing 
that creepeth upon the earth. 

27. So God created man in his own image, in the 
image of God created he him ; male and female 
created he them. 

28. And God blessed them, and God said unto 
them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish 
the earth, and subdue it ; and have dominion over 
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, 
and over every living thing that moveth upon the 
earth. 

29. And God said, Behold, I have given you 
every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of 
all the earth, and every tree in the which is the 
fruit of a tree yielding seed : to you it shall be for 
meat. 

30. And to every beast of the earth, and 
to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that 
creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, 
/ have given every green herb for meat ; and it 
was so. 

31. And God saw every thing that he had made, 



and, behold, it was very good ; and the evening and 
the morning were the sixth day. 

Genesis ii. — 18. And the Lord God said, It is 
not good that the man should be alone : I will 
make him an help meet for him. 

19. And out of the ground the Lord God formed 
every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air, 
and brought them, unto Adam to see what he would 
call them ; and whatsoever Adam called every liv- 
ing creature, that was the name thereof. 

20. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to 
the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field ; 
but for Adam there was not found an help meet 
for him. 

21. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to 
fall upon Adam, and he slept ; and he took one of 
his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof: 

22. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken 
from man, made he a woman, and brought her 
unto the man. 

23. And Adam said, This is now bone of my 
bones, and flesh of my flesh : she shall be called 
Woman, because she was taken out of man. 

24. Therefore shall a man leave his father and 
his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and 
they shall be one flesh. 



The family was constituted in the beginning by the direct I 
act of God, and with his special blessing. The sacred union '• 
of a single pair is the source of all domestic happiness ; and 
the family so constituted is the basis of a true social state, I 
and the germ from which the nation itself must grow. Our j 
Lord quoted this original form of consecration to show the ; 
sacredness and permanence of the marriage-covenant, and 
added, " What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not ', 
man put asunder." How tender and beautiful this care | 
of the Creator for the welfare of the human race, through 
a provision that gives to natural affections the sacredness of 
a divine ordinance and the promise of divine benediction ! 
They who would degrade marriage, degrade man, and dis- 
honor God. 

In creating man in his own image, God endowed him with 



the spiritual powers of reason, will, and moral judgment, 
and set him in a place of authority. This dignity put upon 
man by the Creator is a trust as well as an honor. Man is 
not his own master in any such sense that he is at liberty to 
use the endowments of his nature without respect unto his 
Creator. By the very dignity of his origin, he is bound to 
lead a spiritual and holy life, to serve himself from the world 
without subjecting himself to the world. 

The fact that man is made in the image of God opens 
before him the highest possibilities of blessedness in this life, 
and of glory in the life to come. As the intelligent offspring 
of God, he can commune with him as with a father; and, by 
cherishing here the communion of faith and love through 
Christ, he may look forward to the visible presence of God as 
his complete and everlasting joy. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[STos. 53, 63, 124. 



Our Father in heaven, the God of all the fami- 
lies of the earth, we give thee thanks for the mani- 
fold blessings which we as a family have received 
at thy hand; for our birth and education under 
Christian influences, for the comforts of our home, 
for the tender relationships of life. May the mer- 
cies of thy covenant abide with this household, 
and every member of it be joined to the family of 
thy people! Be thou our Father and our God; 
and may we know the love and joy of thy dear 
children ! TVe bless thee that through another 
night thou hast kept our habitation in peace, and 
that we enter upon a new day surrounded with 
the tokens of thy providence and grace. Create 
within us a clean heart, God ! and renew a right 



| spirit within us, that in our lives this day we may 
■ show 7 forth thine image, and glorify thee in our 
.bodies and spirits which are thine. Forgive us 
the sins of our past lives ; and help us, Lord ! to 
lead the new life in Christ Jesus. 

Be gracious to all dear to us ; bless them in their 
hearts and their homes; remember the family of 
thy people; have mercy upon such as have no 
home, upon the widow and the fatherless, the for- 
saken and outcast; and hasten the time when all 
mankind shall dwell together as one family in 
Christ their head. Finally, we beseech thee to 
bring us unto our Father's house, to dwell with 
thee for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
' Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Mark X. — 17. And, when he was gone forth in- 
to the way, there came one running, and kneeled 
to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I 
do that I may inherit eternal life ? 

18. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou 
me good ? There is none good but one ; that is, God. 

19. Thou knowest the commandments: Do not 
commit adultery ; Do not kill ; Do not steal ; Do 
not hear false witness ; Defraud not ; Honor thy 
father and mother. 

20. And he answered and said unto him, Mas- 
ter, all these have I observed from my youth. 

21. Then Jesus, beholding him, loved him, and 
said unto him, One thing thou lackest : Go thy 
way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the 
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven ; and 
come, take up the cross, and follow me. 

22. And he was sad at that saying, and went 
away grieved ; for he had great possessions. 

23. And Jesus looked round about, and saith 
unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that 
have riches enter into the kingdom of God ! 

24. And the disciples were astonished at his 
words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto 
them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust 
in riches to enter into the kingdom of God ! 

25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye 
of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the 
kingdom of God. 



26. And they were astonished out of measure, 
saying among themselves, Who, then, can be saved? 

27. And Jesus, looking upon them, saith, With 
men it is impossible, but not with God ; for with 
God all things are possible. 

28. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we 
have left all, and have followed thee. 

29. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say 
unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or 
brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, 
or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 

30. But he shall receive an hundred-fold now in 
this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and 
mothers, and children, and lands, with persecu- 
tions; and in the world to come, eternal life. 

31. But many that are first shall be last, and 
the last first. 

32. And they were in the way, going up to 
Jerusalem ; and Jesus went before them : and they 
were amazed ; and, as they followed, they were 
afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began 
to tell them what things should happen unto him ; 

33. Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem ; and 
the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief 
priests, and unto the scribes ; and they shall condemn 
him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles ; 

34. And they shall mock him, and shall scourge 
him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him ; 
and the third day he shall rise again. 



" This young man, though self-righteous, was no hypocrite, 
no Pharisee : he spoke earnestly, and really strove to keep, as he 
really believed he had kept, all God's commandments. Jesus, 
looking upon him, loved him : in spite of his errors, there was 
a nobleness and openness about him, contrasted with the 
hypocritical bearing of the Pharisees and scribes. Our Lord 
takes him on his own showing. Supposing the statement 
true, the topstone has yet to be laid on the fabric. One 
thing thou lackest." The test which Christ applied probed 
his heart, and showed, that, with all his outward decorum, 
he was wanting in the spirit of consecration to God, and de- 
votion to man. Lord Nugent states that the side-gate for 
foot-passengers in the city-wall is sometimes called " the 



Appropriate Hymns.J 

O God, whose tender mercies are over all thy 
' it is of thy mercy that another day is added 



needle's eye : " a camel stripped of its load might be forced 
through this, though with much difficulty. Or the proverb 
may be taken for any thing impossible. In rejecting the 
official compliment paid him by this amiable youth, Jesus 
pointed to the fact that his own goodness sprang from his vital 
union with God. From God must come that renovating grace 
which purifies the soul from all selfishness ; but we must re- 
spond to that grace with the spirit of entire consecration. He 
who makes this requirement of his disciples has set them the 
example of yielding himself a sacrifice for the good of men ; 
but such a sacrifice brings its own compensation in spiritual 
joys that exceed a hundred-fold the enriching power of all 
temporal good. 



|Nos. 40, 65, 89. 



work: 

to our lives ; and we would consecrate ourselves unto 
thee, body, soul, and spirit, beseeching thee to keep 
us this day and always, and to preserve us blame- 
less unto the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. For him we bless thee. In his name we 
seek the forgiveness of our sins, and the promise of 
thy Spirit. Dwell thou in our hearts, and con- 
secrate this home with thy gracious presence. 
[May the children keep thy commandments in the 
love of Jesus, their Saviour !] 

We thank thee for our home, our friends, our 
comforts, and all the manifold blessings of this 



Prayer. 

life; and, above all, for the hope of the life ever- 
lasting. Grant us grace to show our thankfulness 
for these thy mercies by seeking the good of our fel- 
low-men. Grant us patience under afflictions, and 
minds always contented with our present condition. 
Send down thy blessings, temporal and spiritual, 
upon all our relations, friends, and neighbors. Be 
merciful to all who are in any trouble ; and incline 
our hearts, Lord ! to follow Him who went about 
doing good. Be gracious unto thy Church, and 
grant that every member of it may be kept from 
the evil that is in the world; and let the light of 
thy gospel shine upon all nations, for the sake of 
Him who came to seek and save the lost. Amen. 



WEDNESDAY. 



John j. — 29. The next day, John seeth Jesus 
coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of 
God, which taketh away the sin of the world ! 

30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh 
a man which is preferred before me ; for he was 
before me. 

31. And I knew him not- but that he should be [ 
made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come bap- j 
tizing with water. 

32. And John bare record, saying, I saw the 
Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it . 
abode upon him. 

33. And I knew him not ; but he that sent me 
to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon 
whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and re- 
maining on him, the same is he which baptizeth 
with the Holy Ghost. 

3d. And I saw and bare record that this is the 
Son of God. 

35. Again, the nest day after, John stood, and 
two of his disciples; 



36. And, looking upon Jesus as he walked, he 
saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 

37. And the two disciples heard him speak, and 
they followed Jesus. 

38. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, 
and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said 
unto him, Babbi (which is to say, being interpreted, 
Master), where dwellest thou? 

39. He saith unto them, Come and see. They 
came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him 
that day ; for it was about the tenth hour. 

40. One of the two which heard John speak, 
and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's 
brother. 

41. He first fmdeth his own brother Simon, and 
saith unto him, We have found the Messias ; which 
is, being interpreted, the Christ. 

42. And he brought him to Jesus. And, when 
Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon, the 
son of Jona : thou shalt be called Cephas ; which 
is, by interpretation, a stone. 



The first open proclamation of Jesus was as a Redeemer, 
and a Redeemer through suffering and sacrifice. John did 
not announce him simply as a teacher, a prophet; nor even as 
the Christ, the King of the Jews. Isaiah had predicted that 
the Messiah should suffer as a lamb. The lamb was offered 
daily in the temple as the symbol of propitiation ; and, in 
calling Jesus " zhe Lamb of God," John designated him as 
God's appointed sacrifice for the sin of the world. In that 
character he was to be received ; in that character his first 
disciples followed him. 

John's testimony was called forth by the remarkable reve- 
lation made at the baptism of Jesus, when the heavens were 
opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending 
like a dove, and lighting upon him ; and, lo ! a voice from 
heaven, saying, " This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well 
pleased." Though John had known Jesus from infancy as 
his kinsman, up to this time he had received no token of his 



divinity; but, by this announcement of the Holy Ghost, the 
spiritual and redemptive work of Christ were unveiled before 
him. 

The dove was the symbol of peace ; and the coming of the 
Holy Ghost in the form of a dove to inaugurate the mission 
of Jesus announced that mission to be one of peace and 
reconciliation. The lamb also represented the meekness and 
gentleness of Christ in his personal character. Yet a life so 
gentle must be laden with sorrows ; a mission so peaceful 
must terminate in sacrifice, because of the sin of the world. 

How quiet and simple were the beginnings of the Church of 
Christ ! Upon the testimony of John, two or three followed 
Jesus to his lodging ; and, after a day spent in listening to 
his teachings, they attached themselves to his person, and urged 
others to join them. So should his teachings lead us to a per- 
sonal profession of diseipleship. To be a Christian is simply 
I to follow Christ as our Saviour, and to testify for his name. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Xos. 25, 62, 74. 



Almighty God, our heavenly Bather, from whom 
cometh every good and every perfect gift, we ac- 
knowledge thy goodness in our creation and preser- 
vation, and in the manifold provisions of thy love 
for the life that now is. Every day we live upon 
thy bounty; every night we rest under the shad- 
ow of thy wing. What shall we render unto the 
Lord for all his benefits ? We would call upon our 
souls, and all that is within us, to bless and mag- 
nify thy great and holy name. Above all these 
thy mercies, we acknowledge thy grace in that 
thou didst send thy Son to be the Saviour of the 
world. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable 
gift. 

Lord ! for Christ's sake have mercy upon us. and 
take away our sins ; and grant that we may prove 
our gratitude by a loving obedience to thy will. For 
the rest and refreshment of the past night, for the 



: health and comfort with which we greet another 
day, for the endearments and delights of home, for 

I means of occupation and support, of improvement 

I and usefulness, for all the favors of thy hand, so 
multiplied unto us, we render thee most hearty 

; thanks. Breely as we receive may we also give. 

j May thy mercy abound toward all classes and con- 
ditions of men, and thy salvation fill the whole 
earth ! 

Bless this household in each and every mem- 

! ber. [Especially do we commend unto thee the 
children, praying that in the morning of life they 

\ may learn to trust in Jesus as their Saviour, and to 
follow him as ready and loving disciples.] Oh, may 
the dove of heavenly peace ever abide in our dwell- 
ing ! Bless all dear to us ; and bring us all at 
length unto our Father's house, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Psalm cxxxix. — 1. OLord! thou hast searched 
me, and known me. 

2. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up- 
rising ; thou understandest my thought afar off. 

3. Thou compassest my path and my lying-down, 
and art acquainted with all my ways. 

4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, 
Lord ! thou knowest it altogether. 

5. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and 
laid thine hand upon me. 

6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me : it 
is high ; I cannot attain unto it. 

7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit ? or whither 
shall I flee from thy presence ? 

8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; 
if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 

9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell 
in the uttermost parts of the sea; 

10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy 
right hand shall hold me. 

11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, 
even the night shall be light about me. 



God's omniscience searching our inmost thoughts, knowing 
our hidden motives, scanning our most secret ways, should 
keep us in awe of sin. God's omnipresence, surrounding us 
continually, making it impossible for us, by darkness or by 
distance, to hide from his eye or escape from his hand, should 
at once dissuade us from evil, and encourage us to commit 
ourselves to his guidance, and trust in his love. That love 
surrounds us every moment with its precious thoughts, — 
thoughts originating life, shaping its wondrous organism, 
providing for our sustentation, our culture, our enjoyment, fill- 
ing the world with forms of beauty, and resources of happiness ; 
thoughts as inexhaustible as the desert of its sands, the sky of 
its stars, each separate grain a golden thought of love, each 
point of light a world, a constellation of glory. 

How many thoughts does the mother bestow upon her babe 
in a single day ! How many wants it cannot express must be 



12. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee ; but 
the night shineth as the day : the darkness and the 
light are both alike to thee. 

14. I will praise thee ; for I am fearfully and 
wonderfully made : marvellous are thy works; and 
that my soul knoweth right well. 

15. My substance was not hid from thee when 
I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the 
lowest parts of the earth. 

16. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being 
imperfect; and in thy book all my members were 
written, which in continuance were fashioned when 
as yet there ivas none of them. 

17. How precious also are thy thoughts unto 
me, God ! how great is the sum of them ! 

18. If I should count them, they are more in 
number than the sand: when I awake, I am still 
with thee. 

23. Search me, God ! and know my heart ; 
try me, and know my thoughts ; 

24. And see if there be any wicked way in me ; 
and lead me in the way everlasting. 



anticipated by her love ! How many dangers the babe is all 
unconscious of must be provided against by her watchfulness ! 
how many diversions made ready for its waking hours ! how 
much care and planning for its quiet and comfort in sleep ! 
In the consciousness of the mother's presence, and the assur- 
ance of the mother's care, the infant grows without thought 
or care for itself; falls asleep in its mother's arms ; and, when 
it wakes, is still with her : its eyes open upon the same smile 
of love ; it is again conscious of the same thoughtful superin- 
tendence. So should we, committing our helplessness to our 
heavenly Father, lie down within his encircling love; wake 
to recognize him in the first thoughts of the morning, and 
to walk with him all the day long. Then will the thought 
of his presence be our perpetual peace; and heaven shall 
grow familiar to our hope as the place where we shall see 
God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Our waiting eyes are unto thee, Lord ! 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 21, 44, 68. 



Each 

morning brings us to thee with new obligations of 
gratitude for thy loving-kindness in the night-sea- 
son, and of dependence for the day upon which we 
enter. We are not worthy of the least of all thy 
mercies ; for we have sinned, Lord ! — we have 
sinned against thy law, against thy love, against 
thy very grace in Christ our Saviour. Yet do we 
hope in thy mercy still, and cast ourselves upon 
thee alone. 

O thou Spirit of truth and holiness ! we pray 
thee to keep us this day from sin. May we be 
mindful of thy presence, as a holy guardianship 
from wrong ! and may we so delight in God, that 
we shall live above the power of temptation and 
evil, and, while diligent in business, be fervent in 
spirit, serving the Lord ! Help us to be true and 
faithful, just and kind, gentle and loving, pure and 
holy. Teach us to behold thy glory in thy works, 



to discern thy goodness in thy providence, and to 
rejoice ever in thy word and thy grace. 

Great Shepherd of Israel, take, we beseech thee, 
each member of this family, and all that are dear 
to us, under thy care. Be thou the guide of the 
young, the staff of the aged, the strength of the bur- 
dened, the help of the weak and the faint, the 
joy and deliverer of every one that looketh unto 
thee. 

Bless thy Church in this community with thy 
reviving grace ; visit our land with thy salvation ; 
and fill the whole earth with thy praise. Hasten 
the time when all shall know thee, from the least 
unto the greatest. 

Finally, we pray thee, bring us to thyself in joy 
and glory everlasting ; bring us to the realization 
of thy presence, that we may be satisfied with thy 
likeness. And to the Father, the Son, and the 
Holy Spirit, be glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FRIDAY. 



Luke xvii. — 1. Then said lie unto the disciples, 
It is impossible but that offences will come ; but 
woe unto him through whom they come ! 

2. It were better for him that a millstone were 
hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, 
than that he should offend one of these little 
ones. 

3. Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother tres- 
pass against thee, rebuke him ; and, if he repent, 
forgive him. 

4. And if he trespass against thee seven times 
in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to 
thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 

5. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase 
our faith. 

6. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain 
of mustard-seed, ye might say unto this sycamine- 



The sycamine, or sycamore, of Palestine — quite another 
tree from the tall, smooth sycamore of the American river- 
bottoms — is remarkable for the thickness and width of its 
roots, and the strength with which these are fastened in the 
soil. When full grown, its trunk is large and firm, and its 
arms spread out widely only a few feet from the ground. It 
is a fit emblem of stability. To uproot this most fixed and 
solid of trees, and plant it upon the most unstable of founda- 
tions, would be a miracle indeed. But it is almost as great a 



tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou 
planted in the sea ; and it should obey you. 

7. But which of you having a servant plough- 
ing, or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by 
when he is come from the field, Go and sit down 
to meat ? 

8. And will not rather say unto him, Make ready 
wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve 
me, till I have eaten and drunken ; and afterward 
thou shalt eat and drink ? 

9. Doth he thank that servant because he did 
the things that were commanded him ? I trow 
not. 

10. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all 
those things which are commanded you, say, We 
are unprofitable servants : we have done that which 
was our duty to do. 



miracle in human nature when the proud, envious, selfish, pas- 
sionate heart is brought to exercise the grace of forgiveness, 
though offences are repeated daily sevenfold. Yet even such 
a subjection of self-will, such a wondrous exercise of patience 
and forbearance, is nothing more than the duty of one who 
professes to be a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus. We 
can set up no claim of merit or reward, where, as servants, we 
are obligated to every duty by the just requirement of our 
Master. Well may we also pray, " Lord, increase our faith." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 30, 57, 153. 



Blessed Saviour, who hast said unto us, Ask, and 
ye shall receive ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, 
and it shall be opened unto you : we cast ourselves 
upon thy promises, and beseech thee give us faith 
to serve thee and honor thee in our lives. May we 
do all our duty in thy strength and through thy 
love ! 

God our Father ! look down upon us this 
morning in mercy. Our cup runs over with bless- 
ings. We pray thee to fill our hearts with thank- 
fulness, and our mouths with praise. 

We know not how to praise thee or to pray to 
thee as we ought. Oh ! teach us to come before 
thee aright. Prepare our hearts ; draw us to thy- 
self. Enable us in prayer to hold communion with 
thee as our Father, and with thy Son Jesus Christ. 

O thou holy Lamb of God ! take away our sins. 
thou holy, life-giving Spirit ! come thou into all 
our hearts. Warm and purify and comfort us ; 
and never leave or forsake us until we meet around 
the throne of God and the Lamb in heaven, and 
are forever beyond the reach of Satan, sin, and 
death. 

We pray thee, Lord ! to bless us during the 
day now begun. As a family may we be under thy 
care, and seek, own, and serve thee in all the du- 
ties of the day. Teach us to live as true disciples 
of Christ, desiring to do his will, and to follow his 



example in all things. May thy word be our guide 
and counsellor ! May we be in thy fear all the day 
long ! May we have grace to deny ourselves, and 
to take up our cross, and follow our blessed Mas- 
ter ! Suffer us not by any carelessness of conduct 
to bring a reproach upon our Christian profession. 
Give us grace to bridle our tongues, to fight against 
the risings of sinful passion, to keep careful watch 
over our thoughts and affections. May we be will- 
ing to serve others in thy name! May we have 
the spirit of forbearance and charity, and be ready 
to forgive any who offend against us ! Oh ! keep 
us unspotted from the world. May we go about 
doing good, and be useful to all around us ! May 
we be strong in faith, and in the power of the Re- 
deemer's might ! 

We beseech thee, God ! to look favorably 
upon our country. Guide those in authority, and 
give them true wisdom. Make us to be a happy 
people, fearing and loving thee. Give unto thy 
dear Son the heathen for his inheritance, and the 
uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. 
Gather in thine ancient people Israel. Grant that 
the veil may at length be taken away, and the true 
light shine into every heart. Hear these supplica- 
tions, most merciful Father, and graciously answer 
us, for the sake of our only Saviour Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 



SATURDAY. 



2 Thessalonians ii. — 1. Now we beseech you, 
brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
and bij our gathering together unto him, 

2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be 
troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by 
letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at 
hand. 

3. Let no man deceive you by any means : for 
that day shall not come except there come a fall- 
ing-away first, and that Man of Sin be revealed, 
the son of perdition ; 

4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all 
that is called God, or that is worshipped ; so that 
he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing 
himself that he is God. 

5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with 
you, I told you these things ? 

6. And now ye know what withholdeth that he 
might be revealed in his time. 

7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work : 
only he who now letteth will let until he be taken 
out of the way. 

8. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, 
whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of 
his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness 
of his coining : 

9. Even him whose coming is after the working 



of Satan, with all power and signs and lying won- 
ders, 



10. 



And with all deceivableness of unrighteous- 



ness in them that perish ; because they received 
not the love of the truth, that they might be 
saved. 

11. And for this cause God shall send them 
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie : 

12. That they all might be damned who be- 
lieved not the truth, but had pleasure in unright- 
eousness. 

13. But we are bound to give thanks always to 
God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because 
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salva- 
tion through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief 
of the truth : 

14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to 
the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

15. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the 
traditions which ye have been taught, whether by 
word or our epistle. 

16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and 
God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and 
hath given us everlasting consolation and good 
hope, through grace, 

17. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in 
every good word and work. 



The notion of the speedy coming of Christ to judgment 
prevailed in the first century, with the same disorderly ex- 
citement which has marked its spasmodic recurrence in suc- 
ceeding ages. Such an agitation had disturbed the Church at 
Thessalonica; but the apostle quieted it by announcing that 
the second advent should be preceded by a great apostasy, 
through the influence of which there should appear a con- 
centrated, presumptuous, and destructive form of Antichrist. 
The leaven of that apostasy had even then begun to work ; but 
its development was hindered (or "let," in the old sense of the 
word ) by some person or event then in the way. The early 
fathers applied this to the paganism of the Roman Empire, 
which had begun to use the civil arm for persecution. Ever 
since the Papacy began its aggrandizement as a temporal 



power, many interpreters have identified that with " the Man 
of Sin." 'Later, some have looked upon the atheism of France 
as the apostasy, and Napoleon as "the son of perdition." It 
is clear that no person, system, nor event, has yet filled out the 
measure of this prophetic outline. Each age has its apostasy, 
its Antichrist, and each in turn is overwhelmed by some new 
manifestation of the power of God in his providenee or 
Iris glory in his Church : so will it be until the final battle 
of Gog and MagO£ shall usher in the day of judgment. 

Prophecy is self-repeating ; and thus the Church is kept 
always in a state of prayerful expectation. But whatever 
foes may arise, whatever conflicts come, they who stand fast 
in the word of Christ shall have everlasting consolation at 
the cpmin<r of the Lord. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 12, 39, 146. 



Blessed be God for the hope and the consolation 
of the gospel; for that faith which even now is 
our victory over the world, and which shall make 
us more than conquerors over death. May thy 
grace enable us to live as faithful and wise stew- 
ards who watch for the coming of their Lord ! We 
bring to thee this morning the powers which thou 
hast given us, the lives which thou hast spared, 
and, with thanksgiving for thy mercies, consecrate 
all that we are and all that we possess unto 
thy service and gloiy. 

Heavenly Father, who hast commanded us that 
we should not be slothful in business, but fervent 
in spirit, serving thee, help us ever to remember 
that our work is thy appointment, and to do it 



heartily as unto thee. Make us to live with loins 
girded and lamps burning, looking for our Lord 
and Saviour. 

Lord! to thy merciful providence we commend 
the wants of all mankind. Cause the light of thy 
glorious gospel to shine throughout the world. 
Bless thy whole Church, heal its divisions, and 
restore unto it the blessings of truth, unity, and 
peace. Bless our country : defend and preserve 
all in authority. Bless our schools of learning : fill 
them with thy light. Hear the cry of the poor and 
needy; be gracious to all our relations and friends; 
and grant, Lord! that we may all at length find 
rest and peace with thy saints in thine eternal 
kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



I Corinthians i. — 17. Christ sent me, not to 
baptize, but to preach the gospel ; not with wis- 
dom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be 
made of none effect. 

18. For the preaching of the cross is, to them 
that perish, foolishness ; but, unto us which are 
saved, it is the power of God. 

19. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom 
of the wise, and will bring to nothing the under- 
standing of the prudent. 

20. Where is the wise ? where is the scribe ? 
where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God 
made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

21. For, after that in the^ wisdom of God the 
world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by 
the foolishness of preaching to save them that 
believe. 

22. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks 
seek after wisdom: 

23. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews 
a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 

21. But unto them which are called, both Jews 



and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wis- 
dom of God. 

25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than 
men ; and the weakness of God is stronger than 
men. 

26. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that 
not many wise men after the flesh, not many 
mighty, not many noble, are called: 

27. But God hath chosen the foolish things of 
the world to confound the wise; and God hath 
chosen the weak things of the world to confound 
the things which are mighty; 

28. And base things of the world, and things 
which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and 
things which are not, to bring to nought things 
that are; 

29. That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of 
God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, 
and sanctification, and redemption ; 

31. That, according as it is written, He that glo- 
rieth, let him glory in the Lord. 



Ritualism and Rationalism stood opposed to the gospel in 
the time of Paul just as they do to-day. These tendencies 
represent the two poles of religion, between which the human 
mind vibrates until it is established upon the central truth 
of revelation. The Jews made the virtue of religion consist 
in forms ; and therefore they demanded new signs for a new 
faith. The Greeks worshipped intellect, and would measure 
every faith by their philosophy. They mocked at the idea of 
salvation through a despised Jew who had been crucified. 
Yet, with all their speculation, they had failed to attain to a true 
knowledge of God: and Rationalism never can meet the first 
great necessity of the soul, which is redemption ; nor effect 
that transformation unto the higher life, which is regenera- 



; tion. But, in God's method of recovering our lost race, there 
is a wisdom that puts to shame the wisdom of this world ; 

• and the cross of Christ speaks to the heart with a power 

' which no ritual can gain through the imagination and the 
senses. Redemption from the curse of sin, sanctification 
through the spirit of holiness, righteousness through his 
perfect obedience and his completed sacrifice, and wisdom 
through his revelation of the Father, — all this is Christ to 
the humblest believer. The gospel comes to men through 
their needs; and hence the self-righteous and the proud are 
more ready to oppose than to receive it. But it holds its way 
with undeviating power through that uplifted cross which 

I shall yet draw all men unto it. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Praj^er. 



[Nos. 11,93,99. 



Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who hast 
graciously opened for us sinners a way by which we 
may approach thee with acceptance ! we thank thee 
for all thine unnumbered gifts and mercies ; but, 
above all, for thine unspeakable love in the redemp- 
tion of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Lord ! give us grace to live as thy people ; as those 
who know that they have been redeemed with the 
precious blood of the Lamb of God ; as those who 
have been quickened from the death of sin, and 
raised to a life of righteousness. Help us to walk 
before thee in newness of life, and to seek those 
things which are above, where Christ sitteth at 
thy right hand. Deliver us from over-carefulness 
about earthly things. Strengthen our confidence 
in thy providence and thy grace; and dispose 
us to seek first thy kingdom and righteousness, 
trusting that all things needful for this life shall be 
added unto us. 

Let thy sabbath be precious to our souls, as the 
day on which Jesus rose from the dead and led 
captivity captive. May we ever value its sacred 



ordinances, and find them profitable for our re- 
freshment and edification ! 

We pray thee to grant an especial blessing this 
day to all thy ministers. Fill their understandings 
with light and heavenly wisdom. Fill their hearts 
with zeal and love, and give thy word power and 
unction from their lips. Remember the Sunday 
school. O blessed Jesus ! feed thy lambs with 
thine own truth and grace. Visit this house, 
we beseech thee, with thy salvation. Thankful 
for the mercies of the week, we commit ourselves, 
Lord ! and all that concerns us, to thy gracious 
care. Direct our steps this day, and keep us stead- 
fast in thy faith and fear. Make all the dealings 
of thy providence to work for our good. If thou 
shouldst appoint trials and afflictions for us, make 
us patient and submissive to thy holy will. If we 
enjoy comfort and prosperity, make us humble and 
thankful. Lead us safely through this world of 
sin, and bring us at last to thy heavenly kingdom, 
for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Re- 
deemer. Amen. 



10 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Hebrews xi. — 1. Now, faith is the substance of 
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ; 

2. For by it the elders obtained a good report. 

3. Through faith we understand that the worlds 
were framed by the word of God, so that things 
which are seen were not made of things which do 
appear. 

4. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excel- 
lent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained wit- 
ness that he was righteous, God testifying of his 
gifts ; and by it, he, being dead, yet speaketh. 

5. By faith Enoch was translated, that he should 
not see death ; and was not found, because God had 
translated him : for before his translation he had 
this testimony, that he pleased God. 

6. But without faith it is impossible to please 
him; for he that cometh to God must believe that 
he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that dili- 
gently seek him. 

7. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things 
not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark 
to the saving of his house ; by the which he con- 
demned the world, and became heir of the right- 
eousness which is by faith. 

8. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go 
out into a place which he should after receive for 



an inheritance, obeyed ; and he went out, not know- 
ing whither he went. 

9. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise 
as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles 
with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the 
same promise ; 

10. For he looked for a city which hath founda- 
tions, whose builder and maker is God. 

12. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him 
as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in 
multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea- 
shore innumerable. 

13. These all died in faith, not having received 
the promises, but having seen them afar off, and 
were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and 
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on 
the earth. 

14. For they that say such things declare plainly 
that they seek a country. 

15. And truly, if they had been mindful of that 
country from whence they came out, they might 
have had opportunity to have returned. 

16. But now they desire a better country ; that 
is, an heavenly : wherefore God is not ashamed to 
be called their God ; for he hath prepared for them 
a city. 



To the ancients the city was the embodiment of the ideas 
of home, of society, of enjoyment, of order, of security, of 
religion. In contrast with a roving life in tents, it was a 
settled abode ; in contrast with the desert, the wilderness, the 
un travelled world, in which one felt himself a stranger, ex- 
posed to the wild powers of Nature, or to savage beasts and 
men, the city, with its walls, gates, and ramparts, was a place 
of safety and" peace. The Divinity watched over it, and all good 
was centred in it. " Country," said Socrates, " is more than 
father and mother." And central in this idea of country, as 
its very sanctuary, was the city. To the Jew, Canaan was 
the ideal country ; but Jerusalem was the joy of the whole 
earth. But all this was only a type of the city that God has 



prepared for us : a city of abounding felicity and satisfaction ; 
of all beautiful things and rational delights ; of the most 
select and congenial society ; of perfect immunity from evil, 
where there shall be no hunger, nor thirst, nor pain, nor 
sorrow, nor death : a city into which there shall enter nothing 
that defileth ; where all good shall be complete, secure, and 
perpetual : a city illumined with the glory of God. This 
city, which kindled the faith of patriarchs, prophets, and 
apostles, shall be ours also, if our desire of it shall lead us to 
renounce the world, and to seek it with godly zeal and 
patience. The faith which gives reality to things unseen, which 
enables us to behold God in the creation, will bring us to 
the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 39, 62, 127. 



God, who hast taught us in thy Word that 
there is still laid up a rest for thy people, and 
who hast given us a promise of entering into it ! 
grant to us, we beseech thee, that we fail not of 
that promise through unbelief and disobedience. 
Teach us that here we have no abiding city. 
Teach us to look for a house that hath founda- \ 
tions, of which thou art the maker and builder. 
Lift our hearts thither in earnest desire. 

sabbath of eternal peace ! haven where the 
wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at 
rest ! When shall we see thee, Lord ! and behold 
the King in his beauty? When shall we meet the j 
apostles and prophets, and the great multitude 
wliom no man can number ? When shall we see : 
again our dear friends who sleep in Jesus ? 

God the Father, who hast the times and sea- 



sons in thine own power ! let not that day come 
upon us unawares. God the Son, who art gone 
to prepare a place for us ! in thine own time take 
us to thyself, that where thou art, there may we be 
also. God the Holy Ghost, the pledge of future 
glory in our hearts ! seal us until the redemption 
of the purchased possession. 

We bless thee for the help we have this clay re- 
ceived in the divine life through thy holy Word 
and the prayers and praises of thy Church. We 
supplicate thy favor upon all who have heard thy 
Word, and upon those who have it not. We bless 
thee for thy mercy to this household, and commit 
ourselves to thy fatherly protection for the night. 
Keep us under the shadow ol thy wings ; and, 
Father ! bring us, we pray thee, finally to rest in 
thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



11 



MONDAY. 



Joel ii. — 28. And it shall come to pass after- 
ward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh ; 
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 
your old men shall dream dreams, your young men 
shall see visions ; 

29. And also upon the servants and upon the 
handmaids in those days will 1 pour out my 
Spirit. 

30. And I will show wonders in the heavens and 
in the earth, — blood and fire, and pillars of smoke. 

31. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and 
the moon into blood, before the great and the ter- 
rible day of the Lord come. 

32. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever 
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be de- 
livered. 

Acts ii. — 1. And, when the day of Pentecost 
was fully come, they were all with one accord in 
one place. 

2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven 
as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the 
house where they were sitting. 

3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues 
like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 

4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, 



and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit 
gave them utterance. 

5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, 
devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 

6. Now, when this was noised abroad, the multi- 
tude came together, and were confounded, because 
that every man heard them speak in his own lan- 
guage. 

7. And they were all amazed, and marvelled, 
saying one to another, Behold, are not all these 
which speak Galileans ? 

8. And how hear we every man in our own 
tongue wherein we were born ? 

9. Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the 
dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea and Cap- 
padocia, in Pontus and Asia, 

10. Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in 
the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of 
Rome, Jews and proselytes, 

11. Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them 
speak in our tongues the wonderful works of 
God. 

12. And they were all amazed, and were 
in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth 
this? 



As the disruption of human speech came by man's sunder- 
ing his spiritual connection with God, it was fitting that the 
restoration of this spiritual unity should be accompanied 
with the faculty of utterance in other tongues, — the life of 
the spiritual breaking through the barriers which the carnal 
had created. The minds of the disciples being brought into 
harmony with God, and filled with his Spirit, a new vocaliza- 
tion seems almost a natural sequence. The grandeur of the 
miracle was in the coming of the Holy Ghost, — a second 
incarnation, as it were, of the Godhead ; not, as before, in the 
body of Jesus, but within every believing soul. 



The Divine Spirit is master of all forms ; and the rushing 
wind, the tongues of fire, and the " other tongues " of the apos- 
tles, were but symbols and attestations of his presence. The 
whole scene, too, was typical of the future spread of the gospel, 
and the mastery of the Church over the minds, the thoughts, 
the speech, of men. The great theme of redemption shall yet 
so possess the mind of the world, that every thought shall be 
brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and every 
tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. The Pentecost of divine 
love and grace shall counteract the Babel of human wide and 
greed. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 5, 15, 28. 



Almighty and most merciful Pather, who of thy 
tender love toward us didst send thy Son, our Sa- 
viour Jesus Christ, to be our advocate and interces- 
sor, hear us for his sake, and grant us the mercies 
which we need for another day. 

Graciously bestow upon us, heavenly Pather ! 
that Holy Spirit which thou hast promised to give 
to them that ask thee. Remove the scales from 
our eyes. Take away our ignorance, our hardness 
and coldness of heart, and our too great love of 
this present world. Enlighten our understand- 
ings ; give unto us the spirit of wisdom and revela- 
tion in the knowledge of Christ. May we know 
thee as our God and Saviour ! May we enter more 
and more into the riches of redeeming love ! Grant 
that, being set free from sin, and made servants to 
God, we may have our fruit unto holiness, and the 
end everlasting life. 

We thank thee for all thy goodness and thy 
care. Thou spreadest our table ; thou givest us 



life and breath and all things. Lord! our souls, 
and all that is within us, would bless and praise 
thy holy name. As a family, we bless thee for 
our home, and for all the comforts and joys of our 
daily life. [May the children whom thou hast so 
favored in this house remember thee, their heaven- 
ly Pather, and love and serve thee !] Be with us 
this day to guide and keep us. 

most merciful Saviour, our compassionate 
High Priest ! pity all our infirmities ; heal our souls' 
sicknesses ; give us the joy of thy salvation, and a 
hope full of immortality. Strengthen us to live 
and labor for thee. Give us grace always to act 
as thy true servants, and to do every thing to thy 
glory. May each one of us be able to say, " For 
me to live is Christ ; to die is gain." And at 
length take us to rest with thee above, for thine 
own name and mercy's sake ; and unto thee, with 
the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and 
glory, now and for evermore. Amen. 



12 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Isaiah xlii. — 1. Behold my servant, whom I 
uphold ; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth ; 
I have put my Spirit upon him : he shall bring 
forth judgment to the Gentiles. 

2. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his 
voice to be heard in the street. 

3. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the 
smoking flax shall he not quench : he shall bring 
forth judgment unto truth. 

4. He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he 
have set judgment in the earth ; and the isles shall 
wait for his law. 

5. Thus saith God the Lord, he that created 
the heavens, and stretched them out; he that 
spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out 
of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon 
it, and spirit to them that walk therein : 

6. I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, 
and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and 
give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light 
of the Gentiles ; 

7. To open the blind eyes, to bring out the pris- 
oners from the prison, and them that sit in dark- 
ness out of the prison-house. 



8. I am. the Lord ; that is my name : and my 
glory will I not give to another, neither my praise 
to graven images. 

9. Behold, the former things are come to pass, 
and new things do I declare : before they spring 
forth I tell you of them. 

10. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his 
praise from the end of the earth ; ye that go down 
to the sea, and all that is therein ; the isles, and 
the inhabitants thereof. 

11. Let the wilderness and the cities there- 
of lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar 
doth inhabit : let the inhabitants of the rock 
sing; let them shout from the top of the moun- 
tains. 

12. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and de- 
clare his praise in the islands. 

16. And I will bring the blind by a way that 
they knew not; I will lead them in paths tliat 
they have not known : I will make darkness light 
before them, and crooked things straight. These 
things will I do unto them, and not forsake 
them. 



The phrase " covenant of the people " means strictly the me- 
dium or mediator of the covenant between God and the people. 
This could not be said of Cyrus, friendly as he was to the 
Jews ; and if it might be applied figuratively to Isaiah, yet he 
could not be called a " light of the Gentiles." But Christ 
was "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel," 
the "messenger of the covenant," through whose interven- 
tion its blessings should come to all people. Hence all the 
inhabitants of the earth, from the mountains and the valleys, 
from the sea and its islands, from populous cities and from 
desert places, are summoned to rejoice and give glory to the 
Lord for the Saviour's coming. 

His coming was full of mercy and peace, of healing and 
salvation ; noiseless as the light, gentle as the dew : but, like 



the light, giving life and joy ; like the dew, giving beauty, 
fragrance, and refreshment. The heart that is bruised and 
crushed with its sorrows and sins he will not bi'eak with 
the severity of judgment, but soothe and heal with his 
pardoning grace. The dim torch of faith and love, though 
like the just-expiring wick of flax it emits hardly a spark of 
light, he will not extinguish, but with the oil of his mercy 
will kindle it to a pure, bright flame. Eyes that have been 
blinded to truth he will open to the sunlight ; souls that have 
been shut up in the darkness of guilt or of despair he will 
bring out into the free air of hope and peace. For every sin 
he has mercy ; for every sorrow, healing; while yet his law of 
truth and holiness shall judge the earth. This holy, just, 
gracious, merciful Prince of Israel is our Saviour and Lord. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 49, 118, 119. 



thou eternal Jehovah, King of kings, and 
Lord of lords ! we draw nigh unto thee this morn- 
ing, rejoicing that we have such a throne of grace 
ever open, that through the merits of thy dear Son, 
our only Saviour, we can be received and welcomed 
and loved. 

We confess our great unworthiness ; our sins of 
thought, word, and action ; our sins of omission and 
commission ; our sins against light and privilege 
and providence and grace. We cast ourselves upon 
Him who hath borne our griefs, and carried our 
sorrows ; who came to seek and to save the lost. 
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Re- 
membering at what price our redemption hath been 
purchased, we would consecrate our lives to Him 
who loved us, and gave himself for us. 

Bless the members of this household. May 
they walk before thee with a perfect heart ! May 



the young be enabled to adorn the doctrine of God 
their Saviour in all things ! 

Bless our land. Bless all in authority. May 
righteousness run down our streets as a mighty 
stream ! May that glorious day soon come when 
the wilderness and the solitary place shall be made 
glad ; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as 
the rose ! Lord ! revive thy work in the midst 
of the years. 

Thankful for the mercies of the night, we com- 
mend ourselves to thee for this day. Guide us ; 
provide for us ; go before us. Let us have the 
conscious assurance that God is for us, and then 
none can be against us. 

And now, Lord, what wait we for ? Our hope is 
in thee. Prepare us for living ; prepare us for 
dying. And all we ask is for the Lord Jesus 
Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



13 



WEDNESDAY. 



Acts iii. — 12. And, when Peter saw it, he an- 
swered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why- 
marvel ye at this ? or why look ye so earnestly on 
us, as though by our own power or holiness we had 
made this man to walk ? 

13. The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of 
Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his 
Son Jesus ; whom ye delivered up, and denied him 
in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined 
to let him go. 

14. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, 
and desired a murderer to be granted unto you ; 

15. And killed the Prince of life, whom God 
hath raised from the dead; whereof we are wit- 
nesses. 

16. And his name, through faith in his name, 
hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know; 
yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this 
perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 

17. And now, brethren, I wot that through ig- 
norance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 

18. But those things which God before had 
showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that 
Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 

19. Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that 
your sins may be blotted out when the times 



The sum of all blessings is expressed in this closing verse. 
To be saved from sin, — saved not only from the evil and 
condemnation that sin brings upon ns, but led by repentance 
and the grace of Christ to turn from iniquity, — this is bless- 
ing, is salvation indeed. The mission of Christ centred in 
redemption ; and we fail to experience the true blessing of 
a Saviour, except, through faith in his sacrifice, our sins arc 
blotted out. As sin was conquered by his suffering and 
dying, and death was conquered by his resurrection, so shall 



of refreshing shall come from the presence of the 
Lord; 

20. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which be- 
fore was preached unto you : 

21. Whom the heaven must receive until the 
times of restitution of all things, which God hath 
spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since 
the world began. 

22. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A 
Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto 
you, of your brethren, like unto me : him shall ye 
hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto 
you. 

23. And it shall come to pass, that every soul 
which will not hear that Prophet shall be de- 
stroyed from among the people. 

24. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel, and 
those that follow after, as many as have spoken, 
have likewise foretold of these days. 

25. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of 
the covenant which God made with our fathers, 
saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all 
the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 

26. Unto you first, God, having raised up his 
Son Jesus, sent him to bless you in turning away 
every one of you from his iniquities. 



the unbelief and wickedness of the world be conquered 
through his exaltation at the right hand of God for the resti- 
tution of all things by the power of his Spirit. It was in 
this power that Peter charged his hearers with having "killed 
the Prince of life," and brought home to them the pun- 
gent exhortation to repentance. And this is evermore the 
power of all true and effective preaching. Greater than all 
miracles is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of 
God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 36, 52. 



Almighty and most merciful Father, we have 
erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. 
We have followed too much the devices and desires 
of our own hearts. We have offended against thy 
holy laws. We have left undone those things 
which we ought to have done, and we have done 
those things which we ought not to have done ; 
and there is no health in us. But thou, Lord ! 
have mercy upon us miserable sinners. For thy 
dear So'n's sake, forgive us all that is past; and 
grant that we may hereafter serve and please thee in 
newness of life, to the honor and glory of thy name. 

Enable us to live in peace with all men. 
thou who art the Prince of peace ! keep us from 
envy, malice, and all uncharitableness. Give us 
unselfish hearts. Make us 'kind to all around us. 
May we bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil 
the law of Christ! Saviour! may we in all 
things follow thy blessed example, and grow daily 
more like unto thee! May thy gospel be made 



known to all men ! May the erring be reclaimed ; 
the ignorant be enlightened; the sick, the dying, 
and the sorrowing be comforted ! Oh, may thy 
grace pardon and renew the guilty, succor the per- 
ishing, save the lost ! 

Most merciful God, we thank thee for rest and 
safety in the night-season, and for the health and 
comfort with which we begin the day. Grant us 
wisdom in our affairs, success in our labors, pros- 
perity in all lawful undertakings, the conscious 
guidance of thy providence, and, above all, the 
experience of thy grace. May this family be ever 
in thy holy keeping ! And now, heavenly 
Father ! Ave pray thee to accept this our morning 
sacrifice of prayer and praise ; and as thou hast 
promised, that, when two or three are gathered to- 
gether in thy name, thou wilt grant their requests, 
fulfil now, Lord ! the desires and petitions of thy 
servants, and keep us this day and always in thy 
love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



14 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Romans X. — 1. Brethren, my heart's desire and 
prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 

2. For I bear them record that they have a zeal 
of God, but not according to knowledge. 

3. For they, being ignorant of God's righteous- 
ness, and going about to establish their own right- 
eousness, have not submitted themselves unto the 
righteousness of God. 

4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteous- 
ness to every one that believeth. 

5. For Moses describeth the righteousness which 
is of the law, That the man which doeth those things 
shall live by them. 

6. But the righteousness which is of faith speak - 
eth on this wise : Say not in thine heart, Who shall 
ascend into heaven ? (that is, to bring Christ down 
from above ;) 

7. Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that 
is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 

8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, 
even in thy mouth and in thy heart; that is, the 
word of faith, which we preach : 

9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth 
the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart 
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt 
be saved. 

10. For with the heart man believeth unto 
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is 
made unto salvation. 

11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth 
on him shall not be ashamed. 



How simple a thing it is to be a Christian ! Because of our 
sins, which we can neither cancel nor atone, we cannot estab- 
lish for ourselves that holy character which the law requires. 
But Christ, by his righteous obedience, set forth the end or 
object of the law in a perfect man ; and by his atonement 
for our sins, and his grace renewing and helping us, Christ 
secures in and for us that righteousness which the law 
aims at, but had failed to effect in us. To possess our- 



12. For there is no difference between the Jew 
and the Greek ; for the same Lord over all is rich 
unto all that call upon him. 

13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of 
the Lord shall be saved. 

14. How, then, shall they call on him in whom 
they have not believed? and how shall they believe 
in him of whom they have not heard? and how 
shall they hear without a preacher? 

15. And how shall they preach except they be 
sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet 
of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring 
glad tidings of good things ! 

16. But they have not all obej-ed the gospel. 
For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our re- 
port ? 

17. So, then, faith cometh by hearing, and hear- 
ing by the word of God. 

18. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, ver- 
ily: their sound went into all the earth, and their 
words unto the ends of the world. 

19. But I say, Did not Israel know? First, 
Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by 
them that are no people, and by a foolish nation 
I will anger you. 

20. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was 
found of them that sought me not; I was made 
manifest unto them that asked not after me. 

21. But to Israel he saith, All clay long I have 
stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and 
gainsaying people. 



selves of this righteousness, we must believe in the Lord 
Jesus Christ ; believe in the heart ; believe by accepting him 
as Redeemer and Lord ; believe by devoting ourselves to him 
in grateful, loving obedience. And the sincerity of this faith 
will prove itself by an open confession of Christ : the mouth 
will declare what the heart feels ; the life will make manifest 
what the heart believes. No fear, no shame, will keep back 
one who truly receives Christ from openly confessing Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 30, 67. 



Lord ! we draw near into thy holy presence in 
the name of Him whom thou hearest always. We 
come casting ourselves on the infinite fulness of 
our adorable Redeemer. Of that fulness may we 
all receive, even grace for grace ! Let us walk as 
thy children, advancing in conformity to thy blessed 
mind and will, laying aside every weight, and run- 
ning with patience the race that is set before us. 
Let it be our constant aim and endeavor to know 
what the will of the Lord is; and, knowing that 
will, may we have strength given us to obey it ! 

We bless thee, O Lord ! for the mercies of the 
past night, and implore thy presence with us this 
day. God of Bethel, dwell in this household; 
make every member of it thine. Those that are 
absent, Lord, be near them; those that are in dis- 



tress, Lord, comfort them ; those that know thee 
not, Lord, bring them to thyself. What thanks 
do we owe thee for our allotment in life ! — our birth 
and education, our home and friends, our privileges 
and opportunities. Lord, we would return thee all 
that we have received. May thy Word be in our 
hearts, to inspire faith and zeal ; and upon our lips, 
to show forth thy praise ! Prosper thy Church every- 
where. Raise up preachers who shall go into all the 
earth with the gospel of peace. Let Satan's king- 
dom be destroyed, the kingdom of grace advanced, 
the kingdom of glory hastened. Save thy people ; 
bless thine inheritance ; feed them also, and lift 
them up forever. Give to each of us this day thy 
gracious benediction ; finally give unto us the full 
fruition of thyself, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



15 



FRIDAY. 



Deuteronomy xxviii. — 58. If thou wilt not 
observe to do all the words of this law that are 
written in this book, that thou mayest fear this 
glorious and fearful name THE LORD THY 
GOD; 

59. Then the Lord will make thy plagues won- 
derful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great 
plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sick- 
nesses, and of long continuance. 

60. Moreover, he will bring upon thee all the 
diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and 
they shall cleave unto thee. 

61. Also every sickness and every plague 
which is not written in the book of this law, 
them will the Lord bring upon thee untd thou 
be destroyed. 

62. And ye shall be left few in number, whereas 
ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude ; be- 
cause thou wouldest not obey the voice of the Lord 
thy God. 

63. And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord 
rejoiced over you to do you good and to multiply 
you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy 
you and to bring you to nought ; and ye shall be 



This fearful denunciation was more than a warning : it was 
a prediction ; and in substance it has been fulfilled, again 
and again, in the history of Israel, in their wars, their cap- 
tivities, their dispersions, their many and fearful oppressions. 
Nor could a more graphic picture of their actual calamities be 
given than this, of restless, homeless wandering ; of trembling 
heart, failing eyes, and sorrow of spirit ; of life always in fear 
and peril ; of longing for the evening and for the morning. 
For ages, the misfortunes of the Jews in almost every land 



plucked from off the land whither thou goest to 
possess it. 

61. And the Lord shall scatter thee among all 
people, from the one end of the earth even unto the 
other ; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which 
neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even 
wood and stone. 

65. And among these nations shalt thou find no 
ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest ; 
but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling 
heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind. 

66. And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee ; 
and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have 
none assurance of thy life : 

67. In the morning thou shalt say, Would God 
it were even ! and at even thou shalt say, Would 
God it were morning ! for the fear of thine heart 
wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of 
thine eyes which thou shalt see. 

68. And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt 
again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto 
thee, Thou shalt see it no more again ; and there 
ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bond-men 
and bond-women, and no man shall buy you. 



were a commentary upon these prophetic words of their great 
lawgiver: their whole history as a people is a standing re- 
cord that this witness is true. But, through all warnings and 
judgments, there is ever the refrain of promise and hope. 
Jehovah is still mindful of the children of the covenant, the 
seed of Abraham, his friend ; and the time shall come when 
they shall be brought in with the fulness of the Gentiles, 
" and so all Israel shall be saved." 



Appropriate Hymn,] Prayer. [^°- 182. 

Lord ! how can we stand if thou shouldst j people, witnessing among all nations to the truth 
mark our iniquities ? But blessed be thy name ! of thy Word. We thank thee that in these latter 
that thou hast reconciled us to thyself by thy be- days they are so far exempt from the violence and 
loved Son, and wilt not impute our trespasses unto persecutions of other times ; and pray that through 
us. For his merits, and in his name, cast us not their experience, both of the goodness and the 



out of thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit 
from us. 

Thou hast taught us to pray that thy kingdom 
may come. Hear us while we plead with thee for 
the spread of thy gospel throughout the world. 
Lord ! look in mercy on thine own flock who have 
entered into covenant with thee. Oh ! heal their 
divisions, enlighten their dark places, strengthen 
their feeble and scattered efforts. Look upon vast 
tracts of Christendom yet bound in ignorance and 
superstition. Look upon those, who, having thy 
commandments, yet worship other gods besides 
thee ; and do thou look in mercy on the darkness 
of heathendom, and on them that sit in the shadow 
of death cause thy light to shine. More especially 
do we entreat thee for thine ancient Israel, whom 
thou hast for so many ages preserved a separate 



severity of God, they may be brought to a saving 
knowledge of thy grace in Christ. 

Almighty God, the Governor and Disposer of 
the world, grant that, in the history of its king- 
doms and peoples, we may ever see thee preparing 
the way of thy Christ, and putting all things un- 
der his feet ; and grant that we, looking for the 
kingdoms of this world to become the kingdom of 
the Lord and of his Christ, may be found faithful 
at his appearing, who liveth and reigneth with 
thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without 
end. 

Lord our Preserver ! we humbly thank thee 
for thy merciful protection during the past night ; 
and we commit ourselves and all dear to us unto 
thy gracious guidance this day, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



16 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Mark X. — 35. And James and John, the sons 
of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we 
would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we 
shall desire. 

36. Aud he said unto them, What would ye that 
I should do for you ? 

37. They said unto him, Grant unto us that we 
may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on 
thy left hand, in thy glory. 

38. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not 
what ye ask : can ye drink of the cup that I drink 
of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am 
baptized with ? 

39. And they said unto him, We can. And 
Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the 
cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I 
am baptized withal shall ye be baptized : 

40. But to sit on my right hand and on my left 
hand is not mine to give ; but it shall be given to 
them for whom it is prepared. 

41. And, when the ten heard it, they began to 
be much displeased with James and John. 

42. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto 
them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule 
over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and 
their great ones exercise authority upon them. 

43. But so shall it not be among you ; but who- 
soever will be great among you shall be your min- 
ister, 



Our Lord's allusions to his coming glory had revived in 
his disciples the Jewish notion of a Messianic kingdom, with 
worldly pomps and honors. Once they had contended among 
themselves who should be greatest : now two of them sought 
to forestall the others, and secure the places next the throne. 
Jesus, who already felt in his own soul the foreshadowing of his 
great agony, tenderly reminded them of the cup of sorrow which 
he must drink, and the baptism of blood which he must receive : 
that, in his kingdom, sacrifice would be the measure of great- 
ness ; self-denial, of reward : and he distinctly announced that 
he would otfer his life a ransom, the redemption-price of a 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



44. And whosoever of you will be the chiefest 
shall be servant of all. 

45. For even the Son of man came not to be 
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his 
life a ransom for many. 

46. And they came to Jericho ; and, as he went 
out of Jericho with his disciples and a great num- 
ber of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, 
sat by the highway-side begging. 

47. And, when he heard that it was Jesus of 
Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou 
son of David, have mercy on me ! 

48. And many charged him that he should hold 
his peace ; but he cried the more a great deal, 
Thou son of David, have mercy on me ! 

49. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him 
to be called : and they call the blind man, saying 
unto him, Be of good comfort ; rise ; he calleth 
thee. 

50. And he, casting away his garment, rose, 
and came to Jesus. 

51. And Jesus answered and said unto him, 
What wilt thou that I should do unto thee ? The 
blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might re- 
ceive my sight. 

52. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way : thy 
faith hath made thee whole. And immediately 
he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the 
way. 



sinning world. The disciples drank the cup. James was the 
first martyr among his apostles. John lived a long life of per- 
secution and exile, witnessing for his beloved Lord. 

In contrast with the momentary weakness of these disciples 
in seeking worldly distinction is presented the simple, earnest, 
importunate faith of Bartimeus, who, feeling that his moment 
of opportunity had come, hastened to beg of the Son of 
David the mercy of healing. 

How the heart of Jesus went forth to meet every cry of real 
faith ! How ready is his word of mercy still for the humble, 
believing suppliant ! 



Prayer 

Thou blessed and glorious Redeemer, who didst 
give thy life a ransom for us, grant us grace, we 
beseech thee, to follow in thy steps, and be bap- 
tized with the same baptism of devotion and sac- 
rifice for the glory of the Father and the good of 
men. O Thou who art the light of the world ! en- 
lighten our minds, we pray thee, that we may truly 
know and rightly value the things of thy kingdom. 
Keep us from the absorbing power of earthly 
things. May we live under the powers of the world 
to come, loving thee now with a sweet and blessed 
foretaste of that love with which we shall love thee 
forever ! 

We commend to thy gracious providence all in 
whom we are interested. Sanctify them by the 
indwelling of thy Holy Spirit ; prosper them out- 



[Nos. 21, 58, 187. 

wardly and inwardly. Bless our own immediate 
circle : may God be their Father, and Jesus their 
elder Brother, and heaven their everlasting home ! 
[May the children of this family make thee their 
portion and their hope ! May they early learn to 
do thy will ; to wish for and to do only that which 
will please their Father in heaven !] 

May thy kingdom come ! Support and strength- 
en all missionaries in heathen lands. Sanctify 
affliction to all in sorrow ; and satisfy the poor 
with bread. Grateful for the mercies of the night, 
we pray thee to direct, control, suggest, this day, 
all our thoughts, purposes, designs, and actions, 
that we may consecrate soul and body to the glory 
of thy holy name. And all that we ask or hope 
for is for the Redeemer's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



17 



SUNDAY MORNING-. 



Genesis i. — 1. In the beginning, God created 
the heaven and the earth. 

2. And the earth was without form, and void; and 
darkness was upon the face of the deep ; and the 
Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 

3. And God said, Let there be light ; and there 
was light. 

4. And God saw the light, that it was good; 
and God divided the light from the darkness. 

5. And God called the light Day, and the 
darkness he called Night; and the evening and 
the morning were the first day. 

6. And God said, Let there be a firmament in 
the midst of the waters, and let it divide the 
waters from the waters. 

7. And God made the firmament, and divided 
the waters which were under the firmament from 
the waters which were above the firmament ; and 
it was so. 

8. And God called the firmament Heaven ; and 
the evening and the morning were the second day. 

9. And God said, Let the waters under the 
heaven be gathered together unto one place, and 
let the dry land appear ; and it was so. 

10. And God called the dry land Earth, and 
the gathering-together of the waters called he 
Seas ; and God saw that it was good. 



11. And God said, Let the earth bring forth 
grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree 
yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, 
upon the earth ; and it was so. 

12. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb 
yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding 
fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind ; and 
God saw that it was good. 

13. And the evening and the morning were the 
third day. 

14. And God said, Let there be lights in the 
firmament of the heaven to divide the day from 
the night ; and let them be for signs and for sea- 
sons, and for days and years. 

15. And let them be for lights in the firmament 
of the heaven to give light upon the earth ; and it 
was so. 

16. And God made two great lights ; the great- 
er light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule 
the night : he made the stars also. 

17. And God set them in the firmament of the 
heaven to give light upon the earth, 

18. And to rule over the day and over the night, 
and to divide the light from the darkness ; and 
God saw that it was good. 

1J). And the evening and the morning were the 
fourth day. 



The great thought presented in these verses is that of 
God as the Creator of all things. His self-existence, the 
spirituality of his being, his eternity, and his omnipotence, 
are revealed in the fact of creation. His wisdom brings order, 
out of chaos, arranges the succession of created things, and 
adjusts the several elements and species of our globe and all 
the parts and members of the material universe to each other 
in a beautiful and perpetual harmony. His love also appears 
in his purpose that every thing which he made should be good, 
— good in itself, good in its place, good for its uses, and good 
in its effects. Only sin has marred the beauty and goodness 
of the works of God. 

This account of the creation is not scientific, but poetic in 
form, and popular in style. It was not intended to teach 
astronomy, geology, or natural history, but to impress upon 



the minds of men the thought of the living, personal, infinite, 
eternal Creator. Yet as a grand outline of creation, in the 
order of events, the narrative is in striking harmony with 
what geology teaches of the structure of our globe ; and this 
fact, taken in connection with the sublime conception of God 
that it brings before us, points to its origin in a divine revela- 
tion, either by word or by vision. Only God could thus have 
told what God only could know. 

The term " day " is not to be taken literally ; for the 
heavenly bodies that measure time for man were not made 
visible to our globe until the fourth " day ; " but it denotes an 
epoch, like the eras of geology, which had a beginning and an 
ending. And so the Bible, like science, leads us back over the 
vast spaces of creation, and through all orders of beings and 
things, to where we find only, in the beginning, God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



|Nos. 18, 69, 150. 



O Lord God, Father of mercies, the Fountain 
of all comfort and blessing, who fillest heaven with 
thy glory, and earth with thy goodness ; to whom 
the heavens sing praise, and all their powers, with 
the earth and sea and all that are therein ! we 
praise and bless and glorify and give thanks to 
thee. Thou broughtest us out of nothing; and 
when, by our disobedience, we were fallen, thou 
didst raise us up again to an inheritance in thy 
kingdom. For these and all thy mercies, we give 
thanks to thee, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
henceforth and forevermore. 

"We bless thee for the sabbath, and.pray that we 
may rightly improve its holy rest and the worship 
of thy holy house. We pray for the whole Church 



of Christ, that she may possess all the gifts of 
thy Holy Spirit ; for all Sunday schools, — oh ! 
hear the hosannas of children, and show to them 
the love of Jesus their Saviour; for the poor and 
needy, sick and afflicted, widows and orphans; for 
all whom thou hast given to be near and dear to 
us. Give them thy blessing, Lord ! for the 
sake of Him who hath taught us to love one 
another even as he hath loved us. 

Accept, we beseech thee, Lord ! these our 
praises and supplications, and look graciously upon 
this family ; and so assist us by thy grace, that we 
may be fitted for that kingdom where all shall be 
joy and peace in the Holy Ghost ; to whom, with 
thee and thy Son, be all glory forever. Amen. 



18 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



John XX. — 19. Then the same day at evening, 
being the first day of the week, when the doors 
were shut where the disciples were assembled for 
fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the 
midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 

20. And, when he had so said, he showed unto 
them his hands and his side. Then were the dis- 
ciples glad when they saw the Lord. 

21. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be 
unto you : as my Father hath sent me, even so 
send I you. 

22. And, when he had said this, he breathed on 
them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy 
Ghost. 

23. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remit- 
ted unto them ; and whosesoever sins ye retain, 
they are retained. 

24. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didy- 
mus, was not with them when Jesus came. 

25. The other disciples therefore said unto him, 
We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, 
Except I shall see in his hands the print of the 



nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, 
and thrust my hand into his side, I will not be- 
lieve. 

26. And, after eight days, again his disciples 
were within, and Thomas with them : then came 
Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the 
midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 

27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy 
finger, and behold my hands ; and reach hither 
thy hand, and thrust it into my side ; and be not 
faithless, but believing. 

28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, 
My Lord and my God ! 

29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou 
hast seen me, thou hast believed : blessed are they 
that have not seen, and yet have believed. 

30. And many other signs truly did Jesus in 
the presence of his disciples, which are not writ- 
ten in this book. 

31. But these are written that ye might believe 
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ; and that, 
believing, ye might have life through his name. 



The demand of Thomas shows what havoc the spirit of 
Rationalism would make of all that pertains to a religious 
faith. The resurrection of Lazarus, which he had seen, had 
given him a sufficient warrant for believing in the resurrection 
of Christ. The word of his brethren was entitled to his con- 
fidence ; but he refused the testimony of their senses, and in- 
sisted upon the evidence of his own sight and touch. What 
then'? Would he expect others to believe upon his testi- 
mony'? or should everyone insist upon seeing for himself? 
In that case, Jesus must continue to live and die, and rise 
again, for each succeeding generation. Then who should 
establish his identity from age to age? And to how few 



could he become personally known ! The facility of faith is 
as natural to man as the faculty of sight ; and, when there 
is moral evidence to warrant our faith, we may feel as secure 
in believing as could Thomas in seeing. For such a faith 
our Lord provided a special blessing. Accepting the homage 
of Thomas to his divinity, he reached forth his benediction to 
all who should believe upon him as their Lord, though they 
had not seen his bodily presence nor his marvellous works. 
The spiritual apprehension of Christ through faith is a loftier 
condition of the mind, a richer and more rewarding partici- 
pation of his Spirit, than could ever be reached through the 
bodily senses. Believing, we have life through his name. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 135, 159. 



Lord Jesus ! increase our faith, that we may 
know thee in the fellowship of thy sufferings, and 
in the power of thy resurrection. 

holy and almighty God ! we present ourselves 
before thee this evening with humble and thankful 
hearts. Receive us as thou hast promised by thy 
well-beloved Son, saying, "Ask, and ye shall have; 
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be 
opened unto you." So give now unto us that ask ; 
let us that seek find ; open the gate unto us that 
knock. 

We thank thee, heavenly Father ! that of thy 
tender mercy thou hast given thine only Son Jesus 
Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our re- 
demption. Through faith in his blood, may we ob- 
tain remission of our sins ! May we know him 
and love him, and serve him with all our hearts ! 
and may we daily endeavor to follow the steps of 
his most holy life ! Lord ! let thy mercy be 
upon us as we do put our trust in thee. 

Teach us, God ! both how to live and how to 
die. May our loins be always girt and our lamps 



burning, and we ourselves like servants who wait 
for the coming of their lord ! May we live a life 
of faith, and may we die the death of the right- 
eous ! 

Look in mercy upon all our brethren, our friends, 
neighbors, and acquaintance. Be with all who are 
dear to us, especially with any who may at this 
time be in affliction or distress. Cheer their 
hearts, and lift up the light of thy countenance 
upon them. Send down upon all who minister in 
thy Church, and all congregations committed to 
their charge, the healthful spirit of thy grace; 
and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon 
them the continual dew of thy blessing. 

And be with us who are now gathered together 
in thy name. Defend us from all the perils and 
dangers of this night. Let thy fatherly hand 
ever be over us. Let thy Holy Spirit ever be 
with us. And so lead us in the knowledge and 
obedience of thy word, that in the end we may 
obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



19 



MONDAY. 



Acts vii. — 51. Ye stiff-necked and uncircum- 
cised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the 
Holy Ghost : as your fathers did, so do ye. 

52. Which of the prophets have not your fa- 
thers persecuted ? and they have slain them which 
showed before of the coming of the Just One; of 
whom ye have been now the betrayers and mur- 
derers ; 

53. Who have received the law by the disposi- 
tion of angels, and haye not kept it. 

54. When they heard these things, they were 
cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with 
their teeth. 

55. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked 
up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of 
God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 

56. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, 
and the Son of man standing on the right hand 
of God. 

57. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and 
stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one 
accord, 



These are the closing words of the address of Stephen, in 
which, with cogent reasoning and fervid eloquence, he arrayed 
the whole course of Jewish prophecy in evidence for Jesus of 
Nazareth as the Messiah. So clear and strong was this evi- 
dence, that to resist it was to resist the Holy Ghost, who had 
spoken through the prophets. But argument and appeal are 
lost upon minds hardened by prejudice, or blinded by pas- 
sion ; and the reproof of sin, if it does not lead to repentance, 
is apt to provoke hatred of the reprover. But Stephen was 
prepared to sacrifice his life in fidelity to his Master. So 
strong was his faith, that it had already turned into vision ; 



58. And cast him out of the city, and 
stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their 
clothes at a young man's feet whose name was 
Saul. 

59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, 
and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 

60. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud 
voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge ; and, 
when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

Acts viii. — 1. And Saul was consenting unto 
his death. And at that time there was a great 
persecution against the church which was at Jeru- 
salem ; and they were all scattered abroad through- 
out the regions of Judsea and Samaria, except the 
apostles. 

2. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, 
and made great lamentation over him. 

3. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, 
entering into every house, and, haling men and 
women, committed them to prison. 

4. Therefore they that were scattered abroad 
went everywhere preaching the word. 



and, while men gnashed their rage around him, he could see 
Jesus from above approving him with welcome and reward. 
No groans escaped him as the mob rained stones upon his head 
and breast. He who could be so stern and bitter toward the 
rejecters of the truth had no bitterness for his own persecutors 
and murderers. In the same breath in which he committed 
his own spirit to Christ, he prayed for their forgiveness ; and 
such was the majesty of faith, such the serenity of love, that, 
under that hail-storm of death, he " fell asleep." But the 
stoning of Stephen was the saving of Paul : the death of the 
first martyr was the birth of a new apostle. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 57, 89. 



Lord Jesus, the author and the finisher of our 
faith ! we give thee thanks for all thy servants 
departed in the faith, who, having witnessed a good 
confession, have entered into rest. Grant us grace, 
we beseech thee, to be faithful unto death, that 
we also may receive a crown of life. May we 
have such a sense of thy presence and glory as 
shall lift us above the love or the fear of this 
world ! 

Assist us by thy grace to do this day such 
things as are pleasing to thee. Strengthen us to 
resist and overcome any temptations to which we 
may be exposed. Preserve us from a worldly mind. 
Lord ! by the power of thy Holy Spirit, draw 
our desires and hopes and affections heavenward. 
Deliver us from anxiety about earthly things, from 
a discontented and unthankful spirit. 

Strengthen, Lord ! our faith in the promises of 
thy Word. Enable us to stay our minds on thee. 
Thou knowest our exceeding weakness, and the 
numberless dangers which every day surround us. 
Supply all our needs. Beat down every spiritual 



enemy under our feet. Let thy Word be our guide, 
and thy Holy Spirit our sanctifier and comforter. 
If it should please thee to visit us with affliction, 
oh ! make it work for our real and eternal good, and 
give us a patient and submissive spirit. Be thou 
our defender through all the trials of life, our hope 
in death, and our portion forever. 

We thank thee for thy loving-kindness in the 
night-season. Be pleased, Lord! to bless all who 
are near and dear to us. Lead all whom we love into 
the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Bless our 
neighbors. Look graciously upon this part of thy 
vineyard ; assist all who are laboring for the good 
of their fellow-creatures ; and grant that true god- 
liness may increase and abound among us. Help 
us to shine as lights in the world, and to com- 
mend the religion which we profess by the meek- 
ness and gentleness of our conduct, and by the 
holiness of our lives. Make us happy in our own 
souls, and useful to all around us. These mercies 
we ask for ourselves and others in the name of 
Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



20 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Acts viif. — 26. And the angel of the Lord spake 
unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south, 
unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto 
Gaza, which is desert. 

27. And he arose, and went; and behold, a man 
of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under 
Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had the 
charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusa- 
lem for to worship, 

28. Was returning, and, sitting in his chariot, 
read Esaias the prophet. 

29. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, 
and join thyself to this chariot. 

30. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard 
him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Under- 
standest thou what thou readest ? 

31. And he said, How can I, except some man 
should guide me ? And he desired Philip that he 
would come up and sit with him. 

32. The place of the scripture which he read 
was this : He was led as a sheep to the slaughter ; 
and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened 
he not his mouth : 

33. In his humiliation his judgment was taken 



How simple a thing it is to become a Christian ! How 
readily can one become a Christian who opens his mind to 
receive the truth, and sets his heart to obey it ! How natural 
and proper it is that one who has embraced Christ should 
confess his name, and join his followers ! How obvious is the 
duty of those who have learned Christ to preach him to 
others as he is set forth in the Scriptures ! How rich the joy 
that comes of believing on Christ, and of winning others to 
a like faith and grace ! Such reflections crowd upon us in 
this story of the converted Ethiopian. 

Ethiopia was a country of Africa, south of Egypt ; and the 
eunuch was on the way towards Egypt, through the thinly- 
inhabited region of Southern Judaea. A man of high politi- 
cal station and of ample fortune, he was nevertheless devout 
in his religious duties. As a convert to the Jewish faith, he 
had made the long journey to Jerusalem to keep the festivals. 
While there, of course, he had heard of the stir about Jesus 
of Nazareth ; and now he relieved the tedium of the way by 
reading the Scriptures. In this frame of mind, he was ripe 



away : and who shall declare his generation ? for 
his life is taken from the earth. 

34. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, 
I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this ? 
of himself, or of some other man ? 

35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at 
the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 

• 36. And, as they went on their way, they came 
unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, 
here is water ; what doth hinder me to be bap- 
tized ? 

37. And Philip said, If thou believest with all 
thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and 
said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 

38. And he commanded the chariot to stand 
still : and they went down both into the water, both 
Philip and the eunuch ; and he baptized him. 

39. And, when they were come up out of the 
water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, 
that the eunuch saw him no more ; and he went 
on his way rejoicing. 

40. But Philip was found at Azotus ; and, pass- 
ing through, he preached in all the cities till he 
came to Cesarea. 



for the instructions of Philip, who showed the wonderful ap- 
plication of Isaiah's prophecy to the sufferings of Christ. He 
saw and believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God ; be- 
lieved this with his heart ; and, so believing, was ready to 
avow it, and take the consequences of being a follower of the 
despised and crucified Nazarene. Why should not men of 
business now come to the same prompt decision % Why should 
not all who have learned of Christ in the Scriptures embrace 
him with their hearts, and confess him with their lips ? 

The readiness with which Philip administered baptism to 
the eunuch need not surprise us when we consider all the facts 
of the case. As a man of intelligence, of a devout habit, and 
well versed in the Scriptures, he was prepared to act with 
judgment and decision as soon as he understood the truth. 
And, when such a man was ready to take the risk of avowing 
himself a disciple of Christ, there could be no reason for 
doubting his sincerity, or delaying his confession. The safe 
rule is to confess Christ as soon as we feel that we believe with 
all the heart. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 43, 75, 99. 



Oh ! grant us grace. Father in heaven, to hear 
thy Word, and to obey it. We would make haste, 
and delay not, to keep thy commandments. Thou 
hast a right, Lord ! to our time, our gifts, our 
hearts, our persons; to all that we are, and all that 
we have : for thou hast created us, and hast re- 
deemed us with the precious blood of thy Son. 
We would begin this day in thy fear : help us in 
all things to please and honor thee. 

We give thee thanks for the mercies of the night, 
and for all the mercies of our past lives, — for home 
and its blessings ; for friends, and all the ministries 
of love ; for health, knowledge, comfort, and pros- 
perity ; but, above all things, for thy grace in the 



gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we ever be 
ready to acknowledge him the Son of God, the 
Saviour of the world ! May men in the high places 
of power and influence consecrate themselves to 
him ! may the poor and lowly trust in him ! may 
children sing hosannas to the Son of David ! How 
shall we praise thee, God ! for thy love and grace 
to us sinners ? For all thy mercies, we bless and 
magnify thy glorious name ; humbly beseeching 
thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise 
and thanksgiving for His sake who lay down in 
the grave, and rose again for us, — thy Son, our 
Saviour Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory and do- 
minion, world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



21 



WEDNESDAY. 



Acts ix. — 1. And Saul, yet breathing out 
threatenings and slaughter against the disciples 
of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 

2. And desired of hirn letters to Damascus to the 
synagogues, that if he found any of tills way, 
whether they were men or women, he might bring 
them bound unto Jerusalem. 

3. And, as he journeyed, he came near Damas- 
cus ; and suddenly there shined round about him 
a light from heaven. 

4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice 
saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou 
me? 

5. And he said, Who art thou, Lord ? And the 
Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It 
is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 

6. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, 
what wilt thou have me to do ? And the Lord said 
unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall 
be told thee what thou must do. 

7. And the men which journeyed with him stood 
speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 

8. And Saul arose from the earth ; and, when his 
eyes were opened, he saw no man : but they led 
him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 

9. And he was three days without sight, and 
neither did eat nor drink. 

10. And there was a certain disciple at Damas- 
cus, named Ananias ; and to him said the Lord 



! in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am 
here, Lord. 

11. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go 
into the street which is called Straight, and inquire 
in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus ; 
for, behold, he prayeth, 

12. And hath seen in a vision a man named Ana- 
nias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that 
he might receive his sight. 

13. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard 
by many of this man, how much evil he hath done 
to thy saints at Jerusalem; 

14. And here he hath authority from the chief 
priests to bind all that call on thy name. 

15. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; 
for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name 
before the Gentiles and kings and the children of 
Israel. 

16. For I will show him how great things he 
must suffer for my name's sake. 

17. And Ananias went his way, and entered into 
the house, and, putting his hands on him, said, 
Brother Saul, the Lord (even Jesus that appeared 
unto thee in the way as thou earnest) hath sent 
me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be 
filled with the Holy Ghost. 

18. And immediately there fell from his eyes as 
it had been scales ; and he received sight forthwith, 
and arose, and was baptized. 



The conversion of Saul, like that of the Ethiopian eunuch, 
was instantaneous ; and his confession of Christ was imme- 
diate, hearty, and complete. But while the eunuch glided 
into the confession of Christ through the humble, reverential 
studv of the word of God, Saul was arrested in a career of 
opposition to Christianity, in which were enlisted his pride, 
his passion, and his prejudice, which he mistook for his con- 
science. Fresh from the lynching of Stephen, inflamed like 
a wild beast by the taste of blood, he volunteered to go in 
quest of victims to be dragged to martyrdom at Jerusalem. 
The miracle arrested and confounded him. The blinding 
light, the reproving voice, the manifestation of Jesus, con- 



victed, awed, and humbled him ; but his conversion was the 
submission of his will to do the will of Christ. That this 
scene was real, was attested by the fact that Paul often re- 
ferred to it as the beginning of his Christian life, and was 
ready to die for the Saviour whom he then owned as his 
Lord. To tame his fiery spirit, he was left blind for three 
days, that he might give himself to reflection and prayer ; 
then sight was restored, and instruction and baptism admin- 
istered by one of the very disciples whom he had come to 
destroy. Thus did Christ honor the agency of his Church, 
and lead the greatest of apostles into his kingdom by the 
door of humility, and in the spirit of a little child. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 1, 58, 144. 



Father of lights, thou hast dispersed the dark- 
ness of another night, and permitted the sun once 
more to arise upon us. thou Sun of righteous- 
ness ! do thou disperse the darkness of sin ; cause 
the scales to fall from our eyes, that we may receive 
sight ; shine on us with the brightness of thy 
rising ; let us enjoy this day the blessedness of 
peace with God. 

Lord Jesus, we commit ourselves anew to thy 
keeping. In all the concerns of life, teach us what 
thou wilt have us to do. May it be our sovereign 



the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax, and 
whose dying words were words of forgiveness. 

We pray for all in sorrow. thou God of all 
consolation ! be a father to the fatherless, a hus- 
band to the widow, the stranger's shield, and the 
orphan's stay. Enable thy suffering people to rest 
in thy love. Bless our beloved friends : if there 
be any among them who are still strangers to thee, 
make them to know thee in Christ. Preserve us 
as a household from all danger and sin ; hide us in 
the hollow of thy hand ; and may death, when it 



motive so to walk as to please thee ! May we shall come, find us still doing that which thou hast 
diffuse around us the silent influence of a heavenly given us to do, and watching for our Lord ! And 



life ! May we deal tenderly with others, remem- 
bering the tenderness of Him who would not break 



unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be 
praise forever. Amen. 






22 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Acts ix. — 19. Then was Saul certain days with 
the disciples which were at Damascus. 

20. And straightway he preached Christ in the 
synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 

21. But all that heard him were amazed, and 
said, Is not this he that destroyed them which 
called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither 
for that intent, that he might bring them bound 
unto the chief priests ? 

22. But Saul increased the more in strength, and 
confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, 
proving that this is very Christ. 

23. And, after that many days were fulfilled, the 
Jews took counsel to kill him. 

24. But their laying wait was known of Saul. 
And they watched the gates day and night to kill 
him. 

25. Then the disciples took him by night, and 
let him down by the wall in a basket. 

26. And, when Saul was come to Jerusalem, 



The genuineness of Saul's conversion was proved by the 
earnestness with which, at the risk of his life, he began to 
preach the faith he had so fiercely persecuted. He came near 
falling a victim to the very rage which he had incited against 
the Christians. Both at Damascus and at Jerusalem, he 
was in peril of his life. At Damascus he had a narrow 
escape. The city being surrounded with walls, and having 
but two or three gates, it seemed impossible for him to evade 
his enemies. But the house of a friend was built against the 
city wall, with a window overhanging it ; and from this he 
was let down in a basket such as would be used to lower a 
man into a well. Though the particular window that favored 
Paul's escape must long ago have been destroyed in the 
changes of time and war, yet one can see windows just like it 
on the present walls of the city ; and the street called 
" Straight " can still be identified. 



he essayed to join himself to the disciples ; but they 
were all afraid of him, and believed not that he 
was a disciple. 

27. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to 
the apostles, and declared unto them how he had 
seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken 
to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damas- 
cus in the name of Jesus. 

28. And he was with them coming in and going 
out at Jerusalem. 

29. And he spake boldly in the name of the 
Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians; 
but they went about to slay him. 

30. Which when the brethren knew, they 
brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him forth 
to Tarsus. 

31. Then had the churches rest throughout all 
Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; 
and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the 
comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 



The danger which threatened the outset of Paul's ministry 
thickened about it until it closed in martyrdom. But never 
did he waver in his devotion to Christ. The commitment 
made in a moment was made for life. Paul was drawn 
to Jesus by the conviction that he was the Son of God, and 
by the grateful sense of mercy toward him in his blindness 
and unbelief. With the consecration of his intellect to the 
service of Christ, and the reverence of a loyal heart, was 
blended the fervor of a personal love, which made whatever 
concerned the honor of Christ dear to him as his own life. 
For a time he had to encounter the prejudices of the disci- 
ples, who feared that he had some sinister end in trying to 
join them. But an honest heart wins its way to confidence, 
and Paul grew in favor and in power. Barnabas set a noble 
example of brotherly fellowship. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 59, 133. 



Lord, who by the example of thy blessed 
apostle Paul hast taught us to forget those things 
which are behind, and to reach forth unto those 
things that are before ! give us grace this day that 
we may press toward the mark for the prize of our 
high calling of thee in Christ Jesus. May we 
lay aside every weight, and the sins which easily 
beset us, and run with patience the race set before 
us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher 
of our faith ! As he for the joy set before him en- 
dured the cross, despising the shame ; even so may 
we ever have before us our heavenly reward, and in 
like manner not fear what men can do unto us, 
if we may only acceptably serve thee. 

From all idleness and carelessness ; from all 
self-conceit, and love of praise ; from all confidence 
in our own powers, and neglect of seeking thy 
grace, — Lord, preserve and keep us. 

From all want of love to one another ; from all 
lack of charity in thinking and speaking of men ; 



from all undue cleaving to our own likings and 
opinions, — Lord, preserve and keep us. 

From all unsocial and selfish feelings ; from tak- 
ing advantage of the weakness or the ignorance of 
others ; from slighting any one, or inwardly de- 
spising any one, — Lord, preserve and keep us. 

In the constant sense of our membership of 
Christ ; in the unfailing thought that we are his 
soldiers and servants ; in the love for our Father's 
house, and the blessed hope of our eternal home, — 
Lord, preserve and keep us. 

For the mercies of the past night ; for the health 
and comfort with which we begin the day ; for the 
provision for our wants ; for means of improve- 
ment, of enjoyment, and of usefulness, — we hum- 
bly thank thee, the Giver of all good. Bless all 
dear to us. Multiply the preachers of thy gospel ; 
turn opposers and persecutors into witnesses for 
thee ; and subdue all hearts unto thyself, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FRIDAY. 



Philippians i. — 12. I would ye should under- 
stand, brethren, that the things which happened 
unto me have fallen out rather unto the further- 
ance of the gospel : 

13. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in 
all the palace, and in all other places; 

14. And many of the brethren in the Lord, 
waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold 
to speak the word without fear. 

15. Some, indeed, preach Christ even of envy 
and strife ; and some also of good will. 

16. The one preach Christ of contention, 
not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my 
bonds ; 

17. But the other of love, knowing that I am 
set for the defence of the gospel. 

18. What then ? Notwithstanding, every way, 
whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached ; 
and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 

19. For I know that this shall turn to my sal- 
vation through your prayer, and the supply of the 
Spirit of Jesus Christ, 

20. According to my earnest expectation, and 
my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but 
that with all boldness, as always, so now also, 
Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it 
be by life or by death. 



21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is 
gain. « 

22. But, if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit 
of my labor ; yet what I shall choose I wot not. 

23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a 
desire to depart, and to be with Christ ; which is 
far better : 

24. Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more 
needful for you. 

25. And, having this confidence, I know that I 
shall abide and continue with you all for your fur- 
therance and joy of faith ; 

26. That your rejoicing may be more abundant 
in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. 

27. Only let your conversation be as it becom- 
eth the gospel of Christ ; that whether I come 
and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your 
affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one 
mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 

28. And in nothing terrified by your adversa- 
ries ; which is to them an evident token of perdi- 
tion, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 

29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of 
Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer 
for his sake ; 

30. Having the same conflict which ye saw in 
me, and now hear to be in me. 



The hand that wrote these words of faith and hope was 
chained to a Roman soldier ; the eye that looked forward to 
the ineffable glory of being with Christ was shut in by the 
walls of a dungeon. But no chain could bind the spirit that 
here pours itself forth with such magnanimity of love, such 
triumph of devotion ; which makes bonds witnesses for 
Christ, and the violence of adversaries a token that God's 
deliverance is at hand. No dungeon could darken, no threats 
of execution could intimidate, the spirit which knew that to 
die would be gain. 

But while faith thus triumphed over death, and love longed 



to depart and be with Christ, the apostle, in his Master's 
spirit of sacrifice, was willing to postpone his own glory to 
the good of the Church, and to preach Christ through pains 
and sufferings and patience, if thereby he might inspirit oth- 
ers to the like joy of faith. Compare this magnanimity, this 
courage, this patience, this unrepining, unselfish devotion, 
of Paul, in his narrow cell, with the sullenness, the peevish- 
ness, the misanthropy of Napoleon in a captivity solaced 
by so many comforts, and one cannot hesitate upon which 
head to place the crown of true greatness and of final vic- 
tory. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 30, 104. 



God, who hast spared our lives, and brought 
us to the beginning of another day ! we lift up our 
hearts to thee. We thank thee for rest during 
the past night ; for life preserved, and strength re- 
newed; and for the many tokens of thy loving- 
kindness which surround us. 

And now, Lord ! prepare us for the duties and 
trials which this day may bring. Whatever we 
have to do, may we do it willingly and heartily, as 
unto thee, and not as unto men. Whatever may 
be our besetting sins, grant that we may know 
them, and watch and fight against them. Give us 
grace to take up, each one of us, our peculiar cross, 
whatever it may be ; to exercise constant self-de- 
nial; and in all things to follow our Master, so 
that each of us may say, " For me to live is Christ." 
Make us more like him in lowliness and meekness ; 
tender-hearted, forgiving one another; ready to 



bear each other's burdens, and so fulfil the law of 
Christ. 

Let not the world with its cares and vanities fill 
our hearts, and so make us forget the worth of our 
souls, the love of our Saviour, and the nearness' 
of eternity. Whilst we are busy in the world, may 
our hearts rise above it ! 

Lord, watch over us, and all who are dear to us, 
this day. Defend our souls from the assaults of 
the Wicked One, and preserve our bodies in health 
and safety. May all thy wise and merciful inspira- 
tions bind us to thee, and fit us better for thy ser- 
vice ! May we walk in the light of thy countenance, 
and know the happiness of those who have the 
Lord for their God ! Finally, prepare us to depart 
and be with Christ. Hear us, heavenly Father, 
and when thou hearest forgive, for the sake of 
Jesus our Saviour. Amen. 



24 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



2 Timothy iv. — 1. I charge thee, therefore, be- 
fore God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall 
judge the quick and the dead at his appearing 
and his kingdom, 

2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out 
of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long- 
suffering and doctrine. 

3. For the time will come when they will not 
endure sound doctrine ; but after their own lusts 
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having 
itching ears ; 

4. And they shall turn away their ears from the 
truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

5. But watch thou in all things ; endure afflic- 
tions ; do the work of an evangelist ; make full 
proof of thy ministry. 

6. For I am now ready to be offered, and the 
time of my departure is at hand. 



7. I have fought a good fight ; I have finished 
my course ; I have kept the faith : 

8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown 
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous 
Judge, shall give me at that day ; and not to me 
only, but unto all them also that love his appear- 
ing. 

16. At my first answer no man stood with me, 
but all men forsook me : i" fray God that it may 
not be laid to their charge. 

17. Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me, 
and strengthened me; that by me the preaching 
might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles 
might hear : and I was delivered out of the mouth 
of the lion. 

18. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil 
work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly king- 
dom; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 



" Henceforth " — from this time onward — the glory seemed 
immediate, the crown a present possession. The days or 
months of imprisonment yet before him, the tortures that 
might await him, the martyrdom that he must certainly un- 
dergo, — all this vanished from the scene; and, in the ecstasy 
of faith, he beheld only his beloved Lord coming to bless him 
with the rewards of heaven. The confidence of Paul was not 
self-boasting. "I have kept the faith;" and that faith, as he 
elsewhere testifies, had kept him through conflicts and perils, 
and would now make him " more than conqueror " over death. 
This victory and crown he fain would share with all who loved 
his Lord. This magnanimity of love often appears in the 
utterances of Paul ; as when he said of his Thessalonian con- 
verts, "What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? 
Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at 
his coming ? Por ye are our glory and joy." 



It is the triumph of Christ in and through him that he 
here celebrates ; and the crown that he looks for is one that 
Christ shall give him, — not the reward of merit, but the con- 
summation of that justifying grace which shall be to the be- 
liever " a crown of righteousness." Already he had been 
brought up to be sentenced, and every friend had deserted 
him. The disciples were too timid to risk his fate. But, in 
the strength of his 'Lord, he had boldly proclaimed the 
gospel to the court of Coesar ; and the Lord had delivered 
him. He was not afraid to testify for Christ ; not afraid 
to die for him. Porgetting himself, he thinks only of the gos- 
pel, and exhorts Timothy to be faithful to that. If the 
gospel is our highest joy, we can look death calmly in the 
face, and leave the world in triumph to be with Christ in his 
glory. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 62, 64, 143. 



Deliver us, Lord ! we pray thee, from every 
evil work, and preserve us unto thy heavenly king- 
dom. "We thank thee, gracious God ! for all thy 
mercies both bodily and spiritual. Bless the Lord, 
our souls ! and all that is within us, bless his 
holy name. Thou crownest us with loving-kind- 
ness and tender mercies. Thou hast not dealt 
with us after our sins, neither rewarded us accord- 
ing to our iniquities. 

Father of mercies, we thank thee for our family 
blessings, and for the goodness thou hast shown 
to each of us individually. But most of all we 
thank thee for the redemption of the world by our 
Saviour Jesus Christ. Oh that we may always re- 
member his exceeding great love in dying for us, 
and the innumerable benefits which by his precious 
blood he hath obtained for us ! May we carefully 
walk in his footsteps, and study to serve him in 
true holiness and righteousness all the days of our 
life ! Help us to keep ever in mind the great day 
of his appearing ; and, by the faith of that coming 
redemption, may we be steadfast, unmovable, al- 
ways abounding in the work of the Lord. Oh ! 



hasten, Lord, that great and glorious day. Pre- 
pare all men for it. Spread abroad the gospel of 
thy grace. Increase and multiply thy Church, and 
fill the whole earth with thy glory. 

As we enter upon a new day, we commit our- 
selves unto thy holy keeping. May our dependence 
be our strength ! May we not be anxious for the 
morrow, nor vexed with the cares of life, nor led 
astray by the deceitfulness of riches ! May we 
shun the temptation to do wrong, and be ready for 
every opportunity of doing good ! May love to 
God and love to man rule in our hearts continu- 
ally! 

And now, heavenly Father ! do thou draw 
away our minds from earthly things, and fix them 
on things above. And as thy Son Jesus Christ 
hath ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at thy 
right hand, we pray thee to send down upon us 
thy Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto 
the same place whither our Saviour Christ is 
gone before ; who liveth and reigneth with thee 
and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



25 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Psalm ii. — 1. Why do the heathen rage, and 
the people imagine a vain thing ? 

2. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the 
rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and 
against his anointed, saying, 

3. Let us break their bands asunder, and cast 
away their cords from us. 

4. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh : 
the Lord shall have them in derision. 

5. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, 
and vex them in his sore displeasure. 

6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill 
of Zion. 

7. I will declare the decree : The Lord hath said 
unto me, Thou art my Son ; this day have I be- 
gotten thee. 

8. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen 
for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of 
the earth for thy possession. 

9. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron ; 
thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 

10. Be wise now therefore, ye kings ! be in- 
structed, ye judges of the earth. 

11. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with 
trembling. 



This psalm, in the spirit of prophecy, celebrates the in- 
auguration of the Messiah as king in his Church, with 
authority and power to subdue the world. David himself 
never attained to any such universal dominion as is here 
described, though it be taken with the license of poetry; and 
the reign of Solomon was not disturbed by any such array of 
enemies as this vision brings before us. Neither David nor 
Solomon, therefore, could have been the king whom the 
psalm celebrates ; nor did any subsequent period of the king- 
dom of Judah answer to these conditions. It was interpreted 
as a prophecy of Christ by the apostles, when " Herod and 
Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, 
were gathered together against the holy child Jesus;" and 
again by Paul in the Epistle to the Hebrews, where Christ is 
set above the angels, as the only-begotten Son of God. He 
who was born into the world of a lowly virgin, was, before 
his advent, consecrated in heaven to be King over God's true 



12. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye per- 
ish from the way when his wrath is kindled but 
a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust 
in him. 

Revelation i. — 4. Grace be unto you, and peace, 
from him which is, and which was, and which is to 
come ; and from the seven spirits which are before 
his throne ; 

5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful 
Witness, and the first-begotten of the dead, and 
the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him 
that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his 
own blood, 

6. And hath made us kings and priests unto 
God and his Father ; to him be glory and domin- 
ion for ever and ever. Amen. 

7. Behold, he cometh with clouds ; and every 
eye shall see him, and they also which pierced 
him : and all kindreds of the earth shall wail 
because of him. Even so, Amen. 

8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning 
and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, 
and which was, and which is to come, the Al- 
mighty. 



Israel, with the promise of the universal triumph of his 
spiritual dominion. This is his coronation-hymn. John, in 
the Revelation, takes up the strain in a doxology to Christ as 
having divine power and glory. 

Providential causes and powers will contribute to this re- 
sult. In language borrowed from our human emotions, the 
Lord is said to "laugh " at his enemies, and to be " angry" 
with them in turn. The " derision " shows how vain and 
foolish are all the combinations of men against truth and 
righteousness; the "displeasure" signifies the justice of God 
aroused against those who attempt to obstruct his truth and 
hinder his grace. So, in time, all oppressive governments 
and false religions shall go down. 

This should give us hope and confidence in times of dark- 
ness and confusion in the world. Christ's kingdom must 
prevail. May ours be the blessedness of those who trust in 

him ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 49, 80. 



Thine, Lord! is the greatness, and the power, 
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; 
for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is 
thine : thine is the kingdom, Lord! and thou art 
exalted as Head over all. We bless thee that thou 
hast given unto thy Son the kingdom in this 
world, and hast promised that the gates of hell 
shall not prevail against his Church ; and we be- 
seech thee, upon this thy holy day, so to bless thy 
truth and all the appointed means of grace that a 
great multitude of souls shall be born into the 
kingdom of Christ through the power of the 
Holy Ghost. Make thy Word a comfort - and a 
joy unto all believers, and the power of God 
unto salvation to the world that lieth in wicked- 



Lord Jesus ! rule thou in our hearts ; by thy 
redeeming grace take away our sins ; by thy sanc- 
tifying presence fill our souls with thy peace. 
May we do all things to thy glory, and show forth 
thy praise in our lives ! We humbly thank thee, 
Lord ! for the blessings of the past week, for thy 
daily benefits to us, and to all dear to us. Bless 
this household, this day and always, with thy grace. 
May every one of its before thee, and all who are 
united with us in family ties, be found within the 
kingdom of thy dear Son ! May we know the joy 
of a full consecration unto Him who hath redeemed 
us to God with his precious blood ! and, having 
served him in his kingdom here, may we come to 
be partakers of his glory in the kingdom of his 



Father, for Christ's sake ! 



Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Luke ix. — 51. And it came to pass, when the 
time was come that he should be received up, he 
steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 

52. And sent messengers before his face; and 
they went and entered into a village of the Samari- 
tans to make ready for him. 

53. And they did not receive him, because his 
face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 

54. And, when his disciples James and John saw 
this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command 
fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, 
even as Elias did? 

55. But he turned and rebuked them, and 
said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are 
of; 

56. For the Son of man is not come to destroy 
men's lives, but to save them. And they went to 
another village. 



57. And it came to pass, that, as they went in 
the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will 
follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 

58. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, 
and birds of the air have nests ; but the Son of 
man hath not where to lay his head. 

59. And he said unto another, Follow me. But 
he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my 
father. 

60. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury 
their dead ; but go thou and preach the kingdom 
of God. 

61. And another also said, Lord, I will follow 
thee ; but let me first go bid them farewell which 
are at home at my house. 

62. And Jesus said unto him, No man having 
put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is 
fit for the kingdom of God. 



I chanced to be at an inland town at the starting of a regi- 
ment to the seat of war. It was a tender hour ; for almost 
every spectator had some relative or friend among the sol- 
diers : but the sympathy of the multitude seemed to be con- 
centrated upon a young captain, whose face wore an expres- 
sion of peculiar sadness. " That," said my friend, " is the 
son of one of our most respected and influential citizens. 
His father died yesterday, and is to be buried to-morrow ; but 
the regiment was ordered to hurry to the front, and he goes 
with it." There was no lack of filial piety in that young 
man, who thus left the dead to bury their dead, while he went 
to offer his life, if need be, for his country. In the hour of 
the nation's peril, there must be no looking back on the part 
of any who were enlisted for her defence. The love of coun- 
try was more than the love of kindred and home. 



In this spirit of supreme, all-absorbing devotion to the 
kingdom of God have missionaries gone forth to the heathen. 
In this spirit of unhesitating, self-sacrificing consecration 
must every disciple enter upon the service of Christ, with no 
looking back toward the world, no divided interest between 
God and Mammon. The Saviour has a right to demand 
this ; since, for our sakes, he left the glory he had with the 
Father before the world was, and gave himself for us. He 
came to save us ; and, when the time for offering up his life 
had come, he went steadfastly forward to meet the fate that 
awaited him at Jerusalem, ready to sacrifice himself even for 
those who rejected and insulted him upon the way. May 
the love of Christ constrain us to feel that we are not our 
own ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Lord our God ! we come before thee this even- 
ing, trusting only in the name of Christ our Sa- 
viour. We are not worthy to lift up our hearts 
and our voices unto thee ; but He is worthy in 
whose name we approach thee. Though thou art 
high and holy, yet dost thou humble thyself to be- 
hold the dwellers upon earth, and dost hearken to 
the cry of the needy for thy dear Son's sake. 

We thank thee for health and strength, and 
every earthly comfort and blessing. But we praise 
thee yet more for the measure of grace which thou 
hast given to us ; for thy holy Word, and for the 
way of salvation which it points out. Teach us to 
devote all that we have, and all that we are, to 
Him who gave himself for us. Oh, may the love of 
Christ constrain us ! May we walk as children of 
the light ! and may our light so shine before men, 
that they may see our good works, and glorify our 
Father which is in heaven ! 

Give unto us the spirit of self-denial, — the same 
mind that was in Christ Jesus our Lord. So fill us 
with the grandeur of thy kingdom, with the reality 
of things not seen, with the nearness of eternity, 
that we shall count all earthly things but loss for 



Prayer. [Nos. 98, 179, 199. 

May we trust thy providence to take 



while we seek first the kingdom of 



thy sake, 
care of us 
God! 

[May the children of this family grow up in the 
love of all that is pure and good and holy !] We 
implore thy blessing upon all who are in any way 
connected with us, especially those who are in any 
trouble and sorrow. Comfort those who mourn. 
Enlighten and sanctify any who are yet far from 
thee, and who are ignorant of the great salvation. 

Bless, Lord ! we beesech thee, all societies 
formed for the spread of thy gospel. Give wis- 
dom to those who manage them, and grace and 
zeal to all whom they employ. May their labors 
be crowned with success ! and may they be the 
means of leading many to the knowledge of the 
Saviour ! And hasten the time, we entreat thee, 
when all shall know thee, from the least to the 
greatest. 

And now, most gracious Father, we pray thee 
to watch over and protect us through this night. 
Let thy love cheer us, and thy Holy Spirit comfort 
us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and 
Advocate. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



27 



MONDAY. 



Matthew iii. — 1. In those days came John the 
Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judoea, 

2. And. saying, Eepent ye ; for the kingdom of 
heaven is at hand. 

3. For this is he that was spoken of by the pro- 
phet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the 
wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord ; make 
his paths straight. 

4. And the same John had his raiment of cam- 
el's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins ; and 
his meat was locusts and wild honey. 

5. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all 
Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 

6. And were baptized of him in Jordan, con- 
fessing their sins. 

7. But, when he saw many of the Pharisees 
and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unito 
them, generation of vipers ! who hath warned 
you to flee from the wrath to come ? 



The " wilderness " in which John the Baptist began his 
preaching lay along the River Jordan upon either side, and 
probably in the neighborhood of Suceoth, — the ford by which 
Jacob crossed when he returned from Padan-Aram. His 
dress was such as is worn to-day by Bedouins of that re- 
gion, — "a cloak w r oven of camel's hair, thrown over the 
shoulders, and tied in front on the breast ; round the waist 
is a girdle of skin ; the hair is flowing loose about the head." 
The Arabian traveller Burckhardt says, "All the Bedou- 
ins of Arabia are accustomed to eat locusts. I have seen 
at Medina and Tayp locust-shops where these animals are 
sold by measure. They are sometimes eaten boiled in but- 
ter ; and they often contribute materials for a breakfast 
when spread over unleavened bread mixed with butter." 
Wild honey is found in trees in the wilderness, and in rocks 
in the wadies. John led an austere life, without luxuries 



8. Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for repent- 
ance : 

9. And think not to say within yourselves, We 
have Abraham to our father ; for I say unto you, 
that God is able of these stones to raise up chil- 
dren unto Abraham. 

10. And now also the axe is laid unto the root 
of the trees : therefore every tree which bringeth 
not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into 
the fire. 

11. I indeed baptize you with water unto re- 
pentance : but he that cometh after me is mightier 
than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear ; he 
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with 
fire : 

12. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thor- 
oughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into 
the garner ; but he will burn up the chaff with 
unquenchable fire. 



or even comforts, as became bis mission of repentance and 
reformation. 

The threshing-floor was a raised bed of hardened earth, 
from fifty to a hundred feet in diameter, in the open air, 
upon which the grain was threshed out by the feet of oxen, or 
by rollers dragged over it by the cattle. The fan was a 
shovel, or sieve, by which the contents of the floor were stirred 
and tossed against the wind until all the chaff and dust were 
blown away. These strong figures indicated the work of purify- 
ing to be done in Israel itself before Christ's spiritual mission 
could be received. They were none too strong to express the 
need of piirification in the Church at the period of the Ref- 
ormation ; and again in the times of the Puritans, of the 
Wesleys, and other spiritual reformers. They still teach us 
that our hearts must be purged of all sin, winnowed of self- 
ishness, to receive the grace of Christ 



Appbopbiate Htiins,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 36, 67, 95. 



Search us, God ! and know our hearts ; try us, 
and know our thoughts ; and see if there be any 
wicked way in us ; and lead us in the way ever- 
lasting. Have mercy upon us, Lord ! according 
to thy loving-kindness ; according to the multitude 
of thy tender mercies, blot out our transgressions. 
Wash us thoroughly from our iniquities, and cleanse 
us from our sin. For we acknowledge our trans- 
gressions, and our sin is ever before us. 

We thank thee that thou hast safely brought us 
to the beginning of this day ; defend us in the 
same by thy mighty power ; and grant that this 
day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind 
of danger, but that all our doings, being ordered 
by thy governance, may be righteous in thy sight. 

Fit us day by day for the duties that lie before 
us. We would put ourselves and all that concerns 
us into thy hands, and ask thee to be our Guide and 
Counsellor. In all our ways we desire to acknowl- 
edge thee ; and do thou direct our path. Keep us, 
we beseech thee, from all evil, that we, being ready 



both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish 
those things that thou wouldst have us to do. 

Fit us, Lord ! for all the events of this short 
and uncertain life. If prosperity be our portion, 
keep us humble and watchful in the midst of it; 
or, if sorrows and trials come upon us, give us 
grace cheerfully to submit, saying, "Father, not 
my will, but thy will, be done." 

[Give unto the children of this family grace to 
serve thee in the morning of life. Oh ! keep them 
from temptation and evil, and from every false and 
hurtful way.] Be very gracious to our friends : 
grant to them health and prosperity in this life, 
and make them meet for the life everlasting. And, 
Lord ! bless and save the whole world. 

Accept, we beseech thee, for Christ's sake, our 
poor imperfect services, and give us grace to serve 
thee better. May all we undertake be begun, con- 
tinued, and ended in thee, that so we may glorify 
thy holy name, and finally by thy mercy obtain ever- 
lasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen. 



28 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Malachi iv. — 1. For, behold, the day corneth 
that shall burn as an oven ; and all the proud, 
yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble : 
and the day that cometh shall burn them up, 
saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them 
neither root nor branch. 

2. But unto you that fear my name shall the 
Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his 
wings ; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as 
calves of the stall. 

3. And ye shall tread down the wicked ; for 
they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in 
the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of 
hosts. 

4. Remember ye the law of Moses my ser- 
vant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb 
for all Israel, with the statutes and judg- 
ments. 

5. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet 
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of 
the Lord ; 

6. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to 
the children, and the heart of the children to their 
fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a 
curse. 

John i. — 19. This is the record of John, when 



the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem 
to ask him, Who art thou ? 

20. And he confessed, and denied not ; but con- 
fessed, I am not the Christ. 

21. And they asked him, What then ? Art thou 
Elias ? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that 
prophet ? And he answered, No. 

22. Then said they unto him, Who art thou ? 
that we may give an answer to them that sent us. 
What sayest thou of thyself? 

23. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the 
wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as 
said the prophet Esaias. 

24. And they which were sent were of the 
Pharisees. 

25. And they asked him, and said unto him, 
Why baptizest thou, then, if thou be not that 
Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 

26. John answered them, saying, I baptize with 
water ; but there standeth one among you whom 
ye know not : 

27. He it is, who, coming after me, is preferred 
before me ; whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to 
unloose. 

28. These things were done in Bethabara be- 
yond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 



The rite of baptism was not new to the Jews. They were 
accustomed to administer it to proselytes, and as a token of a 
new dispensation. Hence they demanded of John his authority 
for baptizing, and not an explanation of the rite itself. 

How remarkable was the humility of John ! Stern and 
bold in the denunciation of sin, earnest and fervent in preach- 
ing repentance, he was yet modest and self-depreciating con- 
cerning his own mission. Surrounded as he was by eager 
crowds, multitudes of whom sought baptism at his hands 
and became his disciples, aware of the feverish expectation 
of the Messiah in the minds of his countrymen, the tempta- 
tion was strong to win personal popularity by allowing the 
rumor to go out that he was the Christ. Bat he resolutely 



disclaimed the honor that others were ready to put upon 
him, and directed their thoughts to another. Jesus was his 
own cousin, and his junior: he was as poor as himself, — of 
even a humbler condition, — was without friends, and had as 
yet done nothing to manifest his divine mission. Yet such 
was the faith of John in the story of his birth, and in the 
word of prophecy, that he recognized in him the Son of God, 
and declared himself unworthy even to loose the sandals from 
his feet. 

We admire such humility. Let us strive to imitate it ; and, 
while we appreciate the work that God has given us to do, 
let us not seek honor one of another, but render all praise 
and glory to Christ alone. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 8, 97, 177. 



Lord ! make clean our hearts before thee. 
Baptize us with thine own Spirit, that we may be 
renewed in the spirit and temper of our minds, and 
may exhibit in our daily walk all the virtues and 
graces of the Christian life. 

We render thanks to thee for thy loving care in 
the night-season. We thank thee that health and 
home and friends and country are preserved to us. 
We thank thee for all thy goodness to us as a 
family; and pray thee, O our Saviour! to abide 
with us ever. 

O Lord ! we beseech thee to visit us this day 
with thy loving-kindness. May the Sun of right- 
eousness arise upon us with healing in his wings ! 
Give us grace to discharge faithfully our duties 
to thee and to each other. Make us kind and 
courteous unto all men, honest in our dealings, 



truthful in our words, guileless in our thoughts. 
Strengthen us to bear with patience whatsoever 
trials or sufferings may be in store for us, preserve 
us from the sins which do most easily beset us, and 
enable us this day and ever to walk worthy of our 
Christian calling, through Jesus Christ pur Lord. 

Lord Jesus ! we long for thy coming in power 
and glory among the nations. May thy Church 
arise, and make straight the way of the Lord ! 

almighty and most merciful Father ! we com- 
mend to thee ourselves and all that belong to us, 
all who pray for us, and all who have at any time 
asked our prayers for them. Have pity upon the 
poor, the sick, the dying, and the sorrowing. Incline 
thine ear to us, and hear us, we beseech thee, and 
order all our ways, this and every day, according to 
thy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



WEDNESDAY. 



Psalm XV. — 1. Lord, who shall abide in thy 
tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 

2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh 
righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 

3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor 
doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a re- 
proach against his neighbor. 

4. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned ; 
but he honoreth them that fear the Lord. He 
that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 

5. He that putteth not out his money to usury, 
nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that 
doeth these tilings shall never be moved. 

John i. — 43. The day following, Jesus would 
go forth into Galilee ; and findeth Philip, and 
saith unto him, Follow me. 

44. Now, Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of 
Andrew and Peter. 

45. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto 
him, We have found him of whom Moses in the 
law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Naza- 
reth, the son of Joseph. 



46. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there 
any good thing come out of Nazareth ? Philip 
saith unto him, Come and see. 

47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and 
saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom 
is no guile ! 

48. Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest 
thou me ? Jesus answered and said unto him, Be- 
fore that Philip called thee, when thou wast under 
the fig-tree, I saw thee. 

49. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, 
Babbi, thou art the Son of God ; thou art the King 
of Israel. 

50. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because 
I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, be- 
lievest thou ? Thou shalt see greater things than 
these. 

51. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say 
unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and 
the angels of God ascending and descending upon 
the Son of man. 



Nazareth was an insignificant village, and, for some cause, 
was in bad repute. The Jews of Southern Palestine, possess- 
ing the capital and the temple, held in contempt the region 
of Galilee, remote from religious privileges, and upon the 
border line of pagan countries. But, as Nathanael was a 
Galilean, his question of surprise shows that Nazareth was in 
disrepute even in Galilee itself. Philip, having obeyed the 
call of Jesus, sought out his particular friend, that he might 
bring him to the knowledge of Christ. It is a first duty of a 
young Christian, and should be a first impulse, to lead others 
to the Saviour, saying, " / have found him : come and see 
for yourself also." 

Nathanael was already a true servant of God, living in the 
inner spirit of the Old-Testament revelation ; and, in welcom- 
ing him with the reading of his heart and life, Jesus revealed 
his own omniscience. This personal experience drew from 



Nathanael the immediate confession of Jesus as the Son of 
God, the promised Messiah ; and our Lord not only accepted 
this open recognition of his character, but declared that the 
confession of his disciple should be certified by most glorious 
signs from heaven, blending in an ineffable dignity the human 
with the divine, the " Son of man " and the " Son o' God." 

The incident shows that one mat/ be in spirit a Christian 
who has not yet heard of Christ ; that the heart may be pre- 
pared by grace to receive and welcome the Saviour when re- 
vealed ; that God may see in the heart of an Israelite, or of a 
pagan, that guileless devotion to truth, that prayerful conse- 
cration to duty, that sincere regard for righteousness, which 
are the precursors of a Christian faith, where, as yet, the grace 
of Christ is not known. The cases of Nathanael and Cor- 
nelius should teach us to be charitable in our judgment of 
our fellow-men. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 9, 62, 154. 



Our voice shalt thou hear in the morning, 
Lord ! in the morning will we direct our prayer 
unto thee, and will look up. Oh ! lead us this day 
in thy righteousness ; make thy way straight before 
our face. Grant that we may see and know clear- 
ly what things we ought to do ; and, whatever we 
do, may we do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and 
not unto man. 

Keep us from vain self-dependence, from pride, 
self-will, and presumption. Plant in all our hearts 
thy holy fear ; and may we show such meekness 
and gentleness and humility as become the true 
followers of Christ ! 

Whilst we are this day diligent in business, give 
us grace at the same time to be fervent in spirit, 
serving thee. May the continual recollection of 
thy manifold and great mercies incline us to pre- 
sent our souls and bodies a living sacrifice unto 
thee ! May we not be conformed to this world, but 



transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we 
may prove what is that good and acceptable and 
perfect will of God ! 

[May the children of this family set thy love be- 
fore them as their chief portion in life, and make 
thy Word their guide ! May they always speak the 
truth, and grow up free from guile ! May they hear 
the voice of Jesus, and follow him !] Be gracious, 
Lord! to all our kindred. Visit thy Church 
with thy salvation. Inspire thy people with a 
readiness to testify of thy love, and to invite others 
to thy grace. May we behold even greater fruits 
of thy coming than were seen by thine own apos- 
tles ! Open thou the windows of heaven, and 
cause thy glory to shine forth, that all the ends of 
the earth shall acknowledge thee. And unto 
Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins 
in his own blood, be honor and praise, world with- 
out end. Amen. 



30 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



John ii. — 1. And the third day there was a 
marriage in Cana of Galilee ; and the mother of 
Jesus was there. 

2. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, 
to the marriage. 

3. And, when they wanted wine, the mother of 
Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 

4. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to 
do with thee ? Mine hour is not yet come. 

5. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatso- 
ever he saith unto you, do it. 

6. And there were set there six water-pots of 
stone, after the manner of the purifying of the 
Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 

7. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots 
with water ; and they filled them up to the brim. 



8. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and 
bear unto the governor of the feast ; and they 
bare it. 

9. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the 
water that was made wine, and knew not whence 
it was (but the servants which drew the water 
knew), the governor of the feast called the bride- 
groom, 

10. And saith unto him, Every man at the 
beginning doth set forth good wine ; and when 
men have well drunk, then that which is 
worse : but thou hast kept the good wine until 
now. 

11. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in 
Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory ; 
and his disciples believed on him. 



The village of Cana lay about three hours distant in a 
north-easterly direction from Nazareth, which, up to this time, 
had been the home of our Lord. Probably this marriage 
was at the house of a relative, where the mother of Jesus was 
sufficiently at home to give directions to the servants, and to 
feel some responsibility for the entertainment. The expecta- 
tions which she had so long hidden in her heart were now 
ready to burst into fruition. Possibly Jesus had given her 
some intimation that he would open his ministry by miracle ; 
or she had divined in him the latent power of God. But the 
revelation of his divinity must proceed from himself in his 
own time and way, and could not be hurried to meet the 
desire of his mother for the honor of her son, or her concern 
for the reputation of the host. His answer was a reproof to 
her eagerness for his action upon such grounds : in the depths 
of his consciousness, he would await an intimation from his 
Father. God alone must here direct him, and even his mother 
may not interfere. The term " woman," however, was not one 



of disrespect. Jesus thus addressed his mother from the cross, 
when with the tenderest love he commended her to John. 

This miracle was most striking in its nature and its proofs. 
The servants of the family filled to the brim with water the 
great water-jars that stood" in the dining-hall. Jesus did not 
touch them. Then the servants drew from these same 
vessels ; and, lo ! the water had become wine, which was pro- 
nounced excellent by persons at the table, who knew nothing 
of what had passed. " In order for wine to be produced, we 
have the growth and ripening of the grape, the crushing of it 
in proper vessels, the fermentation ; but here all these are 
in a moment brought about in their results by the same Power 
which made the laws of Nature." 

There could be no physical connection between the word 
spoken by Jesus and the change produced in the nature of the 
water ; no cause and effect within the range of material laws. 
It was the direct power of his will acting upon a physical sub- 
stance, — the power of spirit over matter. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 115, 192. 



eternal, everlasting God, fountain of all hap- 
piness, God of all grace ! we acknowledge with 
grateful hearts thine undeserved mercies. Thou 
hast made our cup to overflow with blessings. 
From the first moment of our being, thou hast 
been our Guardian; thou hast visited our home 
with daily benefits ; thou hast given us the com- 
forts of thy providence, and grace ; thou hast 
shielded us from unknown dangers ; thou hast 
warded off unseen calamities : no earthly friend 
could have loved us and cared for us like thee. 

O blessed Saviour, who hast sanctified the home 
of love with thy presence and benediction ! may thy 
presence ever abide with us, thy benediction ever 
rest upon us ! May we know the happiness of true 
holiness, and experience the joy of angels, in doing 
thy holy will on earth as they do it in heaven ! 
Fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we 
may abound in hope through the power of the 
Holy Ghost. 

Thou who art the Lord of all ! help us to dis- 
cern thy hand in the supply of our daily wants, 
and to remember that the power which created all 
things at the first, the power which hath wrought 



mighty wonders in times past, is the same which 
provides for us through the regular and silent course 
of nature, and by the ministry of human love. 

Bless our family and friends. May ours be a 
household where the God of salvation dwells ! 
May every member of it be zealous in the promo- 
tion of thy glory ! 

This day, and every day, may we do something 
for thee. Let us die daily to sin, and live daily to 
God, that, when the hour of our earthly departure 
arrives, it may be to all of us the birthday of a 
new life in glory everlasting. 

We pray for all the families of the earth, that 
they may be blessed in thee. We pray for the 
homeless and the desolate; and beseech thee to 
be the God of the widow, and the Father of the 
fatherless. 

We ask all these manifold blessings, for our- 
selves and for others, in the name and for the sake 
of our adorable Lord and Saviour, who is now 
within the veil ; where with thee, eternal Father ! 
and thee, O ever-blessed Comforter ! three in one, 
he ever liveth and reigneth, world without end. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



31 



FRIDAY. 



Malachi iii. — 1. Behold, I will send my mes- 
senger, and lie shall prepare the way before me ; 
and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come 
to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, 
whom ye delight in : behold, he shall come, saith 
the Lord of hosts. 

2. But who may abide the day of his coming ? 
and who shall stand when he appeareth ? for he is 
like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap. 

3. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of 
silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and 
purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer 
unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. 

4. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jeru- 
salem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the days 
of old, and as in former years. 

5. And I will come near to you to judgment ; 
and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, 
and against the adulterers, and against false 
Svvearers, and against those that oppress the hire- 
ling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, 
and that turn aside the stranger from his right, 
and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. 

John ii. — 13. And the Jews' passover was at 
hand ; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 

11. And found in the temple those that sold 
oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of 
money, sitting : 

15. And, when he had made a scourge of small 



cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the 
sheep and the oxen ; and poured out the changers' 
money, and overthrew the tables ; 

16. And said unto them that sold doves, Take 
these things hence : make not my Father's house 
an house of merchandise. 

17. And his disciples remembered that it was 
written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. 

18. Then answered the Jews, and said unto 
him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that 
thou doest these things ? 

19. Jesus answered and said unto them, De- 
stroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it 
up. 

20. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years 
was this temple in building ; and wilt thou rear it 
up in three days ? 

21. But he spake of the temple of his body. 

22. When therefore he was risen from the dead, 
his disciples remembered that he had said this 
unto them ; and they believed the scripture, and 
the word which Jesus had said. 

23. X ow, when he was in Jerusalem at the pass- 
over, in the feast-day, many believed in his name 
when they saw the miracles which he did. 

24. But Jesus did not commit himself unto 
them, because he knew all men, 

25. And needed not that any should testify of 
man : for he knew what was in man. 



Our Lord observed carefully all the requirements of the ' 
Old-Testament ritual. Although its provisions would be ; 
superseded by his sacrifice upon the cross and his priestly i 
mediation in heaven, he continued to regard them until the ; 
day of his death ; and, on the very night of his betrayal, he ! 
kept the passover with his disciples. And, while he himself 
thus honored the worship appointed of God, he could not en- ; 
dure to see it perverted or dishonored by others, and changed 
from a devout spiritual offering to a matter of merchandise. ! 
The animals required for the sacrifices, and the Jewish coin — ! 
the sh*kel — exacted for tribute, were exposed for sale within ! 
the outer court of the temple ; and this chaffering was gains' ; 
on in sight and hearing of the religious services. Bv his 



authority as a prophet, which he had already proved by his 
works, Jesus drove out these intruders with haste from the 
precincts of the sacred building. There was a place in his 
gentle, loving spirit for righteous indignation and holy zeal. 
Awed by his appearance and manner, the Jews called for 
some special token of his authority. The temple begun by 
Herod upon a scale of unprecedented magnificence, the work 
of almost half a century, was well-nigh completed, and was 
the pride and boast of the Jews. Yet it must soon give place 
to that spiritual edifice of which Christ himself was then the 
representative. To dark, unappreciative minds he announced 
the glorious resurrection of that temple whose growing splen- 
dor we are permitted to behold. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 5, 78, 104. 



Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be 
thy name ; thy kingdom come ; thy will be done 
in earth as it is in heaven. Oh, may thy kingdom 
fully come in our hearts, casting out all sin ; may 
thy will take possession of our wills, so that in all 
things we shall please and serve thee ! Thy mercy, 
Lord ! of which every night and morning bears 
witness, binds us to thee in love and gratitude ; 
and we dedicate ourselves to thee this day as 
obedient children. Help us to fulfil our vows. 
Keep us, we pray thee, from the love of this world, 
and from the power of evil. 

God, the protector of all that trust in thee, 
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is 



holy ! increase and multiply upon us thy mercy ; 
that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so 
pass through things temporal, that we finally lose 
not the things eternal. Dwell thou in our hearts 
by thy Spirit ; yea, make our very bodies temples 
of the Holy Ghost : and may all sin be put far 
away from us ! Lord our Saviour ! make this 
home thy habitation. [May the children gather 
about thee with songs of praise, with hearts 
and hands to do thy will !] And finally bring 
us unto our Father's house, to dwell forever in 
love and purity and joy. And to the Father, 
the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be glory forever. 
Amen. 



32 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



I Samuel xvi. — 10. Again Jesse made seven of 
his sons to pass before Samuel; and Samuel said 
unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these. 

11. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all 
thy children ? And he said, There remaineth yet 
the youngest ; and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. 
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him ; 
for we will not sit down till he come hither. 

12. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he 
•was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, 
and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, 
anoint him ; for this is he. 

13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and 
anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and 
the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that 
day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to 
Raman. 

I Samuel xvii. — 34. And David said unto Saul, 
Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there 
came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of 
the flock: 

35. And I went out after him, and smote him, and 
delivered it out of his mouth; and, when he arose 
against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote 
him, and slew him. 



36. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear; 
and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one 
of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the 
living God. 

37. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered 
me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw 
of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of 
this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go; 
and the Lord be with thee. 

Psalm xxiii. — 1. The Lord is my shepherd: I 
shall not want. 

2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ; 
he leadeth me beside the still waters. 

3. He restoreth my soul ; he leadeth me in the 
paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 
shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou 
art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort 
me. 

5. Thou preparest a table before me in the pres- 
ence of mine enemies : thou anointest my head 
with oil ; my cup runneth over. 

6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 
all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the 
house of the Lord forever. 



This psalm confirms and illustrates the story of David's 
early life as given in the Book of Samuel. It is a perfect gem 
of poetry ; but its beauty springs from the personal experience 
of the writer as reflected upon the inner life of the soul. 
Simply as a poet, David could not have written it ; for the 
mere poet would have described the shepherd's life from an 
outward point of view, — how he fed and watered his flock, 
choosing for them quiet haunts, and watching over and de- 
fending them in places of danger ; and then would have 
drawn from this an analogy of God's care of his people. 
But David was a shepherd; and, instead of describing a shep- 
herd's life, he transfers his own experience in the care of the 



flock to God's loving care of him. The Lord is my shep- 
herd : he is doing for me just what I am doing for these ten- 
der lambs. He takes care of me ; sees that I have food and 
rest and comfort ; is always with me for my supply and de- 
fence, so that I can want nothing and fear nothing. And he 
is so much greater and richer than I, that his goodness over- 
flows my present needs : he consecrates me with the oil of 
gladness. So may we beautify and dignify our daily life ; 
seeing in our calling, however humble, God's provision for 
our comfort, and enjoying its fruits as his gift. So may we 
rise above the fear of death ; finding, in God's favor, strength, 
grace, victory, and joy. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 43, 70, 116. 



thou great and good Shepherd! thou hast 
watched over us in the hours of darkness and of 
sleep ; defended us from evil : and, with our awak- 
ing consciousness, we find thee still at our side. 
As our eyes open to behold the light of day, our 
souls would look up and rejoice in the light of thy 
countenance. Oh ! keep us, this day, close unto 
thee, and lead us in paths of righteousness. Thou 
art our portion and our joy. Our waiting eyes are 
unto thee, Lord ! We are fed by thy bounty, pre- 
served by thy care, sustained by thy power. Give 
us, this day, our daily bread. But thou hast taught 
us in thy Word that man shall not live by bread 
alone : we therefore pray thee, feed our souls with 
the bread of life, and strengthen us by thy Spirit 
with might in the inner man, that we may do all 
thy holy will. [Blessed Saviour, care for the 
children of this family, as lambs of thy flock; 



guide, nourish, and defend them.] God, who 
art the only worthy portion of our souls ! keep us 
from that love of this world which would draw us 
away from thee. May the grace of Christ pre- 
serve us from sin, and the love of Christ con- 
strain us unto holy living ! May thought, motive, 
temper, speech, action, all be regulated by his 
blessed teaching and example ! In trials succor us ; 
in dangers defend us ; in sorrows heal us ; in death 
grant us thy staff to comfort us. Our Father in 
heaven, be thou the father of this family, supply- 
ing all our need, and binding our hearts unto thy- 
self. Join with us in the household of faith all 
who are dear to us ; and bless and multiply the 
family of thy people till it shall embrace all the 
kindreds and peoples of the earth. Gather thy 
whole Church as one flock under the one Shepherd, 
for the sake of Him who died to save us. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



33 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Exodus xxxiii. — 7. And Moses took the taber- 
nacle, and pitched it without the camp afar off from 
the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the Con- 
gregation. And it came to pass, that every one 
which sought the Lord went out unto the taber- 
nacle of the congregation which was without the 
camp. 

8. And it came to pass, when Moses went out 
unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, 
and stood every man at his tent-door, and looked 
after Moses until he was gone into the taber- 
nacle. 

9. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into 
the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and 
stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD 
talked with Moses. 

10. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar 
stand at the tabernacle-door; and all the people rose 
up and worshipped, every man in his tent-door. 

11. And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, 
as a man speaketh unto his friend. 

12. And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou 
sayest unto me, Bring up this people ; and thou 
hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with 
me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, 
and thou hast also found grace in my sight. 

13. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found 
grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I 
may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight ; 
and consider that this nation is thy people. 



Even the most spiritual religion cannot dispense with all 
forms of worship, and every symbol of faith. Though Je- 
hovah was invisible, and no graven image was suffered to be 
made, yet the cloudy pillar represented his presence, and a 
sacred tent was erected, where all the people could see it, 
though none of them were permitted to approach it. Here 
Moses held communion with the Lord, separated from the 
camp by a cloud. Thus were maintained the sanctity of 
Jehovah and the authority of his servant. But Moses did 
not use this privilege of communion for his own advantage, 



14. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, 
and I will give thee rest. 

15. And he said unto him, If thy presence go 
not with me, carry us not up hence. 

16. For wherein shall it be known here that I 
and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is 
it not in that thou goest with us ? So shall we be 
separated, I and thy people, from all the people that 
are upon the face of the earth. 

17. And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this 
thing also that thou hast spoken ; for thou hast 
found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. 

18. And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy 
glory. 

19. And he said, I will make all my goodness 
pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of 
the Lord before thee ; and will be gracious to whom 
I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom 
I will show mercy. 

20. And he said, Thou canst not see my face ; 
for there shall no man see me, and live. 

21. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place 
by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock ; 

22. And it shall come to pass, while my glory 
passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the 
rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I 
pass by; 

23. And I will take away mine hand, and thou 
shalt see my back parts ; but my face shall not be 
seen. 



nor suffer it to inflate him with pride. It was as a humble 
suppliant for grace, and as an intercessor for the people, that 
he went into the presence of God. That presence, the sense 
of God's nearness and favor, was his sole reliance in his re- 
sponsible task. But even Moses was not permitted to see 
God. The glory of his majesty and power, the splendor of 
light about him, the sapphire pavement under his feet, — these 
made no revelation of his essence ; and not even this most 
favored servant could see his face. Only in Christ can we see 
the Father. 



Appropriate Hymns,] Prayer 

Almighty Father, who dwellest in the light 
which no man can approach unto ! look upon us in 
the face of thy blessed Son, who bore our sins in 
his own body on the tree, and receive us graciously, 
for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. 

Many and great have been the favors bestowed 
on thy unworthy servants and on those belonging 
to us. Oh ! cause us to see and feel thy goodness 
in all that thou hast given, and in all thou hast de- 
nied or taken from us. We praise thee for our 
creation, preservation, and for all the comforts and 
blessings of this present life, but more especially 
for the grace of our Christian calling in Christ 
Jesus, for thy long-suffering mercy and forgive- 
ness, for the knowledge of thy truth and will, and 
for the blessed hope of everlasting life. We bless 



[Nos. 59, 145. 

thee for this holy day ; for thy holy Church ; for 
thy holy Word ; for the house of prayer and the 
communion of saints ; and pray that all the means 
of grace may this day minister to our spiritual 
good. Lord ! command thy blessing upon Zion, 
even life forevermore. 

Give thy blessing, we beseech thee, to the 
schools, that all children may be brought up in the 
nurture and admonition of the Lord. And grant, 
heavenly Father ! that all we of this household 
may ever, as far as in us lies, promote thy glory, 
and the spiritual as well as temporal good of all 
men in this place ; that thy name may be hallowed, 
thy kingdom come, and thy will be done among us 
as it is in heaven, for thy mercy's sake, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



34 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



John xiv. — 1. Let not your heart be troubled: 
ye believe in God; believe also in me. 

2. In my Father's house are many mansions : if 
it were not so, I would have told you. I go to 
prepare a place for you. 

3. And, if I go and prepare a place for you, I 
will come again and receive you unto myself; that 
where I am, there ye may be also. 

4. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye 
know. 

5. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not 
whither thou goest ; and how can we know the 
way ? 

6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the 
truth, and the life : no man cometh unto the Fa- 
ther but by me. 

7. If ye had known me, ye should have known 
my Father also ; and from henceforth ye know him, 
and have seen him. 

8. Philip saith unto him. Lord show us the 
Father, and it sufficeth us. 



9. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long 
time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, 
Philip ? He that hath seen me hath seen the 
Father; and how sayest thou, then, Show us the 
Father? 

10. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, 
and the Father in me ? The words that I speak 
unto you, I speak not of myself; but the Father 
that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 

11. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the 
Father in me ; or else believe me for the very 
works' sake. 

12. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that be- 
lieveth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; 
and greater ivorlis than these shall he do ; because 
I go unto my Father. 

13. A n d whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, 
that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in 
the Son. 

14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name I 
will do it. 



Was ever such love as this? A man, upon the eve of the 
most dreadful and ignominious suffering, setting aside his 
own sorrows, and giving comfort and hope to his friends ; 
thinking only of their griefs, and providing for their consola- 
tion ; yea, making his very sorrow the medium of their joy, 
his suffering the pathway to their glory ! Ah ! this is not 
the love of a mere suffering, dying man. By the works, that, 
through the whole course of his ministry, Jesus had done in 
the presence of his disciples, he was entitled to their recogni- 
tion of his divinity. He is now about to resume the mani- 
festation of that higher nature which had been veiled from 
human view. The Father dwelleth in him ; and so all truth, all 
life, all salvation, centre in himself. He does not say, " I will 
show you the way, I will teach you the truth, I will lead you 



unto life ; " but I am the way, and the truth, and the life, — 
the only way, and yet the way for all : so that whoever will 
truly believe in Christ, and, by prayer, will take hold upon 
his promise, shall know his presence and his power. He will 
honor his own name, fulfil his own desire, in answering our 
petitions, and succeeding our efforts for his cause. But in 
announcing his divine glory, and his return to the Father, 
our Lord did not divorce himself from his human friends. 
Not heaven itself would suffice him, could he not have his re- 
deemed there to share his joys. As for us he came, for us he 
died, so he has gone to the Father to prepare a place for us. 
What can trouble us with such love about us, such grace 
within us, such hope before us? Shall we not trust all to 
Him who is ready to give us all ? 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer 



[Nos. 76, 166. 



O Thou who art the Way ! we beseech thee to 
lead us ; Thou who art the Truth ! we beseech 
thee to teach us ; Thou who art the Life ! we 
beseech thee to preserve us unto the life everlasting. 
We thank thee, O God ! that in Christ we may know 
thee as our Father, reconciling us unto thyself. 

Transform us from day to day, and from week 
to week, more into the image of thy Son, that we 
may at last be presented faultless before the pres- 
ence of thy glory with exceeding joy. We praise 
thee for this sabbath and all its blessings, at home 
and in thy house. 

We pray for all who have worshipped with us 
this day. May grace, mercy, and peace be upon 
them, and upon the whole Israel of God ! Extend 
thy cause and kingdom everywhere. May the 
glorious gospel of the grace of God speedily tri- 
umph over all the pride and wisdom and will-wor- 
ship and delusion of man ! Arise, God ! and 
plead thine own cause. 

Bless this family. Thou who didst bring 



from the dead the Lord Jesits, that great Shepherd 
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting 
covenant ! do thou make us all perfect to do thy 
will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in 
thy sight. 

May our friends who are at a distance from us 
be protected and guarded by thy gracious provi- 
dence ! The Lord watch between them and us 
when we are absent one from another ! May their 
names also be written in the Lamb's book of life ! 
Teach us how to walk as pilgrims and strangers 
on the earth, — sojourners, as all our fathers were, — 
looking for that blessed hope, even the glorious ap- 
pearing of the great God our Saviour. Oh ! bring 
us at last to our Father's house in everlasting peace. 

As the curtains of the night are now drawing 
around us, be pleased to grant us thy guardian 
care. Lying down in thy fear, may we awake in 
thy favor, fitted for all the calls and duties of a 
new day ! And all this we ask for the sake of Jesits 
Christ, our only Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



MONDAY. 



Romans ii. — 1. Therefore thou art inexcusable, 
man ! whosoever thou art, that judgest: for where- 
in thou judgest another thou condemnest thyself; 
for thou that judgest doest the same things. 

2. But we are sure that the judgment of God is 
according to truth, against them which commit 
such things. 

3. And thinkest thou this, man ! that judgest 
them which do such things, and doest the same, 
that thou shalt escape the judgment of God ? 

4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness 
and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing 
that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repent- 
ance? 

5. But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, 
treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day 
of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment 
of God ; 

6. Who will render to every man according to 
his deeds : 

7. To them who, by patient continuance in well- 
doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality, 
eternal life ; 

8. But unto them that are contentious, and do 



not obey the truth, but obey unrighteouness, in- 
dignation and wrath, 

9. Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of 
man that doeth evil ; of the Jew first, and also of 
the Gentile ; 

10. But glory, honor, and peace to every man 
that worketh good ; to the Jew first, and also to the 
Gentile : 

11. For there is no respect of persons with God. 

12. For as many as have sinned without law 
shall also perish without law, and as many as have 
sinned in the law shall be judged by the law, 

13. (For not the hearers of the law are just be- 
fore God, but the doers of the law shall be justified; 

14. For when the Gentiles, which have not the 
law, do by nature the things contained in the law, 
these, having not the law, are a law unto them- 
selves ; 

15. Which show the work of the law written in 
their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, 
and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing, or else 
excusing, one another,) 

16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets 
of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. 



Conscience in man attests the existence of a moral law 
above man, the reality of the distinction between right and 
wrong, and the certainty of a judgment and retribution for 
sin. As the brief phrase, " lam," expresses the consciousness 
of a distinct personal existence ; and the phrase, " I can," or 
" / will," expresses the consciousness of the power of choice : 
so the phrase, " / might," expresses the sense of obligation as 
a moral agent. This feeling of the ought gives pleasure or 
pain according as we obey it or act contrary to it. He who 
goes contrary to his conscience, must, sooner or later, suffer 
remorse for his wrong-doing. Men who have not the revealed 
law of God do have in their consciences the sense of obliga- 



tion to the self-same antics which that law commands ; and 
even when they disregard truth, justice, honor, purity, fidelity, 
in their own actions, they exact these virtues from others 
toward themselves. But he who condemns another for theft, 
fraud, lying, murder, shows that he has in his own heart a 
law, a standard of right and wrong ; and by that law he him- 
self shall be judged. God deals with men according to their 
light; but all men have light enough to know the difference 
between right and wrong. God is patient towards sinners, 
and seeks to win them by his love ; but, if they will not re- 
pent, the warnings of conscience shall be followed by the judg- 
ment of the last day. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 21,95, 169. 



Almighty Father! look down from heaven 
upon us thy unworthy children, and hear us while 
we draw near to thee this morning in the Saviour's 
name. We thank thee, God ! for the blessings of 
the past night. Thou hast kept us safely during 
the hours of darkness. Thou hast watched over us 
when we could not watch ourselves ; and thou hast 
brought us in peace to the beginning of another j 
day. As thou hast been about our bed during the 
night, be thou also about our path this day. 

We thank thee for the measure of health which 
we enjoy, for our family comforts, and for our many 
spiritual mercies. We bless thee, most of all, for 
giving us a Saviour. Oh that he may be precious 
to our souls ! May we know him, and love him, 
and serve him ! Enable each one of us now before 
thee to be his true and faithful follower. 

Lord ! as we are entering upon the business 
and employments of another week, be with us in 
our going-out and coming-in. Give thine angels 



charge concerning us. Keep us not only from 
outward transgressions, but also from inward and 
secret sins. May we be watchful over our hearts, 
and keep the door of our lips ! When forbidden 
thoughts come into our minds, enable us to drive 
them out. Give us grace to correct our evil tem- 
pers. Make us kind and gentle one towards 
another ; tender-hearted ; forgiving one another, 
even as thou, for Christ's sake, hast forgiven us. 

Enable us to practise during the week the holy 
lessons which were taught us on thy sacred day. 
Keep us constantly mindful how short our time is, 
and that we are drawing day by day nearer to the 
close of life. Oh that each day may find us holier 
and more heavenly-minded, growing in grace, more 
conformed^ to the image of Christ, and more meet 
for heaven ! And grant, that, when our days on 
earth are ended, we may be received into thy pres- 
ence, to dwell with thee forever, through the merits 
of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



36 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Genesis iii. — 17. And unto Adam he said, 
Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy 
wife, and hast eaten of the tree of which I com- 
manded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it ; 
cursed is the ground for thy sake ; in sorrow shalt 
thou eat of it all the days of thy life ; 

18. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth 
to thee ; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. 

19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat 
bread till thou return unto the ground ; for out of 
it wast thou taken : for dust thou art, and unto 
dust shalt thou return. 

20. And Adam called his wife's name Eve, be- 
cause she was the mother of all living. 

21. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord 
God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 

22. And the Lord God said, Behold, the man 
is become as one of us to know good and evil : and 
now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of 
the tree of life, and eat, and live forever; 

23. Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from 
the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence 
he was taken. 

24. So he drove out the man ; and he placed at 
the east of the garden of Eden cherubims, and a 



Man, placed under conditions the most favorable, and mo- 
tives the most persuasive to obedience, sinned under the first 
temptation. Some test was important for his moral disci- 
pline : for every moral nature is the stronger for being subjected 
to trial, if it meets the trial without faltering ; and, in this 
case, the test was as simple and light as could have been pro- 
posed. Nothing necessary to the support and comfort of 
Adam, nothing indispensable to his happiness, was denied 
to him. He had the use of the whole garden, with the excep- 
tion of one single tree. That tree, with its forbidden fruit, 
was the symbol of the authority of God, who made him, and 
who had laden him with the gifts of his love. In seizing its 
fruit, he disowned that authority, slighted that love, and set 
up his own desire and will against the known will of his 
Father. For such wilful, inexcusable disobedience, the punish- 



flaming sword which turned every way, to keep 
the way of the tree of life. 

Revelation xxii. — 1. And he showed me a pure 
river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding 
out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

2. In the midst of the street of it, and on either 
side of the river, was there the tree of life, which 
bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit 
every month ; and the leaves of the tree were for 
the healing of the nations. 

3. And there shall be no more curse : but the 
throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, 
and his servants shall serve him ; 

4. And they shall see his face, and his name 
shall be in their foreheads. 

5. And there shall be no night there ; and they 
need no candle, neither light of the sun ; for the 
Lord God giveth them light : and they shall reign 
for ever and ever. 

13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and 
the end, the first and the last. 

14. Blessed are they that do his command- 
ments, that they may have right to the tree of 
life, and may enter in through the gates into the 
city. 



ment was none too severe. Death had been in the world 
before, in the animal creation ; but man was now to know 
his first experience of it, and this not as the mere cessation of 
life, but an event full of pain, sorrow, and fear. 

In the paradise of Middle Asia, man was under conditions 
of nature most favorable to an easy and happy life. Through 
his own fault, he was driven out from this to struggle with 
hardship and toil. But the second Adam, in bringing us re- 
demption from sin, has brought us again relief from care and 
sorrow and death ; and the Book of God, which opens with 
the story of the lost paradise, closes with the picture of para- 
dise restored. There we shall be debarred nothing through 
fear of sin or death ; for the Redeemer has promised, " To him 
that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is 
in the midst of the paradise of God." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 72,97,99, 116. 



God ! we are sinners, and of a sinful race. 
We deserve thy righteous displeasure ; yet do we 
draw nigh unto thee in the assurance of thy grace 
to help in every time of need. Thou dost supply 
all our need; yea, the greater our sense of need 
and helplessness, the more plenteous is thy grace, 
the more ready is thy help. For Christ's sake, 
hear and save us. 

Thou madest us to lie down and rest in safety ; 
thou callest us to rise up and rejoice as in newness 
of life. Oh ! bless and furnish us abundantly, we 
beseech thee, for all that is before us this day, — 
our minds with strength, our hands with diligence, 
our hearts with love and devotion. May we be 
perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect in doing 
good unto all ! 



We beseech thee to have compassion on our in- 
firmities, and to give us the constant assistance of 
thy Holy Spirit, that we may be effectually re- 
strained from sin, and incited to our duty. Imprint 
upon our hearts such a dread of thy judgments, and 
such a grateful sense of thy goodness to us, as may 
make us both afraid and ashamed to offend thee. 
Above all, inspire us with the joy of being with 
Christ in his glory ; and, having this hope in him, 
may we purify ourselves as he is pure ! 

Oh ! keep this household in thy love ; bless abun- 
dantly our friends, near or far away ; minister of 
thy comforts to the sick and needy, succor the per- 
ishing, and save the lost. Guide us ever with thy 
counsel, and finally bring us unto thy rest, for the 
Redeemer's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



37 



WEDNESDAY. 



Genesis iv. — 3. And, in process of time, it 
came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the 
ground an offering unto the Lord. 

4. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of 
his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord 
had respect unto Abel, and to his offering ; 

5. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not 
respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his coun- 
tenance fell. 

6. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou 
wroth ? and why is thy countenance fallen ? 

7. If thou doest well, shalt thou not be ac- 
cepted ? and, if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the 
door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou 
shall rule over him. 

8. And Cain talked with Abel his brother ; and 
it came to pass, when they were in the field, that 
Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew 
him. 

9. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel 
thy brother ? And he said, I know not. Am I 
my brother's keeper ? 

10. And he said, What hast thou done ? The 
voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from 
the ground. 

11. And now art thou cursed from the earth, 



which hath opened her mouth to receive thy broth- 
er's blood from thy hand. 

12. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not 
henceforth yield unto thee her strength : a fugi- 
tive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 

13. And Cain said unto the Lord, My punish- 
ment is greater than I can bear. 

I John iii. — 10. In this the children of God 
are manifest, and the children of the Devil : who- 
soever doeth not righteousness is not of God, 
neither he that loveth not his brother. 

11. For this is the message that ye heard 
from the beginning, that we should love one an- 
other. 

12. Not as Cain, who was of that Wicked One, 
and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? 
Because his own works were evil, and his brother's 
righteous. 

13. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate 
you. 

14. We know that we have passed from death 
unto life, because we love the brethren. He that 
loveth not his brother abideth in death. 

15. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murder- 
er ; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal 
life abiding in him. 



How swift in its descent is apostasy from God ! Sin be- 
gets crime. The child of God, who had sinned against his 
Father, now sees his own child guilty of the crime of murder. 
All sin and crime come of casting off the fear of the Lord ; 
and the most pleasurable beginning of transgression may lead 
to the most fearful ending. There was something, no doubt, 
in the spirit of Cain, — perhaps a self-righteous spirit, as con- 
trasted with the humility of Abel, — which rendered his offering 
unacceptable. Jehovah taught him that even acts of worship 
might be perverted to sin by an evil heart. " If thou doest 



well, shalt thou not be accepted ? " The way of access to 
God was open to him by faith equally with his brother Abel. 
" But, if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door ; " crouches 
like a wild beast, ready to spring upon its prey. Its desire 
shall be unto thee : sin longs to possess thee ; and, by yielding, 
thou shalt rule over it ; appropriate it to thy service ; though, 
in reality, sin would become his master. How sad and dread- 
ful may be the consequence of yielding to passion, envy, 
jealousy, pride, or any form of selfishness ! Let us pray God 
to keep us from every sin, and to save us from ourselves. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 63, 67, 96. 



O God, our heavenly Father ! we come to thee in 
our need ; for thou alone art able to succor us : we 
come to thee in our weakness ; for thou alone canst 
give us strength : we come to thee in our sins ; for 
thou alone canst pardon, heal, and save us. Have 
mercy upon us, Lord ! for the sake of thy Son, 
our Saviour Jesus Christ ; and suffer us never to 
fall away from thee. 

Thou art good, and doest good continually ; and 
thy tender mercies are over all thy works. Thou 
didst create us to be blessed in each other and in 
thyself, to dwell in love, and so to dwell in God : 
oh ! keep us ever in thy love. We bless thee for thy 
watchful providence over us in our persons, in our 
family, in our home, in all that pertains to our 
well-being ; and, we beseech thee, grant unto us, 
this day, health and prosperity, and preserve us 
from all harm and danger. Keep us from all 
impatience and anger, from envy and jealousy, 



from every evil lust. Keep our hearts from the 
thought of evil, and our lips from speaking guile ; 
keep our feet from falling, our eyes from tears, 
our souls from death. Grant us grace to be 
faithful in all the offices and relations of life. 
May we study to be helpful to each other, be 
patient of each other's infirmities, and rejoice in 
each other's prosperity ! Let no selfishness dis- 
turb our peace. [May parents and children, 
brothers and sisters, all be joined together in the 
household of faith !] And may the love that 
blesses our earthly home interpret to us the love 
of our Father in heaven, and draw us toward the 
better home ! We make supplication for all men ; 
beseeching thee, the Father of all, to dispense unto 
all thy mercies according to their several condi- 
tions and necessities, and to show forth thy salva- 
tion in all the earth, through Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



I Samuel ii. — 1. And Hannah prayed, and 
said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn 
is exalted in the Lord ; my mouth is enlarged 
over mine enemies ; because I rejoice in thy sal- 
vation. 

2. There is none holy as the Lord ; for there is 
none beside thee : neither is there any rock like 
our God. 

6. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive ; he 
bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 

7. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich ; he 
bringeth low, and lifteth up. 

8. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and 
lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set 
them among princes, and to make them inherit 
the throne of glory; for the pillars of the earth 
are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon 
them. 

9. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the 
wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength 
shall no man prevail. 

10. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken 
to pieces ; out of heaven shall he thunder upon 
them : the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth ; 



and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt 
the horn of his anointed. 

Luke i.— 46. And Mary said, My soul doth 
magnify the Lord, 

47. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my 
Saviour. 

48. For he hath regarded the low estate of his 
handmaiden ; for, behold, from henceforth all gen- 
erations shall call me blessed. 

49. For he that is mighty hath done to me great 
things ; and holy is his name. 

50. And his mercy is on them that fear him, 
from generation to generation. 

51. He hath showed strength with his arm ; he 
hath scattered the proud in the imagination of 
their hearts. 

52. He hath put down the mighty from their 
seats, and exalted them of low degree. 

53. He hath filled the hungry with good things, 
and the rich he hath sent empty away. 

54. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in re- 
membrance of his mercy ; 

55. As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, 
and to his seed forever. 



These two holy women, Hannah and Mary, were moved to 
a like song of thanksgiving for the birth of a son. Probably 
Hannah had hoped that her son would prove to be the prom- 
ised Messiah. Many mothers in Israel cherished that hope 
concerning their sons : and the angel said to Mary, " Hail, 
thou that art highly favored ; blessed art thou among wo- 
men'." 

The song of the Virgin Mary is an answer to those who 
claim for her divine honors, and exalt her above Christ himself. 
She did not believe herself to be either divine or immaculate. 
Neither in her most exalted frame of thanksgiving, while an- 
ticipating the honors that should come to her in all after-times 
as the mother of Jesus, did she presume to call herself " the 
mother of God." Humility, gratitude, trust, devotion, are 
graces for which Mary is conspicuous in the gospel history. 
There is no authority there for regarding the Virgin Mary as 



excepted from the universal experience of the race as subjects 
of sin, nor for magnifying her character and influence as a 
saint and an intercessor. More than once did Jesus himself 
declare, that to do the will of his Father, to hear the word of 
God and keep it, was of more account than to have been his 
mother. Yet, while we shun idolatrous veneration, the Virgin 
Mary is entitled to our respectful regard as the ideal of true 
womanhood. Her modesty and discretion under the most 
trying conditions, her devout waiting upon God in secret 
silent meditation, her motherly tenderness and care for the 
child committed to her from heaven, her open faith in Jesus 
before he had disclosed his supernatural power, her strength 
of character and self-control as she stood before the cross, 
even as the sword pierced her soul, and her devotion to duty 
under all trials, — these are virtues and graces of character, 
for the example of which all nations shall call her blessed. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 21, 130, H5. 



God, the Father of all the families of men ! | 
we thank thee for thy great love in the gift of j 
children ; for all the joy they bring with them ; I 
for all the good thou dost prepare for them and by 
them. [May the children of this family be thine 
in the covenant of thy love, and grow up in the 
household of faith !] 

Lord ! we adore thee as God over all, blessed 
forevermore. Thou art the Former of our bodies, 
and the Father of our spirits ; the God in whom 
we live and move, and have our being. All we 
are and all Ave have is derived from thee. There 
is nothing which we have that we have not re- 
ceived. Oh ! give us the blessing of grateful hearts. 
Let thy Spirit be our teacher , let thy Word be our 
guide ; let thy will be our sovereign motive ; let 



thy glory be our final end. We bring thee thanks 
for the rest and refreshment of sleep, and for the 
comforts of the morning. Guide, keep, and pros- 
per us this day. Bless all connected with us by 
whatever tie. May our ever-present God be with 
them, guiding them by his grace, defending them 
from temptation, fitting them by his providence for 
the varied duties of the present life, and for the 
joys of his saints in glory everlasting ! 

Bless the lambs of thy flock. We commend 
them to the Great Shepherd of the sheep, beseech- 
ing him to make them perfect, and to fold them 
in the arms of his mercy. We leave ourselves, 
God ! in thy hands. May all our doings this day, 
begun, carried on, and ended in thee, redound, 
through Jesus, to thy praise and glory ! Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FRIDAY. 



Luke ii. — 22. And, when the days of her pu- 
rification according to the law of Moses were ac- 
complished, they brought hirn to Jerusalem to 
present him to the Lord ; 

24. And to offer a sacrifice according to that 
which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of 
turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. 

25. And behold there was a man in Jerusalem, 
whose name was Simeon ; and the same man was 
just and devout, waiting for the consolation of 
Israel ; and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 

26. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy 
Ghost that he should not see death before he had 
seen the Lord's Christ. 

27. And he came by the Spirit into the temple ; 
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus 
to do for him after the custom of the law, 

28. Then took he him up in his arms, and 
blessed God, and said, 

29. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in 
peace, according to thy word : 

30. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 

31. Which thou hast prepared before the face of 
all people ; 



32. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the 
glory of thy people Israel. 

33. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at 
those things which were spoken of him. 

34. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto 
Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the 
fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a 
sign which shall be spoken against; 

35. (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine 
own soul also ;) that the thoughts of many hearts 
may be revealed. 

36. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the 
daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser : she was 
of a great age, and had lived with an husband 
seven years from her virginity. 

37. And she was a widow of about fourscore and 
four years, which departed not from the temple, 
but served God with fastings and prayers night 
and day. 

38. And she, coming in that instant, gave 
thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him 
to all them that looked for redemption in Jeru- 
salem. 



Too poor to bring a lamb for sacrifice, the mother of our 
Lord brought him to the temple with the humble offering of 
a pair of doves, — all unconscious as yet that she was carry- 
ing in her arms the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice shouM su- 
persede the sacrifices of the law, and take away the sin of the 
world. But Simeon's devout and spiritual interpretation of the 
prophecies had prepared him for the Messiah ; and he foresaw 
in this child both the hope of Israel and her reproach and 
condemnation. 

A little while ago, enthusiasm for the Prince Imperial was 
a mode of devotion to the dynasty of Napoleon, a revelation of 
the thoughts of the heart touching the government. How 
many hoped to rise by attaching themselves to his fortunes 



who have fallen into reproach and peril now that his name 
has become " a sign to be spoken against " ! There was not a 
prouder woman in Europe than Euge'nie, as mother and 
teacher of a future emperor ; but how the sword has pierced 
her soul ! 

Much more in the spiritual world does the Son of Mary, 
" who was everywhere spoken against " by his own people, 
now reveal the thoughts of men concerning the kingdom of 
God. By his life and works, by his doctrine and commands, 
by his cross and his resurrection, Jesus is the touchstone of 
hearts, the revealer of character ; and by their treatment of 
him must all men rise or fall. Oh ! let us acknowledge him 
our Lord, that we may know him as our Saviour. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 130, 147, 162. 



Our Father in heaven, we bless thee that thou 
dost make the household an object of thy special 
love and care. Thou who in the beginning 
didst constitute the family in unity and love, to be 
the channel of thy grace from generation to genera- 
tion ; Thou who didst establish thy covenant with 
Abraham, making sure thy mercies unto his seed ; 
and by thy gospel dost encourage parents to dedi- 
cate their children unto thee ! we beseech thee to 
acknowledge as thine own the children of this 
household who are called by thy name. May 
they ever be to their parents a cause of thankful- 
ness and joy ! If trouble and sorrow shall come to 
them, or to any of us, oh ! grant us all grace to ac- 
cept thy holy will, and to bear with patience the 
trials of our lot. If men shall speak evil of us, or 
do us wrong, help us to remember thy holy child 
Jesus, and to have the spirit of meekness and for- 
giveness. We bless thee, Lord, that thou hast 



provided consolations for old age ; that the prom- 
ises and hopes of thy gospel remain to cheer those, 
who, like Simeon and Anna, have waited upon thee 
in prayer and holy living. So may our lives be 
filled with thy light, and end in thy peace. 

God, our reconciled Father in Christ ! we come 
to thee as thine own children to thank thee for 
thy great mercies. We lay down and slept, and 
arose in safety ; for thine arms were around us. 
We bless thee for our food and raiment, for our 
affections and comforts, for all that makes this 
present life to be desired ; but, above all, we bless 
thee for our place in thy family by redemption 
through Jesus Christ thy Son. Oh, may we live 
by faith in him ; may we increase in union with 
him ; may we this day, and every day, become 
more and more like him, till we shall see him as 
he is, and be changed into his perfect likeness ! 

All which we ask in his name. Amen. 



40 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Exodus xxiii. — 14. Three times thou shalt keep 
a feast unto me in the year. 

15. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened 
hread (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, 
as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the 
month Abib ; for in it thou earnest out from Egypt ; 
and none shall appear before me empty) ; 

16. And the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of 
thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field; 
and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end 
of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors 
out of the field. 

17. Three times in the year all thy males shall 
appear before the Lord God. 

Luke ii. — 40. And the child grew, and waxed 
strong in spirit, filled with wisdom ; and the grace 
of God was upon him. 

41. Now, his parents went to Jerusalem every 
year at the feast of the passover. 

42. And, when he was twelve years old, they 
went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the 
feast. 

43. And, when they had fulfilled the days, as they 
returned the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusa- 
lem ; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 



The " day's journey," mentioned in verse 44, must not be 
measured by modern standards. In the East, a caravan set- 
ting out upon a march of several days would commonly start 
after noon, and go only a few miles before encamping for the 
first night. This short stage enables the company to review 
its stores, and make sure that nothing is wanting or left be- 
hind. 

Three special feasts were enjoined upon the Jews ; and once 
a year certainly, at the feast of unleavened bread, every male 
made it a point to go up to Jerusalem. So great was the crowd 
at the Passover, and such the confusion at starting, that Joseph 
and Mary might very naturally have begun the journey with- 
out missing Jesus, taking it for granted that he was in the 
party with relatives or neighbors. In Jerusalem there was no 
police-station at which they could make inquiries, no town- 
crier whom they could send out to search for the lost child, no 



44. But they, supposing him to have been in the 
company, went a day's journey ; and they sought 
him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 

45. And, when they found him not, they turned 
back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 

46. And it came to pass, that after three days 
they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst 
of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them 
questions. 

47. And all that heard him were astonished at 
his understanding and answers. 

48. And, when they saw him, they were amazed : 
and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou 
thus dealt with us ? behold, thy father and I have 
sought thee sorrowing. 

49. And he said unto them, How is it that ye 
sought me ? wist ye not that I must be about my 
Father's business ? 

50. And they understood not the saying which 
he spake unto them. 

51. And he went down with them, and came to 
Nazareth, and was subject unto them; but his 
mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 

52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, 
and in favor with God and man. 



newspaper in which they could advertise for him. The city 
was still thronged with strangers ; and the temple was the last 
place where they would think of looking : so the search lasted 
over two days. 

In the temple-porches, the scribes gave instruction in the 
law ; and here the child asked and answered questions, while 
the bystanders heard him with amazement. But how true to 
nature it was that his mother, instead of joining in this ad- 
miration, should give vent to her sorrow, and that the very 
intensity of her love and grief should give a tone of chiding 
to her first utterance ! The answer of Jesus marks the dawn- 
ing consciousness of his divine mission. But how beautiful 
an example he gave of filial love and obedience ! That he grew 
in wisdom and stature shows how completely human was his 
nature ; that he increased in favor with God and man shows 
how divine was the life within. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nbs. 142, 148. 



Thou who didst humble thyself to be born of 
a virgin, the everlasting Son of the Father, the 
Prince of peace ! we bless and adore thee for thy 
grace, and compassion for us sinners. We give 
thanks unto the Father, who *o loved the world 
that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever 
believeth in him should not perish, but have ever- 
lasting life ; we praise and worship the Son, who 
took upon him our nature that he might redeem us 
from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a pecu- 
liar people, zealous of good works. Oh ! grant us, 
we beseech thee, thy peace, through the forgive- 
ness of sin, reconciliation with God, and the in- 
dwelling of the Spirit, that we may glorify and 
praise thee in our lives for all that we have heard 
and seen of thy grace. 



[May the children of this family remember that 
Jesus came as a little child to bless them ! may they 
give their hearts to his love !] and may we all, in 
the spirit of little children, love and serve Him 
who came into the world to save sinners ! And, 
oh, may the world be saved ! may all men come 
to Christ ! may peace reign on earth, and good- 
will bind all hearts together for the glory of 
God! 

We bless thee, Lord, that thine angels have kept 
watch over us in the night. We pray that the love 
that has defended us may go with us this day and 
always. Grant us thy peace, — that peace which 
the world cannot give. And to Father, Son, and 
Holy Spirit, will we ascribe all honor and glory. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



41 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Exodus xvii. — 1. And all the congregation of 
the children of Israel journeyed from the wilder- 
ness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the 
commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephi- 
dim; and there was no water for the people to 
drink. 

2. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, 
and said, Give us water that we may drink. And 
Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me ? 
wherefore do ye tempt the Lord ? 

3. And the people thirsted there for water ; and 
the people murmured against Moses, and said, 
Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out 
of Egypt to kill us and our children and our cattle 
with thirst? 

4. And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What 
shall I do unto this people ? they be almost ready 
to stone me. 

5. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before 
the people, and take with thee of the elders of Is- 
rael; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the 
river, take in thine hand, and go. 

6. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon 
the rock in Horeb ; and thou shalt smite the rock 
and there shall come water out of it, that the peo- 



ple may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of 
the elders of Israel. 

7. And he called the name of the place Massah, 
and Meribah, because of the chiding of the' chil- 
dren of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, 
saying, Is the Lord among us, or not ? 

8. Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel 
in Kephidim. 

9. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out 
men, and go out, fight with Amalek : to-morrow 
I will stand on the top of the hill, with the rod of 
God in mine hand. 

10. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and 
fought with Amalek ; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur 
went up to the top of the hill. 

11. And it came to pass, when Moses held up 
his hand, that Israel prevailed ; and, when he let 
down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 

12. But Moses' hands were heavy ; and they took 
a stone and put it under him, and he sat thereon : 
and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on 
the one side, and the other on the other side ; and his 
hands were steady until the going-down of the sun. 

13. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his 
people with the edge of the sword. 



" Why chide ye with me ■? " Because it is so much easier 
to find fault with man than to put faith in God; so much 
more natural to complain than to pray. To complain is to 
take the attitude of demanding one's rights ; to pray, that of 
entreating for favors. In all this the children of Israel only 
acted out our common human nature ; and the most humili- 
ating moral of the story is, that the multiplication of favors 
tends to render the recipient exacting, and even querulous, 
when things do not altogether suit him. The people grew ar- 
rogant and violent ; and Moses was driven to the last extrem- 
ity of faith. He was near the scene of the burning bush, 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



where first his rod was made the symbol of Jehovah's power. 
Without that rod he could work no miracle ; for it was also 
the symbol of his own dependence, reminding him that he 
must never detach himself from God, or assume to do any 
thing in his own name and strength. Hence, in the battle with 
the Amalekites, the fierce descendants of Esau, while Joshua 
and his picked men must fight out the day, the victory was 
made to depend upon the exaltation of Jehovah by the up- 
lifted rod. The stream here opened proved an unfailing sup- 
ply ; and Paul makes the rock a type of Christ, from whose 
ever-present, all-satisfying fulness our souls may daily drink. 



Prayer. 

This is the day which the Lord hath made : we 
will rejoice and be glad in it. Draw thou near to 
us, God our Saviour ! as we draw near to thee. 
Whom have we in heaven but thee ? and there is 
none upon earth that we desire besides thee. May 
we this day see thy glory as we have seen thee 
within thy holy temple ! May our manifold privi- 
leges further our sanctification ! May the foun- 
tain of living waters comfort and refresh our souls ! 
and may it cheer us through all the pilgrimage of 
life ! May every temporal mercy which gladdens 
our lot be sweetened and hallowed and endeared 
by the thought that it comes to us through Jesus ! 
May blessings and trials, comforts and crosses, 
health and sickness, joy and sorrow, bring us only 
nearer him, and redound to the glory of his great 
name ! Subdue whatever is inconsistent with his 
mind and will ; repress all vain imaginations ; 
crucify every lingering sin. May our hearts be- 
come holy temples, and our lives living sacrifices ! 



[Nos. 3, 50, 195. 

We bless thee for all the mercies of the week 
that is now past. Day by day thou hast siipplied 
our wants ; night by night thou hast watched over 
us and defended us. Oh ! give us hearts of thank- 
fulness, as the children of thy love. 

We pray for the poor, the afflicted, the bereaved, 
and the dying. thou Comforter of all that are 
cast down ! do thou heal their sorrows, bind up their 
wounds. To the friendless do thou prove a friend. 
In the multitude of their thoughts within them, 
may thy comforts delight their souls ! 

We commend our friends, and all belonging to 
us, implicitly to thy sovereign care. May the pil- 
lar of thy presence go continually before them ! 
Guide them by thy counsel. Fit them for living 
and for dying. May all our souls be consecrated 
with their undivided energies to the glory of 
Him who gave himself for us ! — to whom, with 
the Father and the Spirit, be glory everlasting. 
Amen. 



42 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm Ixxviii. — 18. And they tempted God in 
their heart by asking meat for their lust. 

19. Yea, they spake against God; they said, 
Can God furnish a table in the wilderness ? 

20. Behold, lie smote the rock, that the waters 
gushed out, and the streams overflowed: can he 
give bread also? can he provide flesh for his 
people ? 

21. Therefore the Lord heard this, and was 
wroth : so a fire was kindled against Jacob, . r„nd 
anger also came up against Israel. 

I Corinthians x. — 1. Moreover, brethren, I 
would not that ye should be ignorant how that 
all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed 
through the sea ; 

2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the 
cloud and in the sea ; 

3. And did all eat the same spiritual meat ; 

4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink 
(for they drank of that spiritual Rock that fol- 
lowed them ; and that Rock was Christ). 

5. But with many of them God was not well 
pleased ; for they were overthrown in the wilder- 
ness. 

6. Now, these things were our examples, to the 



intent we should not lust after evil things, as 
they also lusted. 

7. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them : 
as it is written, The people sat down to eat and 
drink, and rose up to play. 

8. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of 
them committed, and fell in one day three and 
twenty thousand. 

9. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them 
also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 

10. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also 
murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 

11. Now, all these things happened unto them 
for ensamples ; and they are written for our admo- 
nition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 

12. Wherefore let him that thinketh he stand- 
eth take heed lest he fall. 

13. There hath no temptation taken you but 
such as is common to man : but God is faithful, 
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye 
are able ; but will with the temptation also make a 
way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

14. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from 
idolatry. 

15. I speak as to wise men : judge ye what I say. 



It was a tradition of the Jews, that the rock smitten by 
Moses at Horcb followed the Israelites in their journeyings, 
and gave forth water all the way. There is a presumption 
that the stream then opened continued to flow, inasmuch as 
from that time there is little mention of murmuring for water. 
This ever-flowing river was a type of the life that comes to us 
from Christ. The apostle is warning his readers against a 
vain confidence in the Christian sacraments, which might ex- 
pose them to their former habits of idolatry, if it did not be- 
tray them into an abuse of the sacraments themselves, in the 
manner of their old pagan rites. " Their peril lay in their 
false security : they were tempted to think that all things were 



safe to do because all things were lawful. They were ready 
to rest satisfied with the knowledge that they were God's peo- 
ple and God's Church. He shakes this sense of safety by re- 
minding them that the ancient Church of Israel fell, although 
they had the same privileges." 

When Israel passed through the Red Sea, they renounced 
Egypt, as in baptism we renounce the world ; they committed 
themselves to follow Moses, as we to follow Christ. They had 
the manna and the stream as symbols of the bread of heaven 
and the water of life in Christ ; but none of these things could 
save them. Let their fate be our warning, — to shun tempta- 
tion, to avoid self-confidence, and cling to God in humble faith. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 98, 143, 172. 



We give thanks to thee our Father, ho.y, excel- 
ling all tilings, Creator of all, who hast granted to 
us the blessings and privileges of this holy day ; 
who hast opened to us, in Christ Jesus our Lord, 
the way of life ; who hast showed us the path by 
which we may ascend to heaven ; who hast be- 
stowed upon us a multitude of good things. 
Lord! preserve to us the gifts of thy grace, and 
grant that they may not be for our greater condem- 
nation, but for the strengthening of our souls and 
the purification of our bodies ; that we may live 
in thee, and fulfil our duties in righteousness 
all the days of our lives ; that thy name may be 
glorified in us ; and that we may ever render glory 
and praise to thee, with all the company of thy 
saints, through Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and 
Saviour. 

Lord, thou keeper of Israel,' who never slum- 
berest nor sleepest ! be pleased in thy mercy to 



watch over us this night, and make us ever mind- 
ful of our last hour, that we may then rest in 
thee. 

Lord ! we most humbly beseech thee to heark- 
en graciously unto the prayers and accept the 
praises which have been offered unto thee this day 
by thy holy Church throughout the world. Bless, 
Lord ! thy whole Church ; and grant that all who 
confess thy holy name may agree in the truth of 
thy holy Word, and, departing from all iniquity, 
may devoutly serve thee in all good works to their 
lives' end ; that we with them, and they with 
us, and with all those that are departed in thy 
most holy faith, may inherit thine everlasting 
kingdom, and enter into that rest which thou hast 
reserved for thy people, through the merits of 
Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth 
with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed 
forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



43 



MONDAY. 



Isaiah Ixi. — 1. The Spirit of the Lord God is 
irDon me ; because the Lord hath anointed me to 
preach good tidings unto the meek ; he hath sent 
me to hind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim lib- 
erty to the captives, and the opening of the prison 
to them that are bound ; 

2. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, 
and the day of vengeance of our God ; ; to comfort 
all that mourn ; 

3. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to> 
give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for 
mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of 
heaviness; that they might be called Trees of 
righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that he 
might be glorified. 

Matthew V. — 1. And, seeing the multitudes, he 
went up into a mountain ; and, when he was set, 
his disciples came unto him. 

2. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, 
saying, 

3. Blessed are the poor in spirit ; for theirs is 
the kingdom of heaven. 



This wonderful discourse was delivered, in all probability, 
from one of the hills that border the Plain of Esdraelon, and m 
the vicinity of the Lake of Galilee. Such a site would be cen- 
tral to the multitudes that thronged to Jesus from, that whole 
region ; and the marvellous beauty of the scenery might well 
suggest the allusions to Nature in the sermon. But the reli- 
gion of Christ was so spiritual in its character and aim, that 
no sacredness was attached to' the places where his words of 
truth and life were spoken. He opened this sermon with a 
series of benedictions, bestowed upon all who shall put them- 
selves in character to receive them: the poor, not simply in 
condition, nor because of this, but in spirit, humble in their 
own esteem, humble before God because of sin, — these, and not 
those who pride themselves upon their gifts, or are ambitious 
of place and reward, shall have the kingdom of heaven ; those 
whose hearts have been touched with sorrow — above all, with 
the sorrow of repentance — shall rind heavenly comfort; the 



4. Blessed are they that mourn ; for they shall 
be comforted. 

5. Blessed are the meek ; for they shall inherit 
the earth. 

6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst 
after righteousness ; for they shall be filled. 

7. Blessed are the merciful ; for they shall ob- 
tain mercy. 

8. Blessed are the pure in heart ; for they shall 
see God. 

9. Blessed are the peace-makers ; for they shall 
be called the children of God. 

10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for 
righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of 
heaven. 

11. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, 
and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil 
against you falsely, for my sake. 

12. Kejoice, and be exceeding glad ; for great is 
your reward in heaven : for so persecuted they the 
prophets which were before you. 



meek, biding their time, shall see the triumph of goodness in 
the earth ; they who long for conformity to the will of God, as 
the hungry for food, and the thirsty for drink, shall be satisfied 
with his likeness ; they who are compassionate toward the 
needy, merciful to enemies, gracious to all, shall find mercy 
in their time of need ; they who strive after inward holiness 
shall attain to the vision of God ; they who study to promote 
peace and good-will among men shall be acknowledged by 
God as his children ; they who are so upright in their walk, 
so devoted to righteousness, so loyal to truth and to Christ, 
that for this they incur the malice and abuse of men, shall 
receive the reward of their faithfulness in the peace and bless- 
edness of heaven. These characteristics are not isolated vir- 
tues, to be taken up as meritorious works : they are all the 
fruits and signs of one inner spirit of loving, filial devotion to 
God. He who has this has within himself the fountain of all 
blessedness for time and for eternity. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 9, 53, 187. 



O Lord Jesus ! we do hunger for thy Word ; we 
do thirst for thy Spirit. Weak, empty, perishing 
in ourselves, we cry unto thee for the bread of 
heaven, for the water of life. With longings for 
good that this world can never satisfy, we turn to 
thy fulness that we also may be filled. Confess- 
ing our folly in forsaking thee, mourning our sin 
in grieving thee, we come with broken and con- 
trite hearts, and entreat thee to grant us forgive- 
ness, comfort, and peace. Oh ! strengthen us to re- 
sist temptation, to overcome evil, to renounce the 
world. We beseech thee, show us the Father; 
make us pure in heart, that we may see God. 

Most merciful God, who in Jesus Christ thy Son 
hast revealed thyself as our reconciling Father, 
grant us grace, we beseech thee, to be followers of 
God as dear children. [May the children of this 
family love and obey the precepts of thy gospel, and 



follow the example of their Lord and Saviour !] 
And, oh, may the numbers of thy children be multi- 
plied throughout the world, until the whole family 
of man shall be made one in Christ Jesus ! Bless 
the peace-makers, and let the nations learn war no 
more. Have compassion, O Lord ! upon the poor 
and the sorrowing ; deliver the persecuted and the 
oppressed ; have mercy upon all prisoners and 
captives. Grant us grace to endure with patience 
any trials and afflictions that may come upon us 
for thy cause, and to conquer the world by faith. 
And do thou, Lord ! forgive our enemies, and 
forgive us as we forgive them. O Lord our Pre- 
server, who hast kept us through the perils of the 
night ! keep us from evil this day and always ; 
and finally bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Kedeemer. 
Amen. 



44 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Matthew V. — 13. Ye are the salt of the earth ; 
but, if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall 
it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing 
but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot 
of men. 

14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that 
is set on a hdl cannot be hid. 

15. Neither do men light a candle and put it 
under a bushel, but on a candlestick ; and it giveth 
light unto all that are in the house. 

16. Let your light so shine before men, that they 
may see your good works, and glorify your Father 
which is in heaven. 

17. Think not that I am come to destroy the 
law or the prophets : I am not come to destroy, 
but to fulfil. 

18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and 
earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise 
pass from the law till all be fulfilled. 

19. Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of 
these least commandments, and shall teach men 
so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of 



Concerning the salt used in Syria, Dr. W. M. Thomson, in 
his " Land and Book," says, " It is obtained from marshes 
along the seashore, or from salt lakes in the interior, which 
dry up in summer. Not a little of it is so impure, that it can- 
not be used at all ; and such salt soon effloresces, and turns to 
dust. It is not only good for nothing itself, but it destroys 
all fertility wherever it is thrown. No man will allow it to 
be thrown into his field ; and the only place for it is the street, 
and there it is cast to be trodden under foot of men." A sad 
picture, this, of religious teachers, who, having made a show of 
piety, have lost its vitality, and are disowned by the Church, 
and despised by the world ! A sad picture of all who aposta- 
tize from the Christian confession and life ! On the contrary, 
a consistent Christian life is like a light which illuminates 
every thing around it ; and a church of holy men is like the 
cities of Palestine, built on the hills, whose white walls and 



heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, 
the same shall be called great in the kingdom of 
heaven. 

20. For I say unto you, That, except your right- 
eousness shall exceed the righteousness of the 
scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into 
the kingdom of heaven. 

21. Ye have heard that it was said by them of 
old time, Thou shalt not kill ; and whosoever shall 
kill shall be in danger of the judgment : 

22. But I say unto you, That whosoever is an- 
gry with his brother without a cause shall be in 
danger of the judgment ; and whosoever shall say 
to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the 
council ; but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall 
be in danger of hell-fire. 

23. Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, 
and there rememberest that thy brother hath 
aught against thee, 

24. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and 
go thy way ; first be reconciled to thy brother, 
and then come and offer thy gift. 



pinnacles glitter afar. The light of Christ's disciples shines, 
not for ostentation, but to the glory of God : it is the light of 
inward principle, the light of Christ's presence in the soul ; 
and their lives are radiant with holy deeds because the light 
of holy love shines through every action. The distinction 
between the forms of morality and the fruits of spiritual life 
is strongly marked in modes of dealing with those who in- 
jure us. Some will technically observe the law as to outward 
moralities, but will sin against its spirit and intent in word 
and in heart. But a true Christian will cherish in his heart 
the spirit of forgiveness, and will guard his words, his feel- 
ings, his thoughts, as sacredly as his actions. Christ stripped 
the law of the formalities of tradition and custom ; but he 
did not abrogate it : on the contrary, he filled out its inner 
spirit, and gave us an example of perfect holiness and love, 
which is the Light of the world, the Light of life. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 40, 89, 134. 



Create in us a clean heart, God ! and renew a 
right spirit within us. So purify us by thy grace 
that we shall shine as lights in the world, holding 
forth the word of life. "We bless thee for thy lov- 
ing care, for rest and safety in the night, for the 
comfort and promise of the morning. heavenly 
Father ! we beseech thee to look with favor upon 
this family. May each of us in our respective sta- 
tions truly serve thee ! May we do unto others as 
we would that they should do unto us ! May we 
be true and just in all our dealings ! May we bear 
no hatred nor malice in our hearts ! May we be 
honest and upright in our daily conduct ! May 
we keep our tongues from evil, and our lips from 
speaking guile ! 

May thy word be precious to our souls ! May it 
be sweet to our taste ; yea, sweeter than honey 
to our mouth ! May we love its precepts, under- 



stand its doctrines, and rest upon its promises! 
Give us grace, that we may be established in 
the truth, and be doers of thy word, and not 
hearers only, deceiving our own selves. When- 
ever we read the Holy Scriptures, be thou thy- 
self our teacher. Sow the seed of eternal life in 
our hearts, and enable us to bring forth fruit, 
to the glory of thy name, and the comfort of our 
souls. 

[0 Lord ! grant unto the children of this house- 
hold the teaching of thy Spirit, the guidance of 
thy providence, that they may walk in the way of 
wisdom and of life.] 

Defend us with thy heavenly grace, that we may 
continue thine forever, and daily increase in thy 
Holy Spirit more and more, until we come unto 
thine everlasting kingdom, through the merits of 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



45 



WEDNESDAY. 



Proverbs iv. — 14. Enter not into the path of 
the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 

15. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and 
pass away. 

20. My son, attend to my words ; incline thine 
ear unto my sayings. 

21. Let them not depart from thine eyes ; keep 
them in the midst of thine heart. 

22. For they are life unto those that find them, 
and health to all their flesh. 

23. Keep thy heart with all diligence ; for out 
of it are the issues of life. 

24. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and 
perverse lips put far from thee. 

25. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine 
eyelids look straight before thee. 

26. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy 
ways be established. 

27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left : 
remove thy foot from evil. 

Matthew V. — 29. If thy right eye offend thee, 
pluck it out, and cast it from thee ; for it is profit- 
able for thee that one of thy members should 
perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast 
into hell. 



30. And, if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, 
and cast it from thee ; for it is profitable for thee 
that one of thy members should perish, and not 
that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 

31. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away 
his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce- 
ment. 

32. But I say unto you, That whosoever shall 
put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornica- 
tion, causeth her to commit adultery ; and whoso- 
ever shall marry her that is divorced committeth 
adultery. 

33. Again : ye have heard that it hath been said 
by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thy- 
self, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths. 

34. But I say unto you, Swear not at all : nei- 
ther by heaven ; for it is God's throne : 

35. Nor by the earth ; for it is his footstool : 
neither by Jerusalem ; for it is the city of the 
great King : 

36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, be- 
cause thou canst not make one hair white or black. 

37. But let your communication be Yea, yea ; 
Nay, nay : for whatsoever is more than these com- 
eth of evil. 



These conditions of entrance into the kingdom of heaven 
may seem severe to our worldly, carnal natures ; but it is 
the severity of love. The surgeon who saves life by amputat- 
ing a poisoned or mortified limb is the patient's truest friend. 
He does not willingly inflict the pain or mutilation ; but the 
state of the member renders it necessary. In like manner, 
any cherished sin, any darling passion, endangers the life of 
the soul, and must be put away at whatever cost. We should 
" withstand the first springs and occasions of evil desire, even 
by the sacrifice of what is most useful and dear to us." The 
merciful Saviour warns us that sin will lead to destruction, and 
that we cannot be saved from ruin except through being freed 
from sin. 

Our Lord emphatically condemned the habit which had 
sprung up among the Jews of dissolving the marriage-tie 



for slight causes, declaring it criminal to trifle with that 
sacred relation which lies at the foundation of human 
society. 

As the most sacred thing among men had been slighted, so, 
too, had the sacred name of God been dishonored. " The 
Jews held that no oath was binding in which the name of God 
did not directly occur ; " and by this device they sought to 
evade the obligation of oaths, while yet many did not scruple 
to take the name of God in vain. Our Lord teaches that an 
oath given for confirmation, under whatever form, is to be 
sacredly observed ; that the habit of invoking names and 
things by way of emphasis leads to profaneness, and should 
be avoided ; and that we should maintain such a character 
for truth, that our simple word will carry with it even more 
than the weight of an oath, wherever we are known. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 128, 136, 154. 



Lord ! we beseech thee, grant us grace to with- 
stand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and 
the Devil, and with pure hearts and minds to fol- 
low thee ; and, forasmuch as without thee we are 
not able to please thee, mercifully grant that thy 
Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our 
hearts through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

O Lord Jesus, who art exalted to be a Prince and 
a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of 
sins ! we do repent of our sins before thee, and hum- 
bly beseech thee to receive us, according to thy 
promise that him that cometh unto thee thou wilt 
in no wise cast out. Give unto us, O Lord ! that 
rest which thou hast promised to the weary and 
heavy-laden; that peace which the world cannot 
give nor take away. As we shall go forth into the 
world this day, may thy presence guide and keep us ! 



We bring thee thanks for the mercies of the 
night, and supplicate thy grace for our friends and 
neighbors, for the absent dear to us, for thy Church, 
for this family, yea, Lord, for the whole family of 
mankind, — the world which thou hast died to 
save. 

We beseech thee, Lord ! to instruct us in our 
duty, and help us to perform it ; to give us a 
tender conscience and an earnest spirit ; to uphold 
us in the slippery ways of the world, and give us 
sterling integrity of heart ; to save us from the 
enmity of men, from the malice of Satan, and 
from our own faults and follies ; to support us in 
the hour of death ; and finally to receive us to thy 
presence in the world of endless life. And to the 
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be glory 
forever. Amen. 



46 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Proverbs xxiv. — 11. If thou forbear to deliver 
them that are drawn unto death, and those that 
are ready to be slain ; 

12. If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not ; doth 
not he that pondereth the heart consider it ? and 
he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it ? and 
shall not he render to every man according to his 
works ? 

17. Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and 
let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth ; 

18. Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, 
and he turn away his wrath from him. 

19. Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither 
be thou envious at the wicked : 

20. For there shall be no reward to the evil 
man ; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. 

28. Be not a witness against thy neighbor with- 
out cause, and deceive not with thy lips. 

29. Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done 
to me : I will render to the man according to his 
work. 

Matthew v. — 38. Ye have heard that it hath 
been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a, 
tooth. 

39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil ; 



To retaliate injuries is the prompting of man's animal na- 
ture, and private revenge obtains among all savage tribes. 
The first advance upon this was the attempt to regulate re- 
venge by a law of retaliation in States which had attained to 
some degree of civilization. A further advance was by courts 
of criminal law, through which a violence or wrong done to an 
individual was dealt with as a crime against society, and the 
redress of injuries was taken out of the hands of individuals 
into the power of the State. But in civilized communities, 
when the law is relaxed and the penalty of crime evaded, 
private revenge will sometimes break out as in the most sav- 
age tribes. 

The Ten Commandments inculcated love ; but some pre- 
cepts of the penal code of Moses were perverted into a sanc- 
tion of private revenge. Christ teaches his disciples to sup- 
press the spirit of revenge by cultivating the spirit of meekness, 
patience, and forgiveness under injuries. We may still be 



but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, 
turn to him the other also. 

40. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and 
take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 

41. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a 
mile, go with him twain. 

42. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him 
that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 

43. Ye have 1 heard that it hath been said, Thou 
shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy : 

44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, 
bless them that curse you, do good to them that 
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully 
use you and persecute you ; 

45. That ye may be the children of your Father 
which is in heaven ; for he maketh his sun to rise 
on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on 
the just and on the unjust. 

46. For, if ye love them which love you, what re- 
ward have ye ? do not even the publicans the same ? 

47. And, if ye salute your brethren only, what 
do ye more than others ? do not even the publi- 
cans so ? 

48. Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father 
which is in heaven is perfect. 



required, for the peace and safety of society, to bring to jus- 
tice the criminal who has wronged us ; but we must harbor no 
malice toward him as a personal enemy. 

Our Lord refers to oppressions which the Jews suffered 
under the Romans. Soldiers were billeted upon them who 
would treat them roughly : they were compelled to serve as 
carriers for the government, going miles from home ; they were 
dragged before tribunals upon false pretences. But Chris- 
tians must bear such injuries meekly, and conquer injustice 
by love. This is to follow the example of Christ ; this is to 
imitate the impartial, the perfect love of our Father in heaven. 
God does good to all, even the unthankful and the evil. If 
we cherish this spirit of patient, uncomplaining love, and the 
practice of universal kindness, then will our lives shine like 
the sun, scattering the darkness and wickedness of the world, 
and we shall overcome evil with good. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 53, 63, 82. 



Thou holy and blessed Son of God, who for our 
sakes didst endure such contradiction of sinners 
against thyself, grant us, we pray thee, the spirit of 
meekness and patience under injury, and of for- 
giveness toward all who do us wrong. How often 
have we grieved and offended thee ! Have mercy 
upon us, we beseech thee, and teach us to be mer- 
ciful unto all men. May we be followers of Him 
who went about doing good ! Lord our heavenly 
Father! we bless thee for thy loving-kindness to- 
ward us, so free, so constant, so abounding. We 
would show forth thy loving-kindness in the morn- 
ing, and thy faithfulness every night. Oh ! grant, 
that, walking in love, we may be the children of 
our Father in heaven. [May the children of this 



family grow up in the spirit of love, being kind 
to one another, to their schoolmates and compan- 
ions, and to all around them !] May love so rule 
in the hearts and lives of thy children, that it 
shall constrain the world to confess thee ! 

God, whose blessed Son was manifested that 
he might destroy the works of the Devil, and make 
us the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life ! grant 
us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we 
may purify ourselves even as he is pure ; that, 
when he shall appear again with power and great 
glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal 
and glorious kingdom, where, with thee, Father ! 
and thee, Holy Ghost ! he liveth and reigneth, 
ever one God, world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



47 



FRIDAY. 



Ecclesiastes V. — 1. Keep thy foot when thou 
goest to the house of God, and be more ready to 
hear than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they 
consider not that they do evil. 

2. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine 
heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for 
God is in heaven, and thou upon earth : therefore 
let thy words be few. 

4. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not 
to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay 
that which thou hast vowed. 

Matthew vi. — 1. Take heed that ye do not your 
alms before men, to be seen of them : otherwise 
ye have no reward of your Father which is in 
heaven. 

2. Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do 
not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites 
do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they 
may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, 
They have their reward. 

3. But, when thou doest alms, let not thy left 
hand know what thy right hand doeth : 

4. That thine alms may be in secret ; and thy 
Father, which seeth in secret, himself shall reward 
thee openly. 

5. And, when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as 



the hypocrites are ; for they love to pray standing 
in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, 
that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto 
you, They have their reward. 

6. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy 
closet ; and, when thou hast shut thy door, pray 
to thy Father which is in secret ; and thy Fa- 
ther, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee 
openly. 

7. But, when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, 
as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be 
heard for their much speaking. 

8. Be not ye, therefore, like unto them ; for your 
Father knoweth what things ye have need of be- 
fore ye ask him. 

16. Moreover, when ye fast, be not as the hypo- 
crites, of a sad countenance ; for they disfigure 
their faces that they may appear unto men to 
fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their 
reward. 

17. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine 
head, and wash thy face ; 

18. That thou appear not unto men to fast, but 
unto thy Father, which is in secret ; and thy 
Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee 
openly. 



Our Lord does not here forbid publicity in giving alms, — 
for this is sometimes necessary and useful, — but alms-giving 
for the sake of publicity. We are commanded to let our light 
shine before men, that they may see our good works ; but not 
to do this in the spirit of ostentation, that we may have glory 
of men, but with that self-forgetting love for God and man 
which shall cause others to ascribe our good deeds to our 
Father in heaven. So far must we be from self-praise and 
spiritual pride, that, in the motive and aim of our charity as 
concerns ourselves, the left hand shall not know what the 
right hand doeth. With regard to prayer, the comment of 
Dean Alford on verse 7, in his own Italics, is complete : 



" What is forbidden in this verse is not mvrh praying, for our 
Lord himself passed whole nights in prayer ; nor praying in 
the same ivords, for this he did in the very intensity of his agony 
at Gethsemane : but the making number and length a point 
of observance, and imagining that prayer will be heard, not 
because it is the genuine expression of the desire of faith, but 
because it is of such a length, has been such a number of 
times repeated," — as in the repetition of Paternosters and Ave 
Marias in the Latin Church, " the number of repetitions being 
prescribed, and the efficacy of the performance made to depend on 
it." The secret of all true prayer is the communing of our 
spirits with the Holy Spirit of God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 42, 102, 115. 



Our Father which art in heaven, we draw nigh 
to thee through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Thou 
reignest above in light unapproachable. Heaven 
is thy throne, and earth is thy footstool : what 
are we that thou shouldst regard us, and adopt us 
as thy reconciled children ? Teach thou us to for- 
get ourselves, and seek thy glory. Let thy praise 
be shown forth in our time - ; let thy great name 
be known and feared ; let the kingdoms of the 
world become thine, till thy holy law is kept by 
men as angels keep it above. And as for us, 
Father ! preserve us from day to day, and feed us 
with food convenient for us. And, inasmuch as our 
love cannot reach the measure of thine, teach us 
to forgive others as thou hast forgiven us. Suffer 
us not to be tempted above that we are able : but, 
however thou triest us, keep us from harm within 
and without ; from the evil in the world around 



ourselves ; from the 



us ; from the evil that is in 

Evil One, who lies in wait for our souls 

Thou, our Father, canst hear and answer our 
pra}rers; for thou reignest over all from the be- 
ginning, and with thee nothing is impossible : for 
thy pleasure and thy praise all things are, and were 
created. Thou hast created us, preserved us, re- 
deemed us ; our lives have been fall of thy mercies ; 
thou 'hast blessed us in our home, in our friends, 
in our country, in our times, in the means of 
knowledge and of grace. Help us to use to thy 
glory, and the good of others, that which Ave have 
so freely received. We come unto thee through 
Him who taught us to pray, — even Jesus Christ 
our Lord ; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, 
be all praise and dominion ; for thine is the 
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. 
Amen. 




SATURDAY. 



Matthew VI. — 19. Lay not up for yourselves 
treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth 
corrupt, and where thieves break through and 
steal ; 

20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and 
where thieves do not break through nor steal. 

21. For where your treasure is, there will your 
heart be also. 

22. The light of the body is the eye : if there- 
fore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be 
full of light. 

23. But, if thine eye be evil, thy whole body 
shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light 
that is in thee be darkness, how great is that dark- 
ness ! 

24. No man can serve two masters : for either 
he will hate the one, and love the other ; or else 
he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye 
cannot serve God and Mammon. 

25. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought 
for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall 
drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put 
on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body 
than raiment ? 

26. Behold the fowls of the air : for they sow 
not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns ; 



yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye 
not much better than they? 

27. Which of you by taking thought can add 
one cubit unto his stature ? 

28. And why take ye thought for raiment? 
Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; 
they toil not, neither do they spin : 

29. And yet I say unto you, That even Solo- 
mon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of 
these. 

30. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the 
field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into 
the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, ye 
of little faith ? 

31. Therefore take no thought, saying, What 
shall we eat ? or, What shall we drink ? or, Where- 
withal shall we be clothed ? 

32. (For after all these things do the Gentiles 
seek ; ) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye 
have need of all these things. 

33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and 
his righteousness, and all these things shall be 
added unto you. 

34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow ; 
for the morrow shall take thought for the things 
of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil 
thereof. 



But we must think and plan for the morrow if we would 
get on in the world, would carry on its business, make pro- 
vision for the support and education of our families. The 
Scriptures teach us to be " not slothful in business," as well 
as " fervent in spirit," in both alike " serving the Lord." 
The " thought " which our Lord condemns is such as divides 
the mind with uncertainties, distracts it with anxieties, un- 
settles it with solicitude ; in a word, it is care. Each day will 
bring its own burdens and cares ; and it is folly to increase 
these by anticipating those of to-morrow. The antidote to 
worldly care is faith in God, and devotion to his will. This 
gives stability to the mind, unity to its desires, consistency to 



its purposes, loftiness to its aims, assurance to its hopes. If 
our hearts are set upon spiritual good, the treasure in heaven, 
this will hold them up and steady them amid all the fluctua- 
tions of life. If we have unreservedly chosen God as our 
portion, we have an object great enough to fill our thoughts 
and satisfy our desires, and nothing can really disturb us. If 
we are the children of God, under his loving care, the good- 
ness that clothes the flowers and feeds the birds will provide 
for all our necessities. Wherefore let it be our one object, 
our first care, to serve and honor God, living unto him in all 
our thoughts, and trusting to him the care of our earthly 
life. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 32, 56, 68, 118. 



Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies, for 
the daily comforts of his providence and grace. 
Thy mercies, Lord ! are new every morning. 
Thou spreadest our table, and fillest our cup. In 
thee we live and move, and have our being. Grant 
us grace, we beseech thee, ever to live unto thee, 
to do thy holy will, and to glorify thee in our bod- 
ies and spirits which are thine. Suffer not the 
cares of this life to distract our minds from thee ; 
but may we seek first the kingdom of God and his 
righteousness. 

Give us, this day, our daily bread ; and feed our 
souls with that living bread which came down from 
heaven, of which if a man eat he shall never die. 
May Christ be in us the hope of glory, and the 
power of an endless life ! Lord, the Maker and 
Ruler of all ! we bless thee for all thy marvellous 



works, and for thy ways unto the children of men. 
Thou givest us rain from heaven, and fruitful sea- 
sons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 
Bless the earth, we pray thee, with abundant har- 
vests, that there may be seed for the sower, and 
bread for the eater. And, O most merciful Father ! 
do thou visit our land with plenteous showers of 
grace, making thy word fruitful, reviving thy 
Church, and causing righteousness to flourish and 
abound. Rule in the hearts of our rulers, and 
turn the people unto the things of thy kingdom. 
We commend unto thee all dear to us. We commit 
our souls unto thee for this day ; beseeching thee 
for Christ's sake to forgive our sins, to keep us un- 
spotted from the world, and pure in thy sight. And 
to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be 
glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



49 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Psalm xix. — 1. The heavens declare the glory 
of God; and the firmament showeth his handi- 
work. 

2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto 
night showeth knowledge. 

3. There is no speech nor language ivhere their 
voice is not heard. 

4. Their line has gone out through all the earth, 
and their words to the end of the world. In them 
hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 

5. Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his 
chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a 
race. 

6. His going-forth is from the end of the heav- 
en, and his circuit unto the ends of it ; and there 
is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 

7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting 
the soul ; the testimony of the Lord is sure, mak- 
ing wise the simple. 

8. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing 



the heart ; the commandment of the Lord is pure, 
enlightening the eyes. 

9. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for- 
ever; the judgments of the Lord are true and 
righteous altogether. 

10. More to be desired are they than gold ; yea, 
than much fine gold : sweeter also than honey and 
the honey-comb. 

11. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned ; 
and in keeping of them there is great re- 
ward. 

12. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse 
thou me from secret faults. 

13. Keep back thy servant also from presump- 
tuous siras ; let them not have dominion over me : 
then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent 
from the great transgression. 

14. Let the words of my mouth, and the medita- 
tion of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O 
Lord ! my strength and my redeemer. 



By omitting the Italicized words in verse 3, we make more 
clear the poetic beauty and delicate thought of the original. 
Though day and night are silent in their coming and going, 
though they utter no audible voice, no articulate speech, yet 
do they give forth a testimony for God co-extensive with the 
earth and the heaven. " Like an unbroken chain, their mes- 
sage is delivered from day to day, and from night to night. 
At the silence of one herald, another takes up his speech ; 
and holy silence itself is a speech to the listening soul." 

But the same God who speaks to us of his wisdom and 
beneficence, his might and majesty, in the glory of the sun and 
the stars, addresses our moral nature through his revealed 



word, his law of truth and right and purity, the perfection of 
love. Like the sun in the Syrian sky, this law searches every 
thing by its light and heat, — the secret faults, the unconscious 
errors, no less than wilful and presumptuous sins. 

Yet the Psalmist would not shrink from this all-penetrat- 
ing presence of God in his word : for as the light of the 
sun is health to the body, so this searching light of the 
Bible is cleansing also ; and, in the degree that the truth 
purifies the life, it rejoices the heart. Through and above 
the light that exposes and condemns, the trembling, re- 
pentant soul discerns the Lord, its strength and its re- 
deemer. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 18,31, 79, 90. 



Lord, our Lord ! how excellent is thy name in 
all the earth ! who hast set thy glory above the 
heavens. We bless thee for all thy works of crea- 
tion and of providence ; but above all for the reve- 
lation of thyself in thy Son our Saviour, who was 
the brightness of the Father's glory, and the ex- 
press image of his person. 

Almighty Father, Lord of heaven and earth, 
who on the first day didst create the light, and 
hast raised us up to praise and adore thee ! make 
us to walk as children of light, that we may have 
no fellowship with the unfruitful works of dark- 
ness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Lord, most gracious Saviour, who on this day 
didst rise again from the dead ! raise up our souls 
unto newness of life, granting us repentance from 
dead works, and planting us in the likeness of thy 
resurrection. 

O thou blessed Spirit, Lord and Giver of life, who 
on this day didst come down to sanctify and to 
teach, to guide and to comfort, thine elect ! lead us, 
we beseech thee, into all truth, and fill our hearts 
with thy manifold gifts of grace. 

Lord ! we beseech thee so to purify our hearts 



this day, that we may worship thee acceptably, 
with reverence and godly fear. Incline us to re- 
ceive thy word into honest and good hearts, and to 
bring forth fruit with patience ; that we may at 
last inherit everlasting life, through the mediation 
of thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Thou Lord of the evening and morning, we bless 
thee for thy love which shines upon us in the 
morning light. As thy goodness hath preserved 
us in the night, may thy grace attend and keep us 
this day. As we shall study thee in thy works 
and word, kindle our minds with thy truth, and 
cause our hearts to glow with thy love. Teach 
the children to read thy glory in the heavens, and 
to know thy grace in the gospel of thy Son. 

Let thy special blessing, Lord ! rest on all our 
relations, friends, and neighbors : and so quicken 
us by thy grace, that, with one mind and one 
heart, we may serve and please thee ; that having 
washed our robes, and made them white in the 
blood of the Lamb, we may dwell with thee for- 
evermore, through his merits ; to whom, with the 
Father and the Holy Ghost, be all praise and 
thanksgiving forever. Amen. 



50 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Deuteronomy xxiii. — 24. When thou comest 
into thy neighbor's vineyard, then thou mayest eat 
grapes thy till, at thine own pleasure ; but thou 
shalt not put any in thy vessel. 

25. When thou comest into the standing-corn of 
thy neighbor, then thou mayest pluck the ears with 
thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto 
thy neighbor's standing-corn. 

Mark ii. — 23. And it came to pass, that he 
went through the corn-fields on the sabbath-day ; 
and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the 
ears of corn. 

24. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, 
why do they on the sabbath-day that which is not 
lawful ? 

25. And he said unto them, Have ye never 
read what David did, when he had need and was 
an hungred, he and they that were with him ? 

26. How he went into the house of God, in the 
days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the 
show-bread, which is not lawful to eat but for 
the priests, and gave also to them which were 
with him ? 



27. And he said unto them, The sabbath was 
made for man, and not man for the sabbath : 

28. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the 
sabbath. 

Mark iii. — 1. And he entered again into the 
synagogue ; and there was a man there which had 
a withered hand. 

2. And they watched him, whether he would 
heal him on the sabbath-day, that they might 
accuse him. 

3. And he saith unto the man which had the 
withered hand, Stand forth. 

4. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do 
good on the sabbath-days, or to do evil ? to save life, 
or to kill ? But they held their peace. 

5. And when he had looked round about on them 
with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their 
hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine 
hand. And he stretched it out ; and his hand was 
restored whole as the other. 

6. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway 
took counsel with the Herodians against him how 
they might destroy him. 



Christ redeemed the sabbath from the superstitious forms 
and stringent rules by which the Jews had made it a heavy 
yoke, and restored it to its proper uses, — for the thankful wor- 
ship of God, and for services of kindness and mercy to men. 
These two incidents commend works of necessity and works 
of mercy to be done upon the sabbath. 

The first took place during a walk to the synagogue. In 
Palestine, the fields are not divided by fences ; but private 
property is marked by boundary-stones, and sometimes a path 
or highway runs through fields of grain. When I entered 
Palestine from the desert, the wheat was jttst ripening ; and, 
as our path lay through a large field, my dragoman plucked 
a handful of ears, rubbed out the grain, and offered it to me 
to eat, saying, " Good, very good." This any traveller was 
at liberty to do, according to the law of Moses. The Phari- 
sees accused the disciples, not of taking that to which they 



Appkopriate Htmns,] 



had no right, but because they thus satisfied their hunger 
upon the sabbath ! But Jesus set man and his wants above 
the day and its forms. 

In the second instance, these sticklers for rules and forms 
of their own making, instead of entreating Jesus to heal a 
poor cripple, or watching with prayerful interest for some 
token of his mercy, set out to accuse him for deeds of kind- 
ness done upon the sabbath. Grieved to indignation at their 
lack of sympathy for the suffering, at their perversion of the 
day which God had given as a special blessing to the poor, 
at their turning religion into red-tape regulations that choked 
all charity and humanity, he looked round on these hard- 
hearted hypocrites with anger ; then poured forth his com- 
passion upon the cripple at his side. May we learn to keep 
the sabbath holy, with a devotion to God that blends itself 
with holy love to man ! 



[Nos. 10, 37, 48. 



Prayer. 

Almighty God, from whom all good things do I be sealed by him unto the day of redemption ! 
come, we thank and praise thee for the mercies of j May his gracious teaching enlighten us, and his 
this holy day. Make our hearts so deeply thankful \ holy comfort cheer and refresh our souls ! May no 



for its many blessings, that we shall be ready to 
devote ourselves afresh — body, soul, and spirit — 
to thy service through the coming week. 

Give unto us, God ! more of the mind which 
was in Christ Jesus. May we esteem others bet- 
ter than ourselves ! Teach us to pity and to help 
all who are in want and sorrow. May we show 
that we are Christians, not in name only, but in 
deed and truth ; and, by our holy and blameless 
lives, may we adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour 
in all things ! May thy truth make us free ! 

Almighty Father, teach us to imitate thy love, 
that we may be sanctified in heart and life, fitted 
to serve thee here, and to dwell with thee here- 
after. May we be temples of the Holy Ghost, and 



cherished sin grieve this blessed Spirit, or quench 
the flame of love which he would kindle within us ! 

Bless, Lord ! thy Church with light and peace. 
Bless our government and our country. Make us 
a nation fearing thee and working righteousness. 

Be gracious to all our dear friends and rela- 
tives, and guide their feet into the way of holiness. 
Bring nigh any who may be yet far from thee. 
Stablish, strengthen, and settle those who know 
and love thee. 

Hear, Lord ! we beseech thee, these our sup- 
plications. Pardon for thy mercy's sake all our 
iniquities, and do for us exceeding abundantly above 
all that we ask or think, for the sake of Jesus 
Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



51 



MONDAY. 



Proverbs X. — 11. The mouth of a righteous 
man is a well of life; but violence covereth the 
mouth of the wicked. 

12. Hatred stirreth up strifes ; but love covereth 
all sins. 

13. In the lips of him that hath understanding, 
wisdom is found ; but a rod is for the back of him 
that is void of understanding. 

18. He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and 
he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 

19. In the multitude of words there wanteth 
not sin ; but he that refraineth his lips is 
wise. 

20. The tongue of the just is as choice silver : 
the heart of the wicked is little worth. 

21. The lips of the righteous feed many; but 
fools die for want of wisdom. 

23. It is as sport to a fool to do mischief; but a 
man of understanding hath wisdom. 

31. The mouth of the just bringeth forth wis- 
dom ; but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 

32. The lips of the righteous know what is ac- 
ceptable ; but the mouth of the wicked spealceth 
frowardness. 

Matthew vii. — 1. Judge not, that ye be not 
judged. 

2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall 
be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it 
shall be measured to you again. 

3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in 



How ready we are to judge and criticise others ! and how 
sensitive to their judgment or criticism upon ourselves! 
While we cannot be indifferent to faults, we should guard 
against the spirit of fault-finding; and the faults we see in 
others should render us watchful concerning our own. 

In estimating the conduct of others, we should endeavor to 
put the best construction upon their actions, should make due 
allowance for their circumstances, and be slow to judge their 
motives. If we avoid hasty and censorious criticism, and are 
more intent upon keeping ourselves right than making others 
so, we shall be in a better position to influence them for good. 



thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam 
that is in thine own eye ? 

4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me 
pull out the mote out of thine eye ; and, behold, 
a beam is in thine own eye ? 

5. Thou hypocrite ! first cast out the beam 
out of thine own eye ; and then shalt thou see 
clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's 
eye. 

6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, 
neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they 
trample them under their feet, and turn again and 
rend you. 

7. Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and 
ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto 
you: 

8. For every one that asketh receiveth, and he 
that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh 
it shall be opened. 

9. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son 
ask bread, will he give him a stone ? 

10. Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a 
serpent ? 

11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give 
good gifts unto your children, how much more 
shall your Father which is in heaven give good 
things to them that ask him ! 

12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would 
that men should do to you, do ye even so to them ; 
for this is the law and the prophets. 



At the same time, in proffering advice, we must discriminate 
as to time, place, and persons, or we may not only throw away 
good counsel, but provoke abuse and hatred in return. 

The great law of intercourse with our fellow-men should 
be the golden rule of love : that which it would be right and 
proper for us, in their circumstances, to desire to have done to 
ourselves, we should endeavor to the best of our ability to do 
to them ; remembering always how we ourselves, in our weak- 
ness and our sinfulness, are dependent upon the mercy of our 
Father in heaven, and following his example in doing good 
unto all. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 40, 89, 154. 



Almighty God, who givest us all things richly 
to enjoy, we bless thee that thou hast made us 
capable of knowing thee as our Father, and of 
holding communion with thee through thy Son, 
our Saviour Jesus Christ. We come to thee with 
the opening day to render thanks for light and 
life, for reason, for the affections that bless our 
home, for the bounties of thy providence, and the 
riches of thy grace. Acknowledging our unwor- 
thiness, we implore the forgiveness of our sins, and 
the gracious, comforting, sanctifying presence of 
thy Holy Spirit. Even as now we ask, do thou, 
O Lord ! send forth thy Spirit in our hearts, crying, 
Abba, Father ! and witnessing that we are thine. 

Help us this day to walk before thee in lowliness 



of mind, and in all holy conversation. Give to us 
wisdom in our affairs, and success in our under- 
takings ; the spirit of good will toward our fellow- 
men, and an unworldly, unselfish mind in all 
things. May we keep our tongue from evil, and 
our lips from speaking guile, and rejoice in every 
opportunity of doing good to others ! May this 
home be sanctified by thy presence, and our hearts 
filled with thy love ! and may the homes to which 
our hearts go out in loving remembrance be like- 
wise the habitations of thy grace ! Lord ! save 
thy people, and bless thine heritage ; govern them, 
and lift them up forever. Fill all lands with thy 
glory, and all hearts with thy grace, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



52 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Matthew vii. — 13. Enter ye in at the strait 
gate ; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, 
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be 
which go in thereat : 

14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the 
way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that 
find it. 

15. Beware of false prophets, which come to 
you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are 
ravening wolves. 

16. Ye shall know them by their fruits : do men 
gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ? 

17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good 
fruit ; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 

18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, 
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 

19. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit 
is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know 
them. 

21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, 
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but 
he that doeth the will of my Father which is in 
heaven. 



22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, 
have we not prophesied in thy name ? and in thy 
name have cast out devils ? and in thy name done 
many wonderful works ? 

23. And then will I profess unto them, I never 
knew you : depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

24. Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings 
of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a 
wise man, which built his house upon a rock : 

25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, 
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; 
and it fell not ; for it was founded upon a rock. 

26. And every one that heareth these sayings 
of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto 
a foolish man, which built his house upon the 
sand : 

27. And the rain descended, and the floods came, 
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house ; and 
it fell ; and great was the fall of it. 

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended 
these sayings, the people were astonished at his 
doctrine ; 

29. For he taught them as one having author- 
ity, and not as the scribes. 



With these words our Lord closed the Sermon on the 
Mount, which, unlike the petty criticisms of the scribes touch- 
ing the law, laid down the deepest principles of the inner life 
with the authority of One who knew the heart, and who spake 
from God. The people felt and owned this authority. It did 
not proceed from office, rank, position, but from that spiritual 
insight which searched the heart, and exposed the conscience 
to the light of truth. That which gives power to the minis- 
try is not official dignity, nor a reputed learning or sanctity, 
but the faculty of carrying truth home to the heart. 

Our Lord's sermon, which began with benedictions, ends 
with warnings. In matters of religion, it is not safe to follow 
the multitude. The way of life is narrow : it requires self- 
denial, painstaking, to walk in it ; and the many prefer the 
broad and easy ways of sin. It is not safe to follow every 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



! teacher : men, doctrines, systems, churches, must be judged by 
their fruits ; and holy living is the evidence of a true faith. 
Religion is an inward principle of consecration to God which 
conforms the life to his will, just as the nature of a tree deter- 
mines the kind and quality of its fruit. It is not enough to 
make a profession of religion, and to be active in works of 
piety : the motive, the principle, the heart, determines the 
character ; and those who build upon their own foundation, 
and are not joined to Christ by a living faith, will come to a 
sudden disappointment in the end. A house built loosely 
upon the sandy margin of a stream, without care for its foun- 
dation, when, as often happens in Palestine, the torrents rise 
swiftly with the beating tempest, will be undermined and 
swept away. Let us take heed that our faith and hope are 
built upon Christ the Rock. 



Prayer 

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures 
to be written for our learning, grant that we may 
in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and in- 
wardly digest them, that, by patience and comfort 
of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold 
fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou 
hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. May 
we receive the truth in the love of it ! and, walking 
in its light, may we ourselves shine as lights in the 
world, holding forth the word of life ! Preserve us, 
we pray thee, from pride, prejudice, and unbelief; 
from a worldly and covetous spirit ; from self-right- 
eousness, and from uncharitableness toward others ; 
from all false hopes, and from all unholy desires. 
As new-born babes, may we desire the sincere milk 
of the Word, that we may grow thereby. 

[We entreat thee, Lord ! so to feed the chil- 
dren of this household with the words of Jesus 



[Nos. 11, 39, 76. 

their Saviour, that they shall grow tip in the nur- 
ture and admonition of the Lord. Cause them to 
shun the ways of sin, and to walk in the narrow 
way which leadeth unto life.] Be very gracious to 
our friends, our kindred, our neighbors ; and bring 
them all into the kingdom of heaven. Oh ! let thy 
gospel go forth to enlighten and save the whole 
world. 

Heavenly Father, we thank thee for the daily 
gifts of thy providence ; for rest in the night ; for 
the light of the morning ; for health, comfort, and 
hope. Give unto us, we pray thee, that which 
thou seest to be good for us. Defend us, Lord ! 
from all evil ; be thou our rock, our refuge, our 
strong tower ; and, when heart and flesh shall fail 
us, be thou, God ! the strength of our heart, and 
our portion forever, through Jesus Christ our Sa- 
viour. Amen. 



WEDNESDAY. 



2 Peter ii. — 4. For if God spared not the angels 
that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and deliv- 
ered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved 
unto judgment ; 

5. And spared not the old world, but saved Noah 
the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, 
bringing in the flood upon the world of the un- 
godly ; 

6. And, turning the cities of Sodom and Gomor- 
rah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, 
making them an ensample unto those that after 
should live ungodly ; 

7. And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy 
conversation of the wicked ; 

8. (Tor that righteous man dwelling among 
them, in seeing and hearing, vexed Ms righteous 
soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds :) 

9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly 
out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto 
the day of judgment to be punished. 

Genesis vi. — 1. And it came pass, when men 
began to multiply on the face of the earth, and 
daughters were born unto them, 

2. That the sons of God saw the daughters of 



men that they were fair ; and they took them wives 
of all which they chose. 

3. And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not al- 
ways strive with man, for that he also is flesh ; 
yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty 
years. 

4. There were giants in the earth in those days ; 
and also after that, when the sons of God came 
in unto the daughters of men, and they bare chil- 
dren to them, the same became mighty men, which 
were of old, men of renown. 

5. And God saw that the wickedness of man 
was great in the earth, and that every imagination 
of the thoughts of his heart was only evil contin- 
ually. 

6. And it repented the Lord that he had made 
man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 

7. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom 
I have created from the face of the earth, both 
man and beast, and the creeping thing, and the 
fowls of the air ; for it repenteth me that I have 
made them. 

8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the 
Lord. 



The posterity of Cain appear to have inherited the evil 
passions of their father : for, though they displayed much en- 
ergy in material civilization, they neglected religion ; and, in 
the days of Lamech, deeds of violence and blood were rife 
among them. The descendants of Seth, on the contrary, are 
described as men who " called on the name of the Lord : " 
they showed their piety in the public worship of God. In the 
course of time, however, these " sons of God " were betrayed 
into alliances with the worldly, irreligious daughters of 
the lineage of Cain ; and the consequence was a universal 
apostasy from true religion : a race having strong physical 
qualities, devoted to war and the chase, and fond of sensual 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



pleasures, addicted themselves to every device of evil ; until, 
their reformation being hopeless, their Maker resolved upon 
their destruction. 

Speaking after the manner of men, the Lord is said to have 
been so grieved and disappointed at the downward career of 
mankind, that it repented him that he had made man in the 
earth. Yet, even amid this wide-spread apostasy, some soli- 
tary seeds of virtue and piety were found ; and to these was 
owing the preservation of the earth from that utter destruc- 
tion to which the wickedness of men had justly exposed it. 
So has it been again and again with a degenerate nation : the 
" holy seed " has proved its redeeming " substance." 



[Nos. 5, 22, 155, 172. 



Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God 
Almighty ; just and true are thy ways, thou King 
of saints. Who shall not fear thee, Lord ! and 
glorify thy name ? for thou only art holy. When 
thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, 
thou makest his beauty to consume away like a 
moth. Thou turnest man to destruction, and say- 
est, Keturn, ye children of men. Thou carriest 
them away as with a flood. Yet, Lord, thou wilt not 
cast off forever : thou dost not afflict willingly nor 
grieve the children of men. We bless thee that 
thou hast spared us the punishment that we deserve 
for our sins; and we beseech thee, for Christ's sake, 
to forgive and save us. 

We awake this morning to the light of thy love, 
to the sense of thy gracious protection, and the joy 
of thy presence ; and we would bring to thee our 
sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Oh! keep 
us this day from sin ; bless us in our home, in our 
labors, in our studies; bless all our friends with 



Prayer. 

both temporal and spiritual good ; and remember 
all men in mercy. May we be followers of them 
who through faith and patience inherit the prom- 
ises ! 

Lord, who hast taught us not only to pray, but 
to give thanks for all men ! we beseech thee to ac- 
cept our unfeigned thanks and praises for the grace 
thou hast wrought in thy saints, and through them 
bestowed on thy holy Church from the beginning of 
the world. For all those thy servants who have 
departed this life with the seal of faith, we praise 
and magnify thy glorious name ; most humbly de- 
siring, of thy mercy and goodness, that we may 
continue in their holy communion ; and that, fol- 
lowing with all diligence their holy examples, we 
may together with them attain to the resurrection 
of the just, and have our perfect consummation 
and bliss, in body and soul, in thine eternal and 
everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



■«*dn»«UHenawfHroRB«aBSfl 



54 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Genesis vi. — 13. And God said unto Noah, 
Tho end of all flesh is come before me ; for the 
earth is filled with violence through them : and, 
behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 

14. Make thee an ark of gopher-wood : rooms 
shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it 
within and without with pitch. 

15. And this is the fashion which hou shalt 
make it of: The length of the ark shall be three 
hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and 
the height of it thirty cubits. 

16. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and 
in a cubit shalt thou finish it above ; and the door 
of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof: with 
lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. 

17. And behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of 
waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein 
is the breath of life, from under heaven ; and every 
thing that is in the earth shall die. 

18. But with thee will I establish my covenant ; 
and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy 
sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. 

19. And of every living thing of all flesh, two 
of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep 
them alive with thee : they shall be male and 
female. 



20. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after 
their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth 
after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto 
thee, to keep them alive. 

21. And take thou unto thee of all food that is 
eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee ; and it shall 
be for food for thee and for them. 

22. Thus did Noah ; according to all that God 
commanded him, so did he. 

Ezekiel xiv. — 12. The word of the Lord came 
again to me, saying, 

13. Son of man, when the land sinneth against 
me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch 
out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of 
the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, 
and will cut off man and beast from it : 

14. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and 
Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own 
souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God. 

19. If I send a pestilence into that land, and 
pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from 
it man and beast ; 

20. Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, 
as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver 
neither son nor daughter : they shall but deliver 
their own soids by their righteousness. 



According to the usual estimate of the cubit, the ark was, 
in round numbers, 525 feet long, 87 feet broad, and 52 feet 
high. The largest vessel of modern times, " The Great East- 
ern," is 6S0 feet long, 83 feet broad, and 58 feet high. But 
the form of the ark gave it a greater capacity for stowage ; 
and, since it was intended to float rather than to sail, stowage 
was the first consideration. It was arranged in three tiers ; 
and the ability to construct so vast a building shows that the 
mechanic arts were well advanced before the flood. The 
construction of the window is a mysterv, — one of the lost 
arts. But how much did the ark contain 1 Such universal 
terms as " all the earth," " every living thing," and the like, 
are not always to be taken with literal exactness. They may 



denote simply the earth as known to man. There is no 
mention of fish or insects among the creatures taken into the 
ark. It would have been impossible to have made room 
within its area for pairs of all the species in existence at that 
time, together with the food necessary to keep them alive. 
Life in the ark was not sustained by miracle. Moreover, 
the carnivorous animals could not have been trusted among 
the tamer sorts ; and numbers of the latter must have been 
provided for their food. If the flood spread only over the 
region then inhabited by man, a supply of the animals re- 
lated to man's uses and wants would cover the statement 
of the text. Noah entered the ark at the head of the whole 
creation. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 32, 57, 166. 



O God ! thou art great, and greatly to be feared. 
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy 
glory. We have sinned against heaven and in 
thy sight : we are no more worthy to be called thy 
children. But do thou for Jesus' sake, thine own 
dear Son, have mercy upon us miserable offenders. 

Behold, God our shield ! look upon the face 
of thine Anointed. When troubles come, when 
billows of sorrow roll over us, when thy judg- 
ments are abroad in the earth, may we find refuge 
in the ark of his salvation ! May we look forward 
to our rest ! May our citizenship be in heaven, 
and we of the company of thy saints who declare 
plainly that they seek a better country ! May we 
be like Christ now, remembering that we are soon 
to be with him, and that forever ! May we glorify 
him in the midst of an evil and gainsaying world ! 



and, whatever the sphere in which thy providence 
has placed us, may we use our time and talents 
and opportunities for thee ! 

We look to thee, Lord ! this day, for daily 
bread. All thy creatures wait upon thee. That 
thou givest them they gather. Thou openest thine 
hands; they are filled with good. Oh! fill us 
this day with good things. [Bless every member 
of this family, parents and children, brothers and 
sisters, and all our kindred : may each, in the 
several relations of life, fulfil all the offices of love, 
doing good to one another as thou givest oppor- 
tunity !] Prosper the labors of industry ; bless the 
earth with abundant harvests ; bless our land with 
health, peace, plenty, righteousness ; and save the 
world which thy mercy has spared, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen-. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



55 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm xciii. — 1. The Lord reigneth ; lie is 
clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with 
strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the 
world also is established, that it cannot be moved. 

2. Thy throne is established of old: thou art 
from everlasting. 

3. The floods have lifted up, Lord ! the floods 
have lifted up their voice ; the floods lift up their 
waves. 

4. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise 
of many waters ; yea, than the mighty waves of 
the sea. 

5. Thy testimonies are very sure : holiness be- 
cometh thy house, Lord ! forever. 

Genesis vii. — 1. And the Lord said unto Noah, 
Come thou and all thy house into the ark ; for thee 
have I seen righteous before me in this genera- 
tion. 

7. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, 
and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because 
of the waters of the flood. 

8. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not 



"We have seen (p. 5-t) that the terms "earth," "every," 
&c, may be fairly understood to mean nothing more than the 
physical creation as then peopled by man, or known to man, — 
a portiou of Western Asia. Had the entire globe been cov- 
ered with salt water, all fresh-water fish would have perished ; 
and, since none of these were taken into the ark, their species 
would have become extinct. Many species of land animals 
also, which could not have been contained in the ark, would 
have been destroyed. But the flood was not followed by a 
new creation. The flood covered all the mountains within 
the range of man's vision, and devastated the whole region 
where man had lived. Hence it is fitly said that " all flesh 
died that moved upon the earth." 

How wondrous the tribute here rendered to faith and 
righteousness ! Noah was the solitary exception to the uni- 
versal and abominable wickedness of his times ; and, but for 
him, the entire race of man would have been destroyed from 
the earth, perhaps never to have been renewed. How easily 



clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creep- 
eth upon the earth, 

9. There went in two and two unto Noah into 
the ark, the male and the female, as God had com- 
manded Noah. 

10. And it came to pass, after seven days, that 
the waters of the flood were upon the earth. 

11. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in 
the second month, the seventeenth day of the 
month, the same day were all the fountains of the 
great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven 
were opened. 

12. And the rain was upon the earth forty days 
and forty nights. 

23. And every living substance was destroyed 
which was upon the face of the ground, both man, 
and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl 
of the heaven ; and they were destroyed from the 
earth ; and Noah only remained alive, and they 
that were with him in the ark. 

24. And the waters prevailed upon the earth a 
hundred and fifty days. 



might the Lord have translated Noah as Enoch was trans- 
lated, and have closed the sad record of humanity with the 
flood ! But, in the midst of judgments, he had purposes of 
mercy ; and he put salvation in contrast with destruction by 
providing for the safety of his servant and his family, and 
continuing, through him, at once the line of descent from 
Adam and the line of promise unto the Saviour. How tender 
and thoughtful was the care that God took of his servant in 
all the preparations for his comfort during the time of the 
flood ! And how strong were the faith of Noah and his spirit 
of obedience, that led him, without hesitation, to undertake so 
vast a work as building and storing the ark upon the bare 
command of Jehovah ! But, as he rode above that mighty 
sea, that faith was justified, that righteousness was honored, 
and his ark became the symbol of refuge and hope to the 
people of God in all after-ages. Oh! let us all, like faith- 
ful Noah, commit to God the keeping of our souls in well- 
doing. 



Appeopeiate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 77, 178, 185. 



We lift up our eyes unto the hills, whence Com- 
eth our help : our help cometh from the Lord, which 
made heaven and earth. Thine angels, Lord ! 
have encamped round about us in the night-sea- 
son, and thou hast given them charge concern- 
ing us to defend us from all evil. We open our 
eyes to the remembrance of thy mercy, to the con- 
sciousness of thy presence, to the sense of our de- 
pendence. Only our sins separate us from thee, 
our loving Father ; and we beseech thee to blot 
these out for thy name's sake, and to receive 
us in Christ as thy redeemed and reconciled chil- 
dren. 

Help us, Lord ! this day, to walk worthy of 
thy love, and, as obedient children, to do thy will. 
[May the children of this family remember thee in 
the days of their youth ! May every one of us daily 



acknowledge and serve thee !] Keep us, Lord ! 
we pray thee, from all evil and sin this day. In 
our intercourse with others may we be true and 
just, loving and patient, gentle and kind, and 
so may we commend unto all the gospel of thy 
grace. 

May thy favor be upon the community in 
which we dwell, upon thy Church, upon our land ! 
Give peace in our time, Lord ! and incline 
the hearts of our rulers to that which is just 
and lawful in thy sight. Have mercy upon the 
poor, the afflicted, the solitary, the bereaved ; 
and cause that the grace of thy gospel shall go 
forth everywhere to heal the sins and sorrows of 
all mankind. Finally bring us unto thine ever- 
lasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



56 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Psalm civ. — 1. Bless the Lord, my soul! 
Lord my God ! thou art very great ; thou art 
clothed with honor and majesty : 

2. Who coverest thyself with light as with a 
garment ; who stretchest out the heavens like a 
curtain ; 

3. Who layeth the heams of his chambers in 
the waters ; who maketh the clouds his chariot ; 
who walketh upon the wings of the wind; 

4. Who maketh his angels spirits, his ministers 
a flaming fire ; 

5. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that 
it should not be removed forever. 

6. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with 
a garment :. the waters stood above the moun- 
tains. 

7. At thy rebuke they fled ; at the voice of thy 
thunder they hasted away. 

8. They go up by the mountains ; they go down 
by the valleys unto the place which thou hast 
founded for them. 

9. Thou hast set a bound that they may not 
pass over ; that they turn not again to cover the 
earth. 

Genesis viii. — 1. And God remembered Noah, 
and every living thing, and all the cattle that was 
with him in the ark ; and God made a wind to pass 
over the earth, and the waters assuaged. 

2. The fountains also of the deep, and the win- 
dows of heaven, were stopped, and the rain from 
heaven was restrained. 

3. And the waters returned from off the earth 



continually ; and, after the end of the hundred and 
fifty days, the waters were abated. 

4. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on 
the seventeenth day of the month, upon the moun- 
tains of Ararat. 

5. And the waters decreased continually, until 
the tenth month : in the tenth month, on the first 
day of the month, were the tops of the mountains 
seen. 

6. And it came to pass at the end of forty days, 
that Noah opened the window of the ark which he 
had made ; 

7. And he sent forth a raven, which went forth 
to and fro until the waters were dried up from off 
the earth. 

8. Also he sent forth a dove from him to see if 
the waters were abated from off the face of the 
ground. 

9. But the dove found no rest for the sole of her 
foot, and she returned unto him into the ark ; for 
the waters were on the face of the whole earth. 
Then he put forth his hand and took her, and 
pulled her in unto him into the ark. 

10. And he staid yet other seven days ; and 
again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. 

11. And the dove came in to him in the even- 
ing ; and, lo ! in her mouth was an olive-leaf 
plucked off. So Noah knew that the waters were 
abated from off the earth. 

12. And he staid yet other seven days, and sent 
forth the dove ; which returned not again unto him 
any more. 



How tender and loving was the care of God for the ark 
and its inhabitants! Not for a moment were these forgotten. 
When the flood had accomplished its work of destruction, God 
at once began to prepare the desolated earth to be again the 
habitation of man. Even the beasts were thought of in this 
new provision of his mercy ; for God remembered not Noah 
and his family alone, but all the creatures that were with him 
in the ark. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies, for 
the mercies of the past night ; for shelter, safety, 
comfort, rest, and peace. How precious are thy 
thoughts unto us, God ! how great is the sum of 
them! When we awake, we are still with thee. 
So would our hearts rise to thee, Lord ! with the 
morning light, with the incense of prayer and 
praise ; yea, we would present our bodies unto thee 
a living sacrifice. May this, our reasonable service, 
be made holy through the blood of Jesus, and ac- 
ceptable through the Spirit of all grace ! May the 
Holy Spirit like a dove descend and rest upon us, 
making our home and our hearts the abode of 
peace ! 

Help us this day to live unto thee, and in all 



The birds were true to their instincts, — the raven flying in- 
cessantly back and forth, the dove returning in search of rest. 
The fact that the dove found an olive-leaf shows that the 
waters had risen steadily and gradually, and that the face of 
Nature was not utterly wasted. How beautiful a symbol was 
this bird of peace of the assuaging of the divine wrath, and 
the return of man to his rest and hope in the loving-kindness 
of the Lord ! 



[Nos. 26, 54, 103. 



Prayer. 

our works and ways to do that which is well-pleas- 
ing in thy sight. Prosper, we beseech thee, the 
labor of our hands, our studies, our various call- 
ings; bless to us the means of knowledge and 
improvement ; make us thoughtful of others, con- 
siderate of the poor and afflicted, wise and ready 
unto every good word and work. We commend 
unto thee our kindred and friends, beseeching thee 
to grant them the promise of the life that now 
is ; and in the world to come, life everlasting. We 
pray for thy holy Church universal, for the coming 
of light and peace and salvation in the latter-day 
glory to all the earth, through Christ our Lord ; 
and to thy name be power and glory and dominion, 
world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



57 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Genesis viii. — 15. And God spake unto Noah, 
saying, 

16. Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and 
thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. , 

17. Bring forth with thee every living thing that 
is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cat- 
tle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon 
the earth ; that they may breed abundantly in the 
earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. 

18. And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his 
wife, and his sons' wives with him : 

19. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every 
fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, 
after then- kinds, went forth out of the ark. 

20. And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord, 
and took of every clean beast, and of every clean 
fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar. 

21. And the Lord smelled a sweet savor : and 
the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse 
the ground any more for man's sake ; for the im- 
agination of man's heart is evil from his youth ; 
neither will I again smite any more every thing 
living, as I have done. 

22. "While the earth remaineth, seed-time and 



The charmins: simplicity of man's intercourse with God in 
the garden of Eden was here renewed through the second 
father of the race. Noah's first thought, on finding himself 
once more upon the solid ground, was to render to God grati- 
tude and devotion for the preservation of himself and his 
family. He did not think first of his own wants, of building 
a house for himself, of preserving his scanty stock of ani- 
mals, and selecting the best for breeding ; but he built an al- 
tar, and culled out the very choicest of the beasts and birds, 
and offered these to the Lord in sacrifice. And God, who 



harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and win- 
ter, and day and night, shall not cease. 

Isaiah liv. — 2. Enlarge the place of thy tent, 
and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine 
habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords, and 
strengthen thy stakes : 

3. For thou shalt break forth on the right hand 
and on the left ; and thy seed shall inherit the 
Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be in- 
habited. 

7. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but 
with great mercies will I gather thee. 

8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for 
a moment ; but with everlasting kindness will I 
have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Bedeemer. 

9. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me ; 
for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should 
no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I 
would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 

10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills 
be removed ; but my kindness shall not depart from 
thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be 
removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on 
thee. 



ever delights in mercy, and welcomes the least sign of love 
and gratitude in man, accepted this offering as grateful to his 
own heart, and responded to it by a new covenant to preserve 
the earth in the orderly succession of its seasons, in the beauty 
and fruitfulness of its harvests. Observe how closely related 
are physical blessings to religious faith and obedience. He 
who loves and serves God receives not only gifts of grace, but 
the pledge of divine favor in all things ; and the very earth 
in its teeming prosperity is a witness to the loving faithful- 
ness of God to a righteous man. 



Appropriate Htjtxs,] 



Prayer. 



£Nbs. 27, 32, 81. 



It is good to give thanks unto thee, Lord ! 
and to sing praises to thy name, thou Most High ! 
to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, 
and thy faithfulness every night. We thank thee 
for the quiet and sleep of the past night, and for 
the renewed vitror that is ours this morninsr. 

Lord ! we thank thee that we have the means 
of satisfying our daily wants. The earth is thine, 
and the fulness thereof; the beasts of the forest, 
and the cattle upon a thousand hills. It is thou 
who hast ordained seed-time and harvest, summer 
and winter : thou dost crown the year with plenty, 
and dost give seed to the sower, and bread to the 
eater. Fulfil this day, we beseech thee, the prom- 
ise that thy word shall be even as the rain, and as 
good seed in good ground. Oh ! feed our souls with 
the bread of life. May thy goodness lead us to 
devote all our possessions to thy service ! may what 
God has given be consecrated to him ! and to-day 
may we go forth as stewards of thy grace, to suc- 
cor the needy and comfort the sorrowing, remem- 



bering that every one of us shall give account of 
himself to God ! 

[Lord, look upon us as a family. May the chil- 
dren obey their parents in the Lord, and love one 
another ! Help them in acquiring that knowl- 
edge which will be of service to them in the 
present life; and, above all, may they know thee 
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou 
hast sent !] 

We pray for thy rich blessing, Lord ! this day, 
upon all means and labors for the spread of divine 
truth. Prosper thy servants who are employed in 
the instruction of the young, in the visitation of 
the poor, the afflicted, the distressed ; and pour out 
thy Spirit, thou great Head of the Church, on all 
ministers and missionaries who have sat at thy 
feet, received thy word, and are devoted to thy 
glory ; and fill thy Church with thy praise. 

Oh ! may our worship go up before thee as a sac- 
rifice of sweet savor, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord ! Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Genesis ix. — 8. And God spake unto Noah, 
and to his sons with him, saying, 

9. And I, behold, I establish my covenant with 
you, and with your seed after you ; 

10. And with every living creature that is with 
you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast 
of the earth with you, from all that go out of the 
ark, to every beast of the earth. 

11. And I will establish my covenant with you ; 
neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the 
waters of a flood, neither shall there any more be 
a flood to destroy the earth. 

12. And God said, This is the token of the cove- 
nant which I make between me and you, and every 
living creature that is with you, for perpetual gen- 
erations : 

13. I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be 
for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 

14. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a 
cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in 
the cloud : 

15. And I will remember my covenant, which is 
between me and you, and every living creature of 
all flesh ; and the waters shall no more become a 
flood to destroy all flesh. 



16. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and 
I will look upon it, that I may remember the 
everlasting covenant between God and every 
living creature of all flesh that is upon the 
earth. 

17. And God said unto Noah, This is the token 
of the covenant which I have established between 
me and all flesh that is upon the earth. 

Ezekiel i. — 26. And above the firmament that 
was over their heads ivas the likeness of a throne, 
as the appearance of a sapphire stone ; and upon 
the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the 
appearance of a man above upon it. 

27. And I saw as the color of amber, as the ap- 
pearance of fire round about within it, from the 
appearance of his loins even upward, and from the 
appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as 
it were the appearance of fire, and it had bright- 
ness round about. 

28. As the appearance of the bow that is in the 
cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of 
the brightness round about. This ivas the appear- 
ance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. 
And when I saw it I fell upon my face, and I 
heard a voice of one that spake. 



The early biblical histoiy records a series of moral experi- 
ments with the human race, in which the grace of God was 
contrasted with the wickedness of men. Adam was placed 
under the most favorable conditions, but fell before the first 
temptation. Cain transformed the earth from a paradise into 
a hell. The grace of God revived spiritual life in Seth and 
Enos, and " men began to call upon the name of the Lord : " 
but, as we have already seen (p. 5.3), the descendants of Seth, 
" the sons of God," intermarried with the posterity of 
Cain, the beautiful but impioais " daughters of men ; " and 
by this means wickedness became so great, that God deter- 
mined to sweep over with a flood the regions peopled by man. 
Yet a remnant of righteousness, in Noah and his family, was 



preserved in the ark ; and, now that the flood had subsided, 
the Lord appropriated the most beautiful object in Nature, the 
bow in the cloud, as the symbol of his grace, to remind men, 
that, however their sins may provoke his judgments, he de- 
lighteth in mercy. The prophet Ezekiel, and the apostle John 
in the Revelation, picture the Son of man in heaven as sur- 
rounded with this beautiful emblem of love and peace. The 
ark itself is another such symbol, — the place of refuge made 
ready for us, the provision of mercy freely offered, the gospel 
of salvation inviting us to escape the judgment to come, the 
Church of God upheld by his covenant grace amid all the 
commotions of the world. Oh, may our souls find refuge and 
rest in the ark, and abide beneath the bow of promise ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 8, 41, 42. 



God, whose mercy is from everlasting to ever- 
lasting ! we bless thee for thy loving-kindness to 
us in the abounding gifts of thy providence and 
grace ; but, above all, for the gift of thy Son, our 
Mediator, who standeth between us and thy judg- 
ments as the bow that is in the cloud in the day 
of rain. May he be our righteousness and our 
peace ! and may we be found in him in the great 
day of his appearing ! We bless thee for all the 
tokens of promise given us in thy past mercies ; 
for the hope of immortality, the joy unspeakable 
and full of glory brought to us in thy gospel and in 
the worship of thy house this day. 

And now, at the end of the Lord's day, we 
would thank thee for its hours of rest, and for 
its means of grace. Hasten that blessed time 
when thy kingdom shall have come, and all 
shall know thee, from the least even to the 



greatest ; when the knowledge of thy glory shall 
cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. And, 
to that end, prosper thou the missionary work 
of thy Church. Turn towards thyself the hearts of 
the heathen and the unbelieving. Pour out more 
and more upon thy people the spirit of grace and 
supplication ; the spirit of zeal and self-devotion ; 
the spirit of holy fear and Christian love. 

To thee, heavenly Father, we commend ourselves 
this night. O thou Good Shepherd! watch over 
us, the sheep of thy pasture. Holy Ghost, the 
Comforter ! guide and hallow our thoughts. 

Thou in whom all families are blessed, bless thou 
our kindred and friends. May all who are united 
to us be with us united to thee ; be with us pre- 
sented by thee in the presence of thy Father with 
exceeding joy ! And to the Father, the Son, and 
the Holy Ghost, be glory everlasting. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



59 



MONDAY. 



2 Peter iii. — 1. This second epistle, beloved, I 
now write unto you, in both which I stir up your 
pure minds by way of remembrance ; 

2. That ye may be mindful of the words which 
were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of 
the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord 
and Saviour : 

3. Knowing this first, that there shall come 
in the last days scoffers, walking after their own 
lusts, 

4. And saying, Where is the promise of his com- 
ing? for, since the fathers fell asleep, all things 
continue as they were from the beginning of the 
creation. 

5. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that 
by the word of God the heavens were of old, and 
the earth standing out of the water and in the 
water ; 

6. Whereby the world that then was, being over- 
flowed with water, perished : 

7. But the heavens and the earth, which are 
now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved 
unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition 
of ungodly men. 

8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one 
thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand 
years, and a thousand years as one day. 

9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, 
as some men count slackness ; but is long-suffering 



to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but 
that all should come to repentance. 

10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief 
in the night ; in the which the heavens shall pass 
away with a great noise, and the elements sball 
melt with fervent heat ; the earth also and the 
works that are therein shall be burned up. 

11. Seeing, then, that all these things shall be 
dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be 
in all holy conversation and godliness, 

12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of 
the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, 
shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with 
fervent heat? 

13. Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, 
look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein 
dwelleth righteousness. 

14. Wherefore, beloA^ed, seeing that ye lcok for 
such things, be diligent that ye may be found of 
him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 

15. And account that the long-suffering of our 
Lord is salvation. 

17. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these 
tilings before, beware lest ye also, being led away 
with the error of the wicked, fall from your own 
steadfastness. 

18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of 
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be 
glory both now and forever. Amen. 



" The heavens and the earth " denote this world with its 
atmosphere, which is the medium through which man is ac- 
quainted with the heavenly bodies, — that material consti- 
tution of things with which man is directly connected, and 
through which he is connected also with the whole physical 
universe. The world, as the abode of man, was once destroyed 
by water; but the earth was not annihilated, nor were the 
sun, moon, and stars affected by the flood, except as they were 
blotted out to the. view of man. A geological change upon a 
grander scale will hereafter take place through the agency of 
fire, which even now rages in the interior of our globe, rend- 



ing it with earthquakes, and belching forth through volcanoes. 
That fiery convulsion will consrme every vestige of sin ; and 
the renovated, reconstituted earth, with its pure, bright, ethe- 
real atmosphere, or " heavens," will be one mansion of the re- 
deemed in the vast area of their " Father's house." 

The certainty of this coming destruction should cause us 
to lead unworldly, godly lives ; the delay of it should discipline 
our faith, and lead us to improve the time in bringing men to 
holiness ; the fact that it will come suddenly should keep us 
watchful against sin ; the prospect of the glory beyond should 
make us diligent in the service of Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Kos. 39, 46, 91. 



Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foun- 
dations of the earth ; and the heavens are the 
works of thine hands. They shall perish ; but thou 
remainest : and they shall wax old as doth a gar- 
ment ; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, 
and they shall be changed ; but thou art the same, 
and thy years shall not fail. In thee, Lord ! do 
we put our trust : let us never be confounded. 
With our affections on things above, may we be 
ever looking for that blessed hope, even the glo- 
rious appearing of the great God, our Saviour Jesus 
Christ, like waiting and expectant servants, seek- 
ing to occupy till our Lord comes ! Keep us from 
inactivity and sloth. Let our loins be girded, and 
our lamps burning. Let us be growing in faith 
and love, in charity and meekness, in diligence 



and faithfulness, rejoicing in hope of the glory of 
God. 

Father, glorify thy name. Darkness is still cov- 
ering the lands, and gross darkness the peojde ; 
but may the Lord arise, and his glory be seen on 
the earth ! May the time to favor Zion, yea, the 
set time, speedily come ! Bevive thy work in the 
midst of the years ; in the midst of wrath do 
thou remember mercy. 

We bring to thee our personal and family wants, 
praying thee to guide, help, and bless us. We 
come with thanksgiving for the mercies of the 
night and of our past lives ; and for our future, 
trusting only in thy grace, we would commit our 
souls unto thee as to our faithful Creator. To 
whom be glory and dominion forever. Amen. 



60 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Revelation XX. — 11. And I saw a great white 
throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face 
the earth and the heaven fled away; and there 
was found no place for them. 

12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand 
before God; and the books were opened; and 
another book was opened, which is the book of life ; 
and the dead were judged out of those things 
which were written in the books, according to 
their works. 

13. And the sea gave up the dead which were 
in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead 
which were in them ; and they were judged every 
man according to their works. 

14. And death and hell were cast into the lake 
of fire. This is the second death. 

15. And whosoever was not found written in 
the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

Revelation xxi. — 1. And I saw a new heaven 
and a new earth : for the first heaven and the first 
earth were passed away ; and there was no more sea. 

2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusa- 
lem, coming down from God out of heaven, pre- 
pared as a bride adorned for her husband. 



3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, say- 
ing, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and 
he will dwell with them, and they shall be his peo- 
ple ; and God himself shall be with them, mid be 
their God. 

4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their 
eyes ; and there shall be no more death, neither 
sorrow nor crying, neither sball tbere be any more 
pain : for the former things are passed away. 

5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Be- 
hold, I make all things new. And he said 
unto me, Write; for these words are true and 
faithful. 

6. And he said unto me, It is done. I am 
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I 
will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain 
of the water of life freely. 

7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things ; 
and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 

8. But the fearful and unbelieving, and the 
abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, 
and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, sball 
have their part in the lake which burnetii with 
fire and brimstone ; which is the second death. 



The renovation of the earth and its atmospheric " heaven " 
was described under the last lesson. The disappearing of 
the sea argues a complete change in the conditions of existence, 
— a change as difficult for us now to conceive of as it would 
have been for a spectator of our globe, when the air was 
dense with the noxious gases of the carboniferous era, to con- 
ceive of the earth as fitted for the abode of man. We should 
remember that this wondrous scene appeared to John in a 
vision ; and a vision must be expected to present incongruities, 
if we press its interpretation to literal exactness. " Nature 
will not be annihilated, but purified : all corruption shall be 
swept away ; but the work of God shall remain." Under the 
type of the new Jerusalem — the central dwelling-place of 
Jehovah — coming down out of heaven, the apostle describes 
the abiding presence and the loving communion of God with 



the redeemed of this world. They shall forever realize that 
God is with them as their Father, their Saviour, and their joy. 
The negations of the fourth verse are peculiarly impressive. 
We are not told what heaven is, nor of what its joys con- 
sist ; but nothing that has here' caused evil or suffering shall 
be there. The apostle pictures before him all the woes of this 
world : the canvas is lurid with war, red with crimes, sombre 
with grief, black with death ; and he takes his pencil, dipped 
in the incandescent light of heaven, and draws it across the 
scene, and every vestige of sorrow vanishes, and the golden 
city of God fills the whole vision. This wondrous blessed- 
ness shall be given to every one who trusts lovingly in 
Christ. But the incorrigibly wicked, the unbelieving and 
the faithless, shall be shut out by their own fault. Oh ! let 
us make sure of the grace so freely offered. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 19, 20, 34. 



O God, who hast prepared for those who love 
thee such good things as pass man's understand- 
ing ! pour into our hearts such love toward thee, 
that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain 
thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire ; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. May we believe 
all that thou hast spoken, and set our affections 
upon things above ! 

We thank thee, Lord ! for the precious com- 
fort that remains to us concerning dear friends 
who have departed in the faith ; that to them 
heaven is even now a reality ; that they have no 
more want, nor sorrow, nor care, nor sin. Oh, may 
heaven be a reality to our faith ! and may the hope 
of it, yea, the assurance of it as our home, lift us 
above all the temptations and trials of this present 
world ! Give to us strength for labors, courage 



for conflicts, patience under afflictions, fidelity to 
duty, and faith that shall endure to the end, and 
sball make us more tban conquerors over death. 
May the true life be now begun in our souls, and 
daily may we live in thee ! 

We praise thee, Lord ! for the blessings of the 
present time ; for another night of rest ; for another 
morning of mercy and hope. Oh, may we this day 
love thee more, know thee more, and serve thee bet- 
ter than ever before ! In all that is given us to do 
may we glorify thy name ; in all that we are called 
to bear may we accept thy holy will ! So may we 
daily live to thee ; and, when the things of earth 
shall pass away, make us to be numbered with 
thy saints in glory everlasting, through Jesus 
Christ our Saviour; to whom be all honor and 
glory, world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



61 



WEDNESDAY. 



James i. — 1. James, a servant of God and of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which 
are scattered abroad, greeting. 

2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall 
into divers temptations ; 

3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith 
worketh patience. 

4. But let patience have her perfect work, that 
ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of 
God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraid- 
eth not ; and it shall be given him. 

6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. 
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea 
driven with the wind and tossed. 

7. For let not that man think that he shall re- 
ceive any thing of the Lord. 

8. A double-minded man is unstable in all his 
ways. 

9. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that 
he is exalted : 

10. But the rich, in that he is made low ; be- 
cause as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 

11. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burn- 
ing heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower 
thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it 
perisheth : so also shall the rich man fade away in 
his ways. 



12. Blessed is the man that endureth tempta- 
tion; for, when he is tried, he shall receive the 
crown of life which the Lord hath promised to 
them that love him. 

13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am 
tempted of God ; for God cannot be tempted with 
evil, neither tempteth he any man : 

14. But every man is tempted when he is drawn 
away of his own lust and enticed. 

15. Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth 
forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth 
forth death. 

16. Do not err, my beloved brethren. 

17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is 
from above, and cometh down from the Fatber of 
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shad- 
ow of turning. 

18. Of his own will begat he us with the word 
of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of 
his creatures. 

19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every 
man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath ; 

20. For the wrath of man worketh not the 
righteousness of God. 

21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, and su- 
perfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meek- 
ness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your 
souls. 



The philosophy of sin is given in verses 13-16 in terms that 
answer exactly to our own experience. God is not the author 
of sin : God does not subject us to temptation, that, through 
sinning, we may illustrate his grace. Trials as tests of our 
choice of good or evil, of our faith in himself, of our 
love and devotion, he does appoint for our moral discipline 
and culture ; but temptations that look toward sin, and lead 
to sin, are the prompting of our own desires, when these are 
loosed from the control of reason and conscience. The sin 
does not lie in the fact of temptation, nor in the susceptibil- 



ity to temptation : but when we suffer our susceptibilities to 
natural good to be wrought upon to such a degree that they 
entice us to forget reason, conscience, duty to God ; when 
these over-stimulated desires come to a head in the decision 
of the will to gratify them, — then do they bring forth sin. 
The counteractive to such temptation is a just conception of 
our highest good as in God, and from him; a patient, prayer- 
ful, unwavering trust in him ; and the keeping his word in our 
hearts as our law and guide. 



Appropeiate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 28, 40, 67. 



O God, in whom we live and move, and have 
our being, and from whom all blessings flow ! we 
give thee thanks for thy care and guardianship 
during the past night, and for the light and com- 
fort of this morning. We take the cup of salva- 
tion, and call upon thy name. We adore thee for 
health and reason, and the manifold bounties of 
thy providence. Give us that due sense of all thy 
mercies, that our hearts maybe unfeignedly thank- 
ful ; and that we may show forth thy praise, not 
only with our lips, but in our lives. We bring to 
thee this household and all who are allied to us by 
kindred or affection, and pray for thy good gifts 
from above, according to thy wisdom and our 
necessities. 

Holy Father, we commit ourselves to thy love 
and blessing for the day. We go forth to its du- 
ties in childlike dependence on thy strength and 



wisdom and grace. Preserve us from temptation 
and sin, from danger and from death. Help us to 
walk as becometh saints, keeping our garments un- 
spotted from the world. Teach us to govern our 
tempers, to subdue our passions, to do whatsoever 
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, 
whatsoever things are good, and whatsoever things 
are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, and what- 
soever things are of good report. Pitifully behold 
us in our weakness and insufficiency, and grant 
unto us strength and fortitude and all heavenly 
influence. Suffer not our affections to be fixed on 
the things of earth and time : purify and lift 
them up to things unseen and eternal. 

All this we ask in the name of Him who hath 
redeemed us with his most precious blood, our only 
Mediator, Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory in the 
Church throughout all ages. Amen. 



62 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



James i. — 22. Be ye doers of the word, and 
not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

23. For if any he a hearer of the word, and not 
a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural 
face in a glass ; 

24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his 
way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of 
man he was. 

25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of 
liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a for- 
getful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man 
shall be blessed in his deed. 

26. If any man among you seem to be religious, 
and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own 
heart, this man's religion is vain. 

27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and 
the Father is this : To visit the fatherless and 
widows in their affliction, and to keex^ himself un- 
spotted from the world. 

James ii. — 14. What doth it profit, my breth- 
ren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not 
works ? Can faith save him ? 

15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute 
of daily food, 

16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in 
peace, be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding 
ye give them not those things which are needful 
to the body, what doth it profit ? 



Faith and works are like the two poles of the galvanic 
battery : they must be brought together in order that the cur- 
rent of life may flow and give out sparks of love. Either is 
powerless without the other. They are the two foci of an 
ellipse, in which the Christian life moves on its heavenly 
course, — now nearing one, and now the other, — but held by 
both in constant equilibrium. To remove either would be to 
make that life erratic, or cause it suddenly to collapse and 
come to a stand. James represents one pole, one focus ; Paul, 
the other. Their teachings are not opposed, and should not 
be divorced. 

James puts faith into concrete forms. He holds as 
strongly as docs Paul to the necessity of faith : every thing 



17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, 
being alone. 

18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and 
I have works : show me thy faith without thy 
works, and I will show thee my faith by my 
works. 

19. Thou believest that there is one God ; thou 
doest well : the devils also believe, and trem- 
ble. 

20. But wilt thou knoAv, vain man ! that faith 
without works is dead ? 

21. Was not Abraham our father justified by 
works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the 
altar ? 

22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, 
and by works was faith made perfect ? 

23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, 
Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto 
him for righteousness ; and he was called the 
Friend of God. 

24. Ye see, then, how that by works a man is 
justified, and not by faith only. 

25. Likewise also was not Bahab the harlot 
justified by works when she had received the 
messengers, and had sent them out another 
way ? 

26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, 
so faith without works is dead also. 



must be sought in faith ; every thing must be done in faith. 
But it must be a living faith, — a faith that shows its sincerity 
by the sacrifices of self which it makes, by the works of love 
which it performs. A merely intellectual orthodoxy may be 
held hy demons. A mere profession of faith may be worth 
no more than the body of a man without the breath of life. 
A true faith loves, works, lives. It regulates the conscience, 
the speech, and the life, by the conviction of God's constant 
presence ; it shows its appreciation of spiritual realities by 
separation from the world ; it takes the law of God as a re- 
ality, and, bringing its grand truths and inspiring motives 
to bear directly upon the conduct of every day, works by 
love. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 60, Gl. 



Almighty God, who dwellest in light that no 
man can approach unto, we bless thee that thou 
comest to us in the gentle opening of the day, and 
dost visit us every morning with the light and 
warmth of thy love. May our eyes ever discern 
thee in thy works, and our hearts ever open to 
welcome thee ! May thy Word scatter from our 
minds all unbelief, error, and darkness ! may it 
make us pure within ! May thy Spirit deliver us 
from all sin, and lead us in the light of thy coun- 
tenance ! 

Blessed be thy name that we are permitted to 
draw nigh unto thee through Jesus Christ our 
Saviour, who for us hath entered within the veil. 
Oh, may the sense of thy presence keep us this 



day unspotted from the world ! Give us grace to 
be just and upright in all our dealings; quiet and 
peaceable ; full of compassion, and ready to do good 
to all men according to our abilities and opportuni- 
ties. Direct us in all our ways, and prosper the 
work of our hands in the business of our several 
stations. Defend us from all dangers and adver- 
sities; and be graciously pleased to take us, and 
all tilings belonging to us, under thy fatherly care 
and protection. These things, and whatever else 
thou shalt see necessary and convenient for us, 
we humbly beg through the merits and mediation 
of thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour; 
who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, livest and 
reignest evermore. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FKIDAY. 



Proverbs xxii. — 1. A good name is rather to be 
chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather 
than silver and gold. 

2. The rich and poor meet together : the Lord is 
the maker of them all. 

4. By humility and the fear of the Lord are 
riches and honor and life. 

16. He tli at oppresseth the poor to increase his 
riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely 
come to want. 

22. Rob not the poor because he is poor ; neither 
oppress the afflicted in the gate : 

23. For the Lord will plead their cause, and 
spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 

James ii. — 1. My brethren, have not the faith 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with 
respect of persons. 

2. For if there come unto your assembly a man 
with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come 
in also a poor man in vile raiment ; 

3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the 
gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a 
good place ; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, 
or sit here under my footstool : 

4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are 
become judges of evil thoughts ? 



Christianity elevates the poor by teaching the eqnal worth 
of all men in the sight of God, the equal share of all in 
the redemption of Christ, the equal right of all to the privi- 
leges of worship ; and by inculcating upon all the spirit of 
mutual kindness. The equality taught by the gospel is not 
socialism : it does not require the equal distribution of property ; 
does not call upon the rich to surrender their possessions in- 
discriminately to the poor ; but it forbids the rich to be haughty 
and distant toward their poorer brethren, or cold and unchar- 
itable toward any because of their condition. It forbids mak- 
ing worldly circumstances a ground of distinction in the 



5. Hearken, my beloved brethren : Hath not God 
chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and 
heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to 
them that love him ? 

6. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich 
men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment- 
seats ? 

7. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by 
the which ye are called ? 

8. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the 
scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, 
ye do well ; 

9. But, if ye have respect to persons, ye commit 
sin, and are convinced of the law as transgress- 
ors. 

10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and 
yet offend in one. point, he is guilty of all. 

11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, 
said also, Do not kill. Now, if thou commit no 
adultery, yet, if thou kill, thou art become a trans- 
gressor of the law. 

12. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be 
judged by the law of liberty. 

13. For he shall have judgment without mercy 
that hath showed no mercy ; and mercy rejoiceth 
against judgment. 



Church ; and sets up God's electing love in spiritual things as 
the true standard of honor, the true basis of communion. 

The law of God is not a string of precepts : it is a princi- 
ple, a spirit, a unity. It encircles one like a ring of gold. If 
he steps over it at any point, he goes outside of it, and is a 
transgressor as really as though he should break it in pieces 
at ever}' point. Indeed, one breaks this law by the spirit of 
pride, of envy, of jealousy ; by any feeling, which, if carried 
out into action, would do injury to a neighbor. Only the 
spirit of love, pervading all our conduct, can preserve intact 
the pure and holy law. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 11, 53, 63. 



May thy good Spirit, Lord ! we pray thee, 
write in our hearts the things that we have heard 
out of thy Holy Scriptures, that we may this day 
walk according to thy word, doing thy will, and 
showing forth thy praise ! We have followed too 
much the devices and desires of our own hearts, 
and have erred and strayed from thy ways. We 
confess our sin and folly, and entreat thee for 
Christ's sake to forgive the errors and iniquities of 
our past lives, and henceforth to lead us in the way 
everlasting. Thou hast not dealt with us accord- 
ing to our sins, but hast been patient and long- 
suffering, and abundant in goodness and mercy. 
Oh, may thy great love toward us in Christ our Sa- 
viour bind us to thee in grateful and loving devotion ! 
May we love supremely the things that thou lovest ; 
love and practise whatsoever is true, honest, just, 
pure, lovely, and of good report ; love the Church 



of our Lord Jesus Christ which he hath redeemed 
with his own precious blood ; love our fellow-men, 
and do them good as thou givest us opportunity ; 
in all things living, not to ourselves, but to Him 
who loved us, and died for us, and rose again ! 
And do thou, Lord ! hasten the blessed day 
when thy kingdom shall come, and thy will be 
done in earth as it is in heaven. 

With thanksgivings for the mercies of the past 
night and of the opening day, for shelter and re- 
pose, for food and raiment, for health and home ; 
with supplications for thy favor and guidance in all 
that is before us, and for the blessings of thy prov- 
idence and grace upon all dear to us, — we ask and 
offer all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ ; for whom we ever bless thee ;. to whom, 
with thee, Father! and the Holy Ghost, be praise 
and glory evermore. Amen. 



64 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



John iv. — 1. When, therefore, the Lord knew 
how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and 
baptized more disciples than John, 

2. (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his 
disciples,) 

3. He left Judsea, and departed again into Gali- 
lee. 

4. And he must needs go through Samaria. 

5. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which 
is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that 
Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 

6. Now, Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, 
being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the 
well ; and it was about the sixth hour. 

7. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw 
water : Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 

8. (For his disciples were gone away unto the 
city to buy meat.) 

9. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, 
How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of 



me, which am a woman of Samaria ? for the Jews 
have no dealings with the Samaritans. 

10. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou 
knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to 
thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked 
of him, and he would have given thee living water. 

11. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast 
nothing to draw with, and the well is deep : from 
whence, then, hast thou that living water ? 

12. Art thou greater than our father Jacob, 
which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, 
and his children, and his cattle ? 

13. Jesus answered and said unto her, Whoso- 
ever drinketh of this water shall thirst again : 

14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I 
shall give him shall never thirst ; but the water 
that I shall give him shall be in him a well of 
water springing up into everlasting life. 

15. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this 
water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 



In going northward from Judoea into Galilee, our Lord 
would necessarily pass through the central district of Palestine, 
then peopled by the descendants of the colony sent by the king 
of Assyria to occupy the cities from which he had carried away 
the Israelites into captivity. These " Samaritans," originally 
idolaters, had embraced in part the Mosaic law, and set up a 
temple of their own upon M't. Gerizim. Between this moun- 
tain on the south, and Ebal on the north, about one-third of a 
mile in width, lies the Vale of Shechem, a lovely valley of 
groves, gardens, and orchards, kept green and fresh by springs 
and rivulets, and shaded with the soft gray tints of the olive. 
In the midst of this enchanting verdure, and surrounded by 
fountains and purling brooks, stands a picturesque town of 
white houses, crowning the upper end of the valley ; and at 
the mouth of the valley, barely two miles below, is the well 
which sacred history and unbroken tradition identify with the 
name of Jacob. By the side of this well Jesus halted at noon 



to rest, while his disciples went up to Sychar to buy pro- 
visions. 

How tenderly is the Saviour brought home to our sympa- 
thies by the fact that he was weary and thirsty ! — "a poor 
wayfaring man of grief; " and how wondrous that union of 
divine grace with human weakness which made this weary, 
thirsty man the source to us of full and abiding strength and 
consolation ! He who receives Christ has within himself the 
power of an endless life. Whatever his earthly privations and 
wants, he possesses an inward satisfaction which nothing can 
disturb ; a supply of strength, comfort, hope, joy, that noth- 
ing can exhaust. The well is within him, and it is deep; 
but it bubbles up with its perennial fulness, and causes the 
eye and the lip to sparkle with the exuberant life and strength 
and joy within. May Christ be to every one of us the all-sym- 
pathizing and the all-sufficing Saviour ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 3, 192, 195. 



O God, who art the fountain of life and light, 
the source of all blessing! we give thee thanks for 
the light of this morning ; for the gifts of thy kind 
providence ; for the continuance of our reason ; 
for the throne of the heavenly grace. We praise 
thee for the Holy Scriptures, which are able to 
make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ 
Jesus. May his word dwell in us richly in all wis- 
dom and spiritual understanding! For him we 
bless thee ; for all he taught and did and suffered ; 
for his glorious doctrines, and perfect righteous- 
ness, and atoning death ; for the example he has 
left, the promises he has made to his Church, and 
his intercession at thy right hand ; and for the 
certainty that all who come unto thee by him shall 
be saved with an everlasting salvation. Thanks be 
unto God for his unspeakable gift. Oh that each 
one of us may know him, and the power of his 
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, 
being made conformable unto his death ! May 



Christ be in us the hope of glory ! May his truth 
and grace satisfy all the longings of our souls, and 
be in us a well of living water ! 

Give us this day, we beseech thee, the favors of 
thy good providence, and keep us in thy love. 
Prepare us for the duties of the day. Let those 
who remain at home, and those who resort to 
business, study, or recreation, be continually mind- 
ful that the omnipresent One is round about them. 
Be gracious to all our friends. Take this house- 
hold, we pray thee, under thy protection : keep us 
all from sin, from danger, and from death. [Oh ! 
teach these children the blessedness of trusting 
Jesus as their Saviour ; of knowing, loving, serv- 
ing him as their Friend.] Be continually in our 
home. Evermore make a temple of our hearts ; 
and let us at last reach the house not made with 
hands, eternal in the heavens, for His sake who 
died, and rose again, and ever liveth to make inter- 
cession for us. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



65 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



John iv. — 16. Jesus saith unto her, Go call thy 
husband, and come hither. 

17. The woman answered and said, I have no 
husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well 
said, I have no husband ; 

18. For thou hast had five husbands, and he 
whom thou now hast is not thy husband : in that 
saidst thou truly. 

19. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive 
that thou art a prophet. 

20. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain ; 
and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where 
men ought to worship. 

21. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, 
the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this 
mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the 
Father. 

22. Ye worship ye know not what : we know 
what we worship ; for salvation is of the Jews. 

23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when 



How astounding the grace of the Lord Jesus, that he should 
first reveal himself as the Christ to a solitary stranger of an 
alien and even hostile race, and of irregular life ! His disciples, 
filled with the prejudices of Jews against Samaritans, and 
sharing the then common error that women were not the 
equals of men in knowledge and position, were astonished to 
find him talking with the woman ; but, had they known what 
he had been saying, they would have been utterly confounded. 
Not yet had they heard from his lips the declaration that he 
was the Christ ; but this announcement of him for whom the 
whole nation was eagerly looking, withheld from the Jewish 
people and from his familiar friends, was made to this stranger, 
this woman, this Samaritan ! But Jesus made it to a mind 
peculiarly open to receive it. His kingdom came not with 
observation, but in the silence of spiritual light and power ; 
and in thus proclaiming it, afar from the temple of Jerusalem, 
under the open sky, before the sacred mountain of another peo- 



the true worshippers shall worship the Father in 
spirit and in truth ; for the Father seeketh such to 
worship him. 

24. God is a Spirit ; and they that worship him 
must worship him in spirit and in truth. 

25. The woman saith unto him, I know that 
Messias cometh, which is called Christ : when he 
is come, he will tell us all things. 

26. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee 
am he. 

27. And upon this came his disciples, and mar- 
velled that he talked with the woman : yet no man 
said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou 
with her ? 

28. The woman then left her water-pot, and 
went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 

29. Come see a man which told me all things 
that ever I did : is not this the Christ ? 

30. Then they went out of the city, and came 
unto him. 



pie, he set forth the freeness and universality of his grace, and 
its adaptation to all classes and conditions of mankind. 

Worship should be the homage of the soul : its true seat, 
therefore, is the inner sanctuary of the spirit ; and, whatever 
the place or the mode of worship, the act itself should cor- 
respond with the essence of God, who is Spirit. Our Lord 
said literally, God is Spirit ; not simply a Spirit, but Spirit 
itself. God in himself answers to the conception of the 
spiritual in essence, and from him all spirit proceeds. Hence 
he alone is worthy to be worshipped by intelligent creatures. 
This, however, is not a mystic abstract notion of God, that 
would place him at an infinite remove from us : but this in- 
finite Spirit is the Father of our spirits ; and, with the love 
of a Father for every one of his children alike, he desires from 
every one the same simple, affectionate, grateful devotion. 
The truest worship is the communion of our spirits with God. 
In this spirit let us praise and pray. 



Appropriate Hymns,] Prayer. [Nos. 107, 172, 177. 

Lord, the Giver of life ! we bless thee that we \ of thy house ; bless the assemblies of thy people, 
are of the living to praise thee. Thou hast created | the communion of thy saints, the instruction of 



us ; thou hast redeemed us ; thou hast preserved 
us : of thee, and through thee, and to thee, are all 
things ; and to thee, Lord ! be glory and praise 
forever. 

We bring to thee the homage of our hearts, de- 
siring to worship thee this day in spirit and in 
truth; to celebrate thy glory in thy works; to 
show forth thy loving-kindness to the children of 
men ; to praise and adore thee for thy great mercy 
in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Oh ! do thou for his 
sake take away our sins, which with one accord 
we now confess before thee ; and sanctify our hearts 
by thy truth and thy Spirit, that, being delivered 
from all corruption and evil, we may keep the sab- 



children, the visiting and teaching of thy servants 
among the poor, by the wayside, and from house 
to house. Command thy blessing upon Zion, even 
life forevermore. 

As a family we consecrate ourselves to thee, our 
Father in heaven ; giving thanks to thee for such 
a home, for such love and peace and prosperity, as 
it is ours to enjoy. We bless thee for the memory 
of the good who have gone before us, and have 
taught us thy way, and for the hope of immor- 
tality brought nigh to us in the gospel. May we 
so improve these earthly sabbaths, that by thy grace 
we shall come unto the fruition of this blessed hope 
with the spirits of just men made perfect in 



bath holy in thy rest. May the peace of God, that j heaven, through Him who died and rose again, 
passeth all understanding, keep our hearts and and ever liveth to make intercession for us ! — to 
minds in Christ Jesus ! Bless to us the reading i whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, be all honor 
and hearing of thy Word, the worship and order j and glory. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



John iv. — 31. In the mean while his disciples 
prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 

32. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat 
that ye know not of. 

33. Therefore said the disciples one to another, 
Hath any man brought him aught to eat ? 

34. Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do 
the will of him that sent me, and to finish his 
work. 

35. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and 
then cometh harvest ? Behold, I say unto you, Lift 
up your eyes, and look on the fields ; for they are 
white already to harvest. 

36. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and 
gathereth fruit unto life eternal ; that both he 
that soweth, and he that reapeth, may rejoice to- 
gether. 



37. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, 
and another reapeth. 

38. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed 
no labor : other men labored, and ye are entered 
into their labors. 

39. And many of the Samaritans of that city 
believed on him for the saying of the woman, 
which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 

40. So, when the Samaritans were come unto 
him, they besought him that he would tarry with 
them ; and he abode there two days. 

41. And many more believed because of his own 
word ; 

42. And said unto the woman, Now we believe, 
not because of thy saying ; for we have heard him 
ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, 
the Saviour of the world. 



The opening of this narrative presented Jesus under a com- 
pletely human aspect of his nature, — as one needing food and 
rest. His conversation with the woman gave a glimpse of the 
divinity within him, as imparting a life that can never hunger 
nor thirst, never faint nor die. And now this section exhibits 
the triumph of his own spiritual nature, as devoted to the 
Father, over the physical and the perishing. Absorption in 
the will of God lifts the spirit above the wants of the body. 
Jesus became so engrossed in teaching the woman the essence 
of religion, so absorbed in the sublime truths he was uttering, 
that he forgot his hunger and fatigue, and gave himself to the 
spiritual work that opened before him. That work immedi- 
ately took the character and proportions of a harvest. The 
woman, convinced by the knowledge of her life which Jesus 
had shown that he must be the Christ, had hurried up to the 
city, and told every one she met the wondrous story ; and now 
the Samaritans came flocking down the valley — some of them 
already convinced — to hear Jesus for themselves. It was just 
the seed-time ; and, in the course of nature, four months must 
yet elapse before the fields would be waving for the harvest. 
But here was a spiritual harvest ripe for gathering. These 



eager, susceptible souls must be brought to the truth ; and 
Jesus devoted two days to teaching them the life from above. 
They believed without external miracle, upon their personal 
experience of the word of Christ ; and they received him in 
his true character as the Saviour of the world. Thus the 
spiritual religion that Jesus taught brought forth immediate- 
ly the fruits of life. And so, receiving him by faith, we shall 
reap joy from the moment of the sowing, and, carrying his 
gospel to others, shall gather fruit unto life eternal. 

The readiness with which the men of Sychar received the 
word of Christ was a striking commentary upon that saying 
of John, " He came to his own, and his own received him 
not." The Jews rejected him, derided him, or disputed with 
him ; and, notwithstanding his many mighty works, they 
demanded new signs from heaven. But these Samaritans 
witnessed no miracle, and asked for none ; raised no cavils ; 
made no opposition to Jesus as a Jew ; but welcomed truth 
that commended itself to their spiritual wants : and so many 
as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of 
God. Where Abraham built his first altar was gathered this 
first harvest of faith from an alien race. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 35, 118, 176. 



Heavenly Father, we desire to close this, thy 
holy sabbath, with thee. Thou hast been as a pil- 
lar of cloud before us this day ; thou hast again 
spread for us a table in the wilderness ; we have 
seen again thy gloiy in thy temple. As the shad- 
ows of night are falling around us, do thou still 
be near us, dispersing all the darkness of sin, and 
giving us the inner light of thy presence and 
love. 

We entreat thee to forgive the sins that have 
mingled in our efforts to serve thee this day. Look 
not on us as we are in ourselves : but behold, 
God our shield ! look upon the face of thine 
Anointed. Through him may our wills be absorbed 
in thine, and thy will become our meat day by 
day. 

We pray for a world lying in wickedness. Oh ! 
look upon the fields already white, and send forth 
laborers into the harvest. Save thy people ; bless 
thine inheritance -, feed them also, and lift them up 



forever. Bless abundantly the preaching of thy 
holy Word. Glorify thyself in the salvation of 
sinners. 

We entreat thee to take under thy merciful pro- 
tection, this night, all our beloved friends. We 
commend both present and absent ones to the gra- 
cious Shepherd of Israel. Be thou to them all as 
the shadow of a rock in a weary land. Draw near 
to the sons and daughters of sorrow; give them 
everlasting consolation and good hope through 
grace. 

We thank thee for thy many mercies still vouch- 
safed to us. Watch over us during this night. 
Grant us the sleep of thy beloved. When we 
awake, may we still be with thee ! And all that we 
ask is in the name and for the sake of Him whom 
thou hearest always ; to whom, with thee, the 
Father, and thee, Eternal Spirit ! one God, be 
ascribed all blessing and honor and glory and 
praise, world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



67 



MONDAY. 



John iv. — 43. Now, after two days, he departed 
thence, and went into Galilee. 

44. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet 
hath no honor in his own country. 

45. Then, when he was come into Galilee, the 
Galileans received him, having seen all the things 
that he did at Jerusalem at the feast ; for they 
also went unto the feast. 

46. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, 
where he made the water wine. And there was a 
certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Caper- 
naum. 

47. When he heard that Jesus was come out of 
Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and be- 
sought him that he would come down and heal his 
son ; for he was at the point of death. 

48. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see 
signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 



A short journey from Samaria brought Jesus again within 
the borders of Galilee ; but he found here a different moral 
atmosphere from that which he had left at Sychar. There 
multitudes had shown a remarkable aptitude for spiritual 
truth, an impulse toward faith, which led them to embrace 
Christ upon hearing his word. But in Galilee there was, on 
the one hand, the indifference or incredulity which men are 
apt to manifest concerning the extraordinary claims of one 
with whom they have been familiar from childhood ; and, on 
the other, the curiosity for marvels which marks an ignorant 
and superstitious community. The fame of his miracle at 
Cana had been augmented by the report of other miracles, 
brought back by Galileans who had been to Jerusalem ; and 
this nobleman, moved by parental anxiety, hastened to the 
worker of wonders as one now-a-days would go to a famous 
physician. Jesus, who always sought the moral basis of 
faith, either as the condition or the object of a work of divine 



49. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come 
down ere my child die. 

50. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way ; thy son 
liveth. And the man believed the word that Je- 
sus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. 

51. And, as he was now going down, his ser- 
vants met him, and told him., saying, Thy son 
liveth. 

52. Then inquired he of them the hour when he 
began to amend. And they said unto him, Yes- 
terday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him. 

53. So the father knew that it was at the same 
hour in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy 
son liveth ; and himself believed, and his whole 
house. 

54. This is again the second miracle that 
Jesus did when 
Galilee. 



he was come out of Judaea into 



power, at first reproaches him " that he had been led to come 
to him, not by the need of the heart, but by the need of a mir- 
acle." 

But the earnestness of entreaty which the father now 
assumed as he thought of his dying boy evinced a faith 
which Jesus met by giving him more and better than he had 
asked. The manner of the cure manifested the omnipresence 
as well as the omnipotence of Christ. Here was no interven- 
tion of second causes ; no use of physical means ; no formula 
of healing, as in the ease of the blind man ; not even, as in 
some other miracles, the spoken word of Jesus himself. His 
bare will, acting at the distance of many miles, cured a dying 
boy whom he had never seen. " In this very way, however, a 
severer test of the father's faith was made. He endures the test ; 
goes his way ; and the rejoicing servants, unable to wait for the 
time of his arrival, announce to him what has occurred, and in 
the very same words in which it had been foretold by the Lord." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Gracious God, who newer failest to help and 
govern them that put their trust in thee, we go 
forth to the duties and engagements of this day in 
dependence on thy promised aid and mercy. Grant 
that the word of Christ may dwell in us richly in 
all wisdom, that we may be able to teach and 
admonish one another, while we perform our rela- 
tive duties with contented and cheerful spirits, 
singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. 

Be near to each of us in the greatness of thy 
power. Give us heart and courage for all the 
toils and struggles, for all the pains and sacrifices, 
of this mortal life. Help us ever to act as seeing 
thee who art invisible. Let our walk with thee 
be close ; that, being filled with light and strength 
from above, we may daily practise whatsoever 
things are true, and honest, and just, and pure, 
and lovely, and of good report ; and that in the 
doing of these things we may be filled with that 
peace which passeth all understanding. Let us 
yield to no temptation, neither fall before the force 
of any evil. Inspire us with humility. Let us 



Prayer. [Nos. 27, 121, 130. 

not be high-minded, but fill us with holy, loving, 
child-like fear. Guide us by thy counsel, and pre- 
serve us unto thine eternal glory. 

We render thanks to thee for the comfort of rest 
and sleep, and for a home undisturbed by fear or 
sorrow. We pray for all men. Pity such as are 
in darkness and in error, and lead them into 
the way of truth. Ering the wickedness of the 
wicked to an end, and let the just be established. 
Bless the education of the young, the instruc- 
tion of the ignorant, the visitation of the sick. 
Comfort all in sorrow, and prepare the dying for 
the rest and the joy of heaven. 

Holy Father, command thy blessing on each 
member of this family ; and take us, and all whom 
we love, into union with thyself. Lift upon us the 
brightness of thy countenance ; and so let the 
light of heaven fall upon our path, that we may 
finally come into the everlasting life, through Je- 
sus Christ, our only Saviour ; to whom, with thee 
and the Holy Spirit, be honor and praise through- 
out all ages. Amen. 



68 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Psalm cxlv. — 14. The Lord upholdeth all that 
fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. 

15. The eyes of all wait upon thee ; and thou 
givest them their meat in due season. 

16. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the 
desire of every living thing. 

17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and 
holy in all his works. 

18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call 
upon him ; to all that call upon him in truth. 

19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear 
him : he also will hear their cry, and will save 
them. 

20. The Lord preserveth ah them that love him ; 
but all the wicked will he destroy. 

21. My mouth shall speak the praise of the 
Lord ; and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever 
and ever. 

Luke xii. — 1. In the mean time, when there 
were gathered together an innumerable multitude 
of people, insomuch that they trode one upon 
another, he began to say unto his disciples first of 
all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, 
which is hypocrisy. 



Our Saviour taught the tender, providential care of God 
over all his creatures. Nothing is too minute for his eye, 
nothing too insignificant for his regard. In this case, our 
heavenly Father employs the services of nature and of man 
to do his will. See how, in the great busy city of New York, 
God cares for the sparrows which so abound in the parks and 
streets ! Their natural instinct prompts them to seek their 
food. The helpless innocence and the confiding ways of these 
tiny creatures appeal to the humane feelings of housekeepers 
and of passers-by ; their usefulness in preserving the trees dis- 
poses the Park Commissioners to provide houses and food for 
them, and to protect them from harm ; and even the newspa- 



2. For there is nothing covered that shall not be 
revealed, neither hid that shall not be known. 

3. Therefore, whatsoever ye have spoken in 
darkness shall be heard in the light ; and that 
which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall 
be proclaimed upon the housetops. 

4. And I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid 
of them that kill the body, and after that have no 
more that they can do. 

5. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall 
fear : fear him, which, after he hath killed, hath 
power to cast into hell ; yea, I say unto you, 
Fear him. 

6. Are not five sparrows sold for two far- 
things ? and not one of them is forgotten before 
God; 

7. But even the very hairs of your head are all 
numbered. Fear not, therefore : ye are of more 
value than many sparrows. 

8. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess 
me before men, him shall the Son of man also con- 
fess before the angels of God; 

9. But he that denieth me before men shall be 
denied before the angels of God. 



pers, occupied with the affairs of the world, find space now 
and then for a plea for the sparrows. And so our heavenly 
Father, who has the care of all worlds, careth for the little 
birds. Much more will he care for us, preserve and defend 
us, if we walk devoutly in his fear, and trust him with the 
charming simplicity of the sparrows. 

Shunning all deception, discarding all timidity, we should 
frankly, boldly confess Christ our Saviour. Nothing shall 
really harm us if we walk in Christ : our lives shall be safe 
so long as he has any service for us here ; and death itself 
shall greet us with his open and blessed recognition in the 
presence of the angels. 



Appropriate Hymns,] Prayer 

Almighty God, in whom alone we live and move, 
and have our being, graciously accept the prayers 
and praises with which we would begin another day. 

We thank thee for thy watchful care over us, 
and for all thy bounty towards us. Grant, Lord ! 
that we may show our thankfulness to thee, not 
only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up 
ourselves to thy service, and by daily endeavoring 
to do such things as are pleasing to thee. 

We bless thee that in thy holy Word thou hast 
made known to us thy will and thy love. May it 
always prove a word in season to us ! Teach us to 
hide its truths and precepts in our hearts, that we 



[Nos. 178, 189, 197. 



may not sin against thee. Teach us also to read 
thy love in all thy works, and in all the ways of 
thy providence. 

Lord, preserve us this day in body and soul. 
Be pleased to grant us such a measure of health 
and strength, that we shall be enabled rightly to 
fulfil the duties of our different stations. And do 



thou always keep our hearts steadfast in thy fear. 
Never suffer us to forget that thou, God, seest us. 
Hold up our goings in thy paths, that our footsteps 
slip not. In word and deed may we seek to adorn 
the doctrine of God our Saviour, and to prove our- 
selves thy true disciples. May our light so shine 
before men, that they, seeing our good works, may 
glorify thee, our heavenly Father, and desire to 
be numbered with thy children ! 

Impress upon our hearts a constant trust in thy 
providence. [May these children learn to confide 
in their heavenly Father, who watches over the 
sparrows ! and, oh, may they fear to sin, remember- 
ing that wherever they are, and whatever they do, 
the eye of God is upon them !] 

And now, Lord, we commit ourselves to thy care 
for the coming day. May we act as in thy pres- 
ence, and do all this day to thy glory ! Hear us, 
we beseech thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ our 
Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



WEDNESDAY. 



Luke xii. — 13. And one of the company said 
unto nim, Master, speak to my brother, that he 
divide the inheritance with me. 

14. And he said unto him, Man, who made me 
a judge or a divider over you? 

15. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware 
of covetousness ; for a man's life consisteth not in 
the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 

16. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, 
The ground of a certain rich man brought forth 
plentifully : 

17. And he thought within himself, saying, 
"What shall I do, because I have no room where to 
bestow my fruits ? 

18. And he said, This will I do : I will pull 
down my barns, and build greater ; and there will 
I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 

19. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast 
much goods laid up for many years ; take thine 
ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 

20. But God said unto him, Thou fool ! this night 
thy soul shall be required of thee : then whose shall 
those things be which thou hast provided ? 

21. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, 
and is not rich toward God. 

32. Fear not, little flock ; for it is your Father's 
good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 



33. Sell that ye have, and give alms : provide 
yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in 
the heavens that faileth not, where no thief ap- 
proacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 

34. For where your treasure is, there will your 
heart be also. 

35. Let your loins be girded about, and your 
lights burning ; 

36. And ye yourselves like unto men that wait 
for their lord when he will return from the wed- 
ding ; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they 
may open unto him immediately. 

37. Blessed are those servants whom the lord, 
when he cometh, shall find watching : verily I say 
unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make 
them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and 
serve them. 

38. And if he shall come in the second watch, 
or come in the third watch, and find them so, 
blessed are those servants. 

39. And this know, that, if the goodman of the 
house had known what hour the thief would come, 
he would have watched, and not have suffered his 
house to be broken through. 

40. Be ye therefore ready also ; for the Son of 
man cometh at an hour when ye think not. 



How base is the greed of gain ! Our Lord was discoursing 
of the ever-watchful, ever-merciful care of our heavenly Fa- 
ther over us, and had given this as a reason for confessing 
him before the world, when this mercenary man sought to 
take advantage of his reputation as a prophet to settle a dispute 
about property. Thus did Mammon not only displace moral 
truth, but intrude into the presence of Christ. 

Again and again did Jesus warn his hearers against 
covetousness, and always with marked solemnity. Life con- 
sists not in things, but in truth; and is sustained, not by pos- 
sessions, but by prayer. Worldly good can never increase en- 
joyment in the ratio of its own increase. He took the case 
of a prosperous man of the world, against whom no want of 
integrity or morality is alleged ; yet he is guilty of a fourfold 



folly : " He forgets the Giver (my fruits, my goods) ; he greed- 
ily reserves all for himself; he imagines such things to be 
food for his soul ; he forgets death, which is everv day possi- 
ble." 

By contrast with such a life, and such a fate, Jesus ex- 
horted his disciples to lay aside worldly cares, and seek the 
kingdom of God, trusting to him for support in this life, and 
for salvation in the next ; to use their property as stewards 
for the good of others, not setting their affection upon any 
treasure this side of heaven. There is the chief treasure of 
the soul, Christ the Lord ; and he that waits and longs for his 
appearing shall be blessed with a princely, a heavenly treasure 
that cannot fail. To him death can come only as the sur- 
prise of an ineffable joy. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 51, 97, 109. 



God, who makest the outgoings of the morn- 
ing and the evening to rejoice ! we lift up our 
hearts to thee with thanksgiving for the joy of 
another day ; for vigor for its duties, appetite for 
its pleasures, and readiness for its opportunities of 
good. Bless us jn our labors, keep us pure in our 
enjoyments, incite us to do thy will ; and oh ! we 
beseech thee, preserve us from harm, from temp- 
tation, and from sin. Keep us from that love of 
this world which would estrange us from thee. Oh, 
maj our treasure and our hearts be in heaven ! 
§eeing that we know not what a day may bring 
forth, we pray, that, if trials and disappointments 
shall come, we may have grace to meet them, and 
to profit by them ; that in all events we may see 



the hand of our Father, and may say, "Thy will be 
done." Conscious of our own weakness, humbly 
confessing our sins, we cast ourselves upon tbine 
infinite grace in Christ our Saviour for pardon, 
strength, and sanctification. May we as a family 
honor thee in our daily walk and conversation ! 
May old and young alike know the beauty of holi- 
ness, the joy of consecration to Christ ! Grant thy 
grace to all who are dear to us ; and grant us grace 
to hold all men dear for Christ's sake, and to win 
them to the knowledge of his gospel. And may 
the peace of God, which passeth all understand- 
ing, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge 
and love of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord ! 
Amen. 



70 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Jeremiah xxiii. — 24. Can any hide himself in 
secret places that I shall not see him ? saith the 
Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth ? saith the 
Lord. 

25. I have heard what the prophets said that 
prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, 
I have dreamed. 

26. How long shall this be in the heart of the 
prophets that prophesy lies ? Yea, they are proph- 
ets of the deceit of their own heart, 

27. Which think to cause my people to forget 
my name by their dreams, which they tell every 
man to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgot- 
ten my name for Baal. 

28. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell 
a dream ; and he that hath my word, let him speak 
my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the 
wheat ? saith the Lord. 

29. Is not my word like as a fire ? saith the 
Lord ; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock 
in pieces ? 

Luke xii. — 49. I am come to send fire on the 
earth ; and what will I if it be already kindled ? 

50. But I have a baptism to be baptized with ; 
and how am I straitened till it be accomplished ! 

51. Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on 
earth ? I tell you, Nay ; but rather division : 



52. For from henceforth there shall be five in 
one house divided, three against two, and two 
against three. 

53. The father shall be divided against the son, 
and the son against the father ; the mother against 
the daughter, and the daughter against the moth- 
er ; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, 
and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in- 
law. 

54. And he said also to the people, When ye see 
a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, 
There cometh a shower ; and so it is. 

55. And, when ye see the south wind blow, ye 
say, There will be heat ; and it cometh to pass. 

56. Ye hypocrites ! ye can discern the face of the 
sky and of the earth ; but how is it that ye do not 
discern this time ? 

57. Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye 
not what is right? 

58. When thou goest with thine adversary to 
the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give dili- 
gence that thou mayest be delivered from him ; 
lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge de- 
liver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee 
into prison. 

59. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence till 
thou hast paid the very last mite. 



The coming of Christ was announced as " peace on earth, 
and good will to men ; " and his parting word to his disciples 
was, " Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." 
He came to reconcile man to God through his cross ; to estab- 
lish a brotherhood of love : he inculcated upon his disciples 
meekness, humility, and patience ; and gave it as a distinctive 
mark of his kingdom, that his servants would not fight. Yet 
such is the depravity of man, that the principles of the gospel 
have become the occasion of discord in families, of strife and 
persecution in communities, of revolution and war among 
nations. This grows out of the necessary antagonism between 
light and darkness, truth and error, holiness and sin. Men 
of evil deeds shun the light ; men wedded to error and sin 
hate truth and righteousness. The confession of Christ by 



I one member of an irreligous family is a quiet testimony 
against the worldliness of the rest, and may excite their vio- 
lent opposition. The establishment of a church in an un- 
godly community is a public protest against vice and im- 
piety, and may provoke open persecution. The tendency of 
the gospel to enlighten and elevate the masses may stir up 
arbitrary governments to suppress the Bible, and to use the 
gibbet and the stake against the confessors of Christ. But 
men of wise and honest judgment will discern that the real 
anise of strife is, not the gospel, but the sin that it rebukes; 
and also that a true peace can come only through the triumph 
of truth. And therefore, as Jesus himself was ready to be bap- 
tized unto death for the truth, so should all who love the 
truth witness a good confession before a gainsaying world. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 40, 82, 90. 



Holy Father, who hast brought us to the begin- 
ning of another day, mercifully keep us through the 
same, and surround us with the tokens of thy pres- 
ence and favor. As we go forth to the active 
duties of life in dependence on thy promised aid 
and grace, grant us strength equal to our engage- 
ments ; and in all things may thy glory be our 
first and final end ! We pray, not that thou 
wouldest take us out of the world, but that thou 
wouldest keep us from the evil. In the midst of its 
defilement, help us to preserve our garments un- 
spotted ; amidst its manifold temptations, succor 
us by thy mighty grace ; in all its dangers, let thy 
shield be over us ; in its strifes and conflicts, grant 
us the peace of God that passeth all understanding, 



and victory over all evil. May we be wise to dis- 
cern the signs of the times, and diligent to follow 
in the way of thy precepts ! Oh, may this family be 
one in heart and life in the service of God, help- 
ing one another in the way to heaven ! May we 
live the rest of our life in the fle^h, by the faith, 
and according to the faith, of the Son of God, who 
loved us, and gave himself for us ! 

Keep us to-day from all evil. May we acknowl- 
edge thee in all things, and fear to wander from 
thy paths ! Bless all who are in affliction. Have 
mercy on our country, and continue unto it thy 
favor. Oh ! pour out thy Spirit on all men, and 
fill the earth with thy glory. We ask these bless- 
ings in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FRIDAY. 



Job xxxviii. — 1. Then the Lord answered Job 
out of the whirlwind, and said, 

2. Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words 
without knowledge ? 

3. Gird up now thy loins like a man ; for I will 
demand of thee, and answer thou me. 

4. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations 
of the earth ; 

7. When the morning stars sang together, and 
all the sons of God shouted for joy ? 

31. Canst thou bind the sweet influences of 
Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion ? 

32. Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his 
season ? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his 
sons? 

33. Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven ? 
canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth ? 

Psalm viii. — 1. Lord our Lord, how excellent 
is thy name in all the earth ! who hast set thy 
glory above the heavens. 

2. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast 



thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, 
j that thou mightest still the enemy and the aven- 
Iger. 

3. When I consider thy heavens, the work of 
thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou 
hast ordained ; 

4. What is man, that thou art mindful of him ? 
and the son of man, that thou visitest him ? 

5. For thou hast made him a little lower than 
the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and 
honor. 

6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the 
works of thy hands : thou hast put all things un- 
der his feet ; 

7. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the 
field; 

8. The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, 
and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the 
seas. 

9. Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name 
in all the earth ! 



David, familiar from boyhood with rural life, had learned 
to see God in Nature, and thus to add to the beauty and glory 
of natural objects in themselves the thought of the divine wis- 
dom and goodness reflected in them all. His shepherd-life in the 
open fields, and upon the slopes of the mountains, had ac- 
quainted him with the habits of birds and beasts, and had led 
him to observe the stars in his nightly watches. Those youth- 
ful experiences, matured by the meditations of riper years, find 
expression in this psalm. In the nineteenth psalm he cele- 
brates the glory of the sun. But now, sitting at eventide 
upon the housetop, under the mild and lustrous Syrian sky, he 
is absorbed with the beauty and order of the moon and stars. 
These are God's possession, — " thy heavens ; " the work of 
His "finger," manifesting beauty and skill; "ordained" with 



divine wisdom and order, and established forever. The first 
thought awakened in him by the contemplation of this majes- 
ty and glory is of the littleness of man. What was David's 
kingdom in comparison with a single star ? what his royal 
splendor beside the brightness of the moon 1 Yet with this 
came the thought of the condescending goodness of God, who 
made man in his image, the representative of his glory and 
dominion. The word " angels," Elohim, is commonly used 
for the name of God : " Thou madest man but little short 
of the Divine." This high dignity and prerogative man dis- 
graced and forfeited by the fall ; but it was restored in Jesus, 
the second Adam, " crowned with glory and honor." While 
we praise God in his works, let us, above all, bless and honor 
him in his Son, the head and glory of our redeemed humanity. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 18, 31, 38. 



All thy works praise thee, God ! — the glo- 
rious company of the apostles praise thee ; the 
goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee ; the 
noble army of martyrs praise thee. The heavens 
declare thy glory ; the firmament showeth thy 
handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech ; night 
unto night showeth knowledge of thee. There is 
no speech nor language where the voice of thy 
praise is not heard. We would join in this uni- 
versal anthem to thy glory, and would bless thy 
name for ever and ever. Bless the Lord, O our 
souls ! and all that is within us, bless his holy 
name : who forgiveth all our iniquities ; who heal- 
eth all our diseases ; who redeemeth our life from 
destruction ; who crowneth us with loving-kindness 
and tender mercies. Bless the Lord, all his works, 
in all places of his dominion ; bless the Lord, 
our souls ! 

We draw nigh unto thee, heavenly Father, to 
thank thee for the life that thou hast given to us, 
and for the life which from day to day thou dost 



preserve ; for in thee we live and move, and have 
our being. We bless thee for food and raiment, 
for shelter and safety, for the health of body and 
of mind which we enjoy. Help us to use all 
powers and gifts in thy service. Forbid, 
Father ! that the abundance and regularity of thy 
blessings should diminish our feeling of depend- 
ence or of thankfulness. 

We thank thee for our home and all its joys ; for 
thy constant favor to us as a household. And, while 
we thank thee for the blessings of thy providence, 
we pray that thou wilt also fill our hearts with love 
and gratitude for the richer gifts of thy Son and 
thy Spirit. We bless thy name, righteous 
Father ! that thou didst not leave us in our sins ; 
but, when we were without strength, thou didst lay 
our help upon One mighty to save, and didst bring 
life and immortality to light through the gospel. 

Through him we praise thee ; for him we bless 
thee ; and we pray thee in him to pardon, bless, and 
save us. And to thy name be glory forever. Amen. 



72 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Hebrews ii. — 1. Therefore we ought to give the 
more earnest heed to the things which we have 
heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 

2. For if the word spoken by angels was stead- 
fast, and every transgression and disobedience re- 
ceived a just recompense of reward ; 

3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great 
salvation, which at the first began to be spoken 
by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them 
that heard him; 

4. God also bearing them witness, both with 
signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and 
gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own 
will? 

5. For unto the angels hath he not put in sub- 
jection the world to come whereof we speak. 

6. But one in a certain place testified, saying, 
What is man, that thou art mindful of him ? or 
the son of man, that thou visitest him ? 

7. Thou madest him a little lower than the 
angels ; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, 
and didst set him over the works of thy hands ; 

8. Thou hast put all things in subjection under 
his feet. For, in that he put all in subjection 
under him, he left nothing that is not put under 
him. But now we see not yet all things put under 
him: 

9. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower 
than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned 
with glory and honor ; that he by the grace of God 
should taste death for every man. 



The glory of the gospel appears not only in the themes of 
which it treats, but in the Person by whom it came. The law 
was ushered in by wonders of Nature and by the ministry of 
angels ; but the gospel was proclaimed by the Son of God. 

To give efficacy to his grace, he came in our nature ; put 
himself in our place ; entered into a personal experience of 
our temptations, sufferings, and sorrows ; wrought out before 
us the perfection of a human character ; made atonement for 
our sins ; tasted death for us ; and, by his resurrection, spoiled 
death of its terror, and Satan of his power. Christ was as 
complete in his humanity as in his divinity. Only as a true 



10. For it became him, for whom are all things, 
and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons 
unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation 
perfect through sufferings. 

11. For both he that sanctifieth, and they who 
are sanctified, are all of one : for which cause he is 
not ashamed to call them brethren ; 

12. Saying, I will declare thy name unto my 
brethren ; in the midst of the church will I sing 
praise unto thee. 

13. And again : I will put my trust in him. 
And again : Behold, I, and the children which God 
hath given me. 

14. Forasmuch, then, as the children are par- 
takers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise 
took part of the same ; that through death he 
might destroy him that had the power of death, 
that is, the Devil ; 

15. And deliver them, who, through fear of 
death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

16. For verily he took not on him the nature 
of angels ; but he took on him the seed of Abra- 
ham. 

17. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to 
be made like unto his brethren ; that he might be 
a merciful and faithful High Priest in things per- 
taining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins 
of the people. 

18. For in that he himself hath suffered, being 
tempted, he is able to succor them that are 
tempted. 



and proper man could he be tempted as we are ; could he be 
for us an example in temptation and suffering ; could he feel 
with us the tie of brotherhood. Through his humanity we 
are ennobled. In him, man is restored to the glory and honor 
for which God created him. For us this great salvation is 
provided in his gospel. If we will obey his voice, all that 
Christ hath wrought is ours ; all that he hath promised we 
shall obtain. Yet it is possible to fail of all this, and to bring 
upon ourselves all the degradation and woe of sin by neglect- 
ing his word. It was the warning of Christ himself, " Take 
heed how ye hear." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 2, 139, 187. 



O God, who didst make the first man after thine 
own image ! mercifully grant, that in following thy 
Son, the second man from heaven, we may recover 
that which hath been lost through sin, and may 
put on the new man, which is created after thee in 
righteousness and true holiness. 

Teach us, day by day, to use thy gifts to our 
best good and to thy glory. [May these children 
early learn the true secret of happiness in life, and, 
like the blessed Saviour, go about doing good!] 
Keep us, Lord ! from all covetous desires, from 
all self-seeking, from all love of sinful pleasures. 

Almighty God, the Father and Saviour of all 
men, help us, we beseech thee, to behave with 



Christian cnarity to all that are in distress, poverty, 
or suffering. As thou hast had mercy upon us, 
let none of us come under thy condemnation on 
the great day of judgment for want of mercy or 
charity to our brethren, who, in this world of trial, 
were hungry or thirsty, or naked or sick, or in 
prison, and to whom, when we had the power, we 
did not administer. Help us to deny ourselves, 
that we may each, in our measure, have to give 
to them that need, and that we may ever work 
with thee, and for thee, in diminishing the sor- 
rows, the miseries, and the sin of this evil world, 
for the sake of Him who suffered and died for all. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



73 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Acts i. — 1. The former treatise have I made, 
Theophilus ! of all that Jesus began both to do 
and teach, 

2. Until the day in which he was taken up, 
after that he through the Holy Ghost had given 
commandments unto the apostles whom he had 
chosen : 

3. To whom also he showed himself alive after 
his passion, by many infallible proofs ; being seen 
of them forty days, and speaking of the things 
pertaining to the kingdom of God ; 

4. And, being assembled together with them, 
commanded them that they should not depart from 
Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, 
which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 

5. For John truly baptized with water ; but ye 
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many 
days hence. 

6. "When they therefore were come together, 
they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this 
time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 

7. And he said unto them, It is not for you to 
know the times or the seasons which the Father 
hath put in his own power. 

8. But ye shall receive power after that the 
Holy Ghost is come upon you ; and ye shall be 



This bodily ascension of Jesus certified him as the Son of 
God, and lifted our humanity to a place in heaven. If, after 
his resurrection, he had silently, mysteriously disappeared, his 
whole career would have been thrown into doubt by the uncer- 
tainty of its end. But the ascension, while it completed the 
resurrection, answered to the incarnation, and testified that 
Christ was " the Lord from heaven." It prefigured also the 
completeness of man's redemption in the glorified body. It 
was the man Christ Jesus who ascended. He did not vanish 
like an apparition ; he was not spirited away : he rose in his 
proper body, with his hands stretched out in blessing ; he rose 
from the ground, where he had stood among his disciples, into 
the air above them ; and continued rising until lost to their 
view. They saw whither he had gone, and stood gazing 



witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all 
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost 
part of the earth. 

9. And when he had spoken these things, while 
they beheld, he was taken up ; and a cloud re- 
ceived him out of their sight. 

10. And, while they looked steadfastly toward 
heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by 
them in white apparel ; 

11. Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why 
stand ye gazing up into heaven ? This same Jesus 
which is taken up from you into heaven shall so 
come in like manner as ye have seen him go into 
heaven. 

12. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from 
the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem 
a sabbath-day's journey. 

13. And, when they were come in, they went up 
into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and 
James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thom- 
as, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of 
Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother 
of James. 

14. These all continued with one accord in pray- 
er and supplication, with the women, and Mary 
the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 



steadfastly after him. He carried up with him into heaven 
his human identity, — " the same Jesus " here and there ! 
And so he carried up us also into heaven ; made heaven 
real to us as an abode, as a place that we can enter, a 
home where humanity can dwell with God. Every pur- 
pose of good that brought him into the world, every tie of 
sympathy and love that here bound him to our humanity, 
every promise of redemption that was pledged by his cross, 
is represented through that body which here was tempted, 
suffered, died, and rose again, and ascended into glory. 
With what confidence, then, should our faith look forward to 
a union with Christ, when he who carried our nature up 
into heaven shall come " in like manner " to take his beloved 
to his home ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 34, 74, 80. 



Blessed be God, that, in Christ Jesus our Lord, 
heaven is brought nigh to us as our home ; that He 
who descended and took our nature, and lived and 
suffered and died in human flesh, hath ascended 
to heaven, the same Jesus, glorifying our nature 
in his own ! Oh, may we feel the grace of his re- 
demption, the power of his resurrection, the glory of 
his ascension, the promise of his coming, as mo- 
tives to draw us from earthly things ! and may the 
exaltation of our Redeemer, as head over all things 
to his Church, inspire us with faith in the triumph 
of his Church in the world ! Build up thy Church 
this day ; bless her worship, her schools, her teach- 
ing; hear her prayers, and manifest thy saving 
power. Go with us to thine house. Grant, we 
beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do 



believe thy only-begotten Son to have ascended 
into the heavens, so we may also in heart and mind 
thither ascend, and with him continually dwell ; 
who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy 
Ghost, one God, world without end. 

Thy mercy, Lord ! hath visited us with the re- 
freshing slumbers of the night. As a family we 
would dedicate ourselves to thee, and supplicate 
thy grace upon every one of us here present before 
thee, and upon all the dear ones who are absent 
from us. And, while we so rejoice in thine abound- 
ing goodness, we make supplication for the poor, 
the needy, the outcast, the oppressed ; beseeching 
thee that the consolations of the gospel may be 
multiplied to them all, through the grace of our 
ascended Lord ; to whom be glory forever. Amen. 



74 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING^ 



Isaiah Iv. — 1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, 
come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money ; 
come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, huy wine and 
milk without money and without price. 

2. Wherefore do ye spend money iovthativ7iich 
is not bread, and your labor for that which sat- 
isfieth not ? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat 
ye that which is good, and let your soul delight 
itself in fatness. 

3. Incline your ear, and come unto me ; hear, 
and your soul shall live ; and I will make an ever- 
lasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies 
of David. 

4. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the 
people, a leader and commander to the people. 

5. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou 
knovvest not, and nations that knew not thee shall 
run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, and 
for the Holy One of Israel ; for he hath glorified 
thee. 

6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found ; call 
ye upon him while he is near. 

7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the un- 
righteous man his thoughts : and let him return 



unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him ; 
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nei- 
ther are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 

9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 
so are my ways higher than your ways, and my 
thoughts than your thoughts. 

10. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow 
from heaven, and returneth not thither, but wa- 
tereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and 
bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread 
to the eater: 

11. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of 
my mouth : it shall not return unto me void, but 
it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall 
prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

12. For ye shall go out with joy, 'and be led 
forth with peace : the mountains and the hills shall 
break forth before you into singing, and all the 
trees of the field shall clap their hands. 

13. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir- 
tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the 
myrtle-tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, 
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. 



Food and money are objects which all men desire : the first 
a necessity of life ; the second a means of comfort and luxury, 
and also of distinction and power. Both here are symbols of 
good or happiness, which is that for which men are always 
longing and striving; but they often mistake for food that 
which is not wholesome nor nourishing. Christ comes to us as 
the embodiment of all good : he is the bread from heaven ; he 
is the fountain of living waters ; he is the incorruptible treasure ; 
he is the life everlasting. And all that he is he offers to all freely, 
without price. "These gratuitous blessings are contrasted with 
the costly and unprofitable labors of mankind to gain the 
same end in another way." Only one condition is annexed, 
and this arising from the nature of the case, — the sense of need, 



the desire to possess. To every hungry, thirsty soul, Christ 
offers all his fulness. Do the very greatness and richness of 
the offer discourage us 1 ? But we must not measure God's 
thoughts by ours : they are as high above ours as the heavens 
above the earth. He plans nothing in vain. As in the king- 
dom of nature he provides with certainty for the harvest, so in 
his kingdom of grace he will not suffer the munificent pro- 
visions of his mercy to go for nought. The lifting-up of 
Christ upon the cross shall yet draw the nations to him. 
The world made desolate by sin and woe shall be tilled with 
grace and joy. Let us make sure of our part in this great 
salvation by turning from sin to the Lord, who delights to 
pardon. 



Appropriate Hymn's,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 162, 186, 200. 



Thou that dwellest in the heavens ! holy and 
reverend is thy name. Unto thee would we lift up 
our souls. As the eyes of servants look unto the 
hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden 
unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes wait 
upon the Lord our God. To whom can we go but 
unto thee ? Thou hast the words of eternal life. 
We praise and bless thy name for all thy mercy 
to us this day ; for the bounties of thy providence, 
and for the riches of thy grace ; for the supply of 
our bodily wants, and for the spiritual food which 
nourishes and refreshes our souls. We thank thee 
for the Holy Scriptures, for the preaching of the 
gospel, for the privilege of prayer, for all the ordi- 
nances and means of grace. Follow these with thy 
blessing. Lord, pardon what thy pure eyes hath 
seen amiss in us, and accept us in the Beloved. 

We commend ourselves to thy care and keeping 
for the night. Watch over us in the hours of 



darkness and helplessness. If it be thy will, may 
we have refreshing sleep, and rise renewed for the 
duties and employments of another day ! Sleep- 
ing or waking, may we be ever with thee ! Be 
with all in whom we are specially interested, 
and to whom we are bound by the ties of nature 
or of grace. Lord, bestow on them the blessings 
which we have asked for ourselves. And draw nigh 
to all who are in distress. Be a very present help 
in trouble. Send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, 
to all the suffering and the dying. Sanctify to 
them their affliction, and give them deliverance 
in thine own time and way. To live may it be 
Christ, and to die may it be gain. Our prayers 
are before thee : grant us an answer in peace. Do 
to us and for us exceeding abundantly above all 
we ask or think ; and unto thee be glory in the 
Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world 
without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



75 



MONDAY. 



Proverbs i. — 20. Wisdom crieth without ; she 
uttereth her voice in the streets : 

21. She crieth in the chief place of concourse, 
in the openings of the gates : in the citj T she utter- 
eth her words, saying, 

22. How long, ye simple ones, will ye love sim- 
plicity ? and the scorners delight in their scorning, 
and fools hate knowledge ? 

23. Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour 
out my spirit unto you ; I will make known my 
words unto you. 

24. Because I have called, and ye refused ; I hare 
stretched out my hand, and no man regarded ; 

25. But ye have set at nought all my counsel, 
and would none of my reproof : 

26. I also will laugh at your calamity ; I will 
mock when your fear cometh ; 

27. When your fear cometh as desolation, and 
your destruction cometh as a whirlwind ; when dis- 
tress and anguish cometh upon you. 

28. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not 
answer ; they shall seek me early, but they shall 
not find me ; 

29. For that they hated knowledge, and did not 
choose the fear of the Lord : 



30. They would none of my counsel ; they de- 
spised all my reproof. 

31. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of 
their own way, and be filled with their own de- 
vices. 

32. For the turning-away of the simple shall 
slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy 
them. 

33. But wboso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell 
safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. 

Psalm Ixxxi. — 11. My people would not heark- 
en to my voice ; and Israel would none of me. 

12. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' 
lust; and they walked in their own counsels. 

13. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, 
and Israel had walked in my ways ! 

14. I should soon have subdued their ene- 
mies, and turned my hand against their adver- 
saries. 

15. The haters of the Lord should have sub- 
mitted themselves unto him ; but their time should 
have endured forever. 

16. He should have fed them also with the finest 
of the wheat ; and with honey out of the rock 
should I have satisfied thee. 



"Wisdom is here the representative of true piety : " the fear 
of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." It is good sense to 
be virtuous ; it is the mark of a sound mind to regulate our 
lives by the will of God. At the gates of the city, which 
answered to a modern exchange, where men were gathered 
together, eager for news and for bargains ; to the modern 
caucus, where men crowded about some leader or officer to 
make interest for themselves ; to the modern saloon, where 
men sought social pleasure and excitement, — in the midst of 
scenes and affairs that so engross the multitude of men, Wis- 
dom gives forth her counsels and admonitions, reminding 
them that there is a higher life, a nobler aim, and warning 



them of the disappointment and ruin that await a life of 
worldliness and sin. Eeligion is not for Sundays only, but 
for the every-day life ; not for the Church, but for the school, 
the shop, the factory, the market, the out-door world of hurry 
and commotion, the streets and gates of the city. To suffer 
our daily affairs to cause us to forget God is most unwise. 

Terrible are the warnings given to those who neglect this 
heavenly wisdom ; yet these truly picture the experiences of 
a soul that forsakes God for the world and sin. Observe, too, 
that the warnings are attended with invitations, entreaties, 
promises, reaching forth the hand with the offer of safety 
and peace to whoever will be wise. 



Appropriate Hyiiss,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 11, 40, 65. 



Father of mercies, accept our humble thanksgiv- 
ing for all the tokens of thy love. We adore thee 
for thy watchful care over us during the past night, 
and for the light and the comfort of this morning. 
For life and health and reason, for thy j:>roviden- 
tial bounty, for our personal and domestic bless- 
ings, for all that mingles in the cup of life to make 
life happy, we offer our grateful praise. Accept 
our gratitude, and command upon us thy choicest 
favor. Bestow upon us the wisdom that is from 
above. Give us heart and courage for the duties 
of this day. Keep us in our going-out and our 
coming-in. Preserve us from all danger and evil, 
from accident and from sudden death. Plentifully 
endue us with thy grace, that we may walk worthy 
of our high calling, and in all things adorn the 
doctrine of God our Saviour. Let not sin have 
dominion over us ; but, perfecting holiness in thy 
fear, may we attain unto everlasting life and joy ! 



Ever keep this household in thy love. [Oh, may 
these children be preserved from all harm, from all 
evil, from all sin. and made happy in thy love ! 
May they shun the way of folly, and choose the 
fear of the Lord !] 

The blessings which we thus ask for ourselves, 
let it please thee, God ! to extend to all who are 
dear to us by the ties of nature and affection. Lift 
upon them the light of thy countenance, and sat- 
isfy them with thy goodness. Hear its when we 
pray for the good estate of the whole catholic 
Church. Clothe thy ministers with salvation, and 

I let thy chosen people rejoice. Have pity upon 
the nations, and fill the world with thy glory. 

I Strengthen the sons of toil, and comfort the 
children of sorrow. Be thou the Father of the 
fatherless, the Judge of the widow, and the rest of 
the weary. We ask these mercies in the name of 
Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Acts ii. — 37. Now, when they heard this, they 
were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter 
and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, 
what shall we do ? 

38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be 
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus 
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall re- 
ceive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

39. For the promise is unto you, and to your 
children, and to all that are afar off, even as many 
as the Lord our God shall call. 

40. And with many other words did he testify 
and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this un- 
toward generation. 

41. Then they that gladly received his word 
were baptized ; and the same day there were added 
unto them about three thousand souls. 



42. And they continued steadfastly in the apos- 
tles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of 
bread, and in prayers. 

43. And fear came upon every soul ; and many 
wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 

44. And all that believed were together, and 
had all things common ; 

45. And sold their possessions and goods, and 
parted them to all men as every man had 
need. 

46. And they, continuing daily with one accord 
in the temple, and breaking bread from house to 
house, did eat their meat -with gladness and single- 
ness of heart, 

47. Praising God, and having favor with all the 
people. And the Lord added to the church daily 
such as should be saved. 



The apostles were called to meet that question which has 
ever since been the question of the soul awakened to the sense 
of its guilt and need, " What shall I do? How can I be 
saved." Their answer, given by inspiration of the Holy 
Ghost, contains specific and precise instruction for every case. 

What Peter did not say is highly significant. He did not 
himself grant indulgence, nor pronounce absolution ; did not 
prescribe a course of penance, nor enjoin any church rites, 
ceremonies, obligations, or beliefs, as necessary to salvation, or 
the means of procuring it. He addressed himself to the mind, 
— the conscience, the understanding, the feelings, the will. 
Repent was his first word. Literally, change your mind, — the 
state of your mind ; change your views and feelings toward 
Christ ; change your motives and aims in living ; change the 
inner, abiding, governing purpose of your soul ; renounce the 
evil, and set your heart upon serving and pleasing Christ. 
This counsel applied equally to all. Peter's audience was 
made up of people who were religious in their way, " devout " 



in keeping their church appointments : no charge of immoral- 
ity was brought against them ; but they had all rejected Christ. 
Some had done this blindly, through prejudice ; others wil- 
fully, through passion. But no degrees of guilt were meas- 
ured : one and all, they were summoned to repent. 

Every man has something to repent of before God, — his 
selfish heart, his proud will, his unbelief, his worldliness, his 
ingratitude, his indifference to spiritual things. One who does 
not confess his obligation to repent cannot offer the Lord's 
J Prayer with its express petition for the forgiveness of sin. Re- 
| pentance should be followed by the open confession of Christ, 
| of which baptism is the visible symbol, — the acknowledgment 
\ of Jesus as the Saviour, through whom alone remission of sins 
J can be obtained. Three thousand penitents thus openly con- 
fessed Christ upon the day of Pentecost. They at once proved 
the sincerity of their new faith by the largeness of their liber- 
ality, the fervor of their love, the constancy of their devo- 
i tion. 



Appropriate Htmns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 30, 113. 



Almighty and everlasting God, who art ever 
ready to hearken to the cry of the humble, and 
hast promised to refuse none who come to thee in 
the name of thy dear Son, look upon us in mercy 
for his sake, and grant our requests. We thank 
thee that we have a throne of grace to come to ; 
that thine ear is ever open to the prayers of thy 
children ; and that the arms of thy mercy are 
stretched out towards us. Lord, we come to thee 
as to a father : give us, we pray thee, a father's 
blessing. Thou knowest how we have, one and 
all, wandered from thee. 

Our sins are great ; but great also is thy for- 
bearance. Oh, may thy goodness lead us to repent- 
ance ! May the love of Christ be shed abroad in 
our hearts, and constrain us to live no longer to 
ourselves, but to thee. Thou hast brought us 
safely through the night : blessed be thy name for 
preserving us from dangers both seen and unseen, 
for spreading our table with plenty, and for all the 
kindness we receive from those around us. 

But, Lord ! we praise thee especially for those 
gifts which concern the welfare of our souls, — for 



thy holy Word, for thy ministers, for thy house of 
prayer, for the means of grace, and for the hope 
of future glory. 

Have mercy on those who are deprived of the 
blessings we enjoy. Visit with thy compassion 
the houseless, the fatherless, and the afflicted. 
Dry up the tears of all that mourn. Pity the ig- 
norant, and those that are out of the way. Thou 
Saviour of the lost, bring home the wanderers to 
thy fold. Bless those who are gone forth to pro- 
claim thy truth in distant lands : cheer and 
encourage their hearts; strengthen their faith; 
give them boldness and wisdom and love ; preserve 
them from every peril ; and crown their labors 
with success. 

And grant, blessed Lord, that we who have the 
light may walk in the light. Oh ! enable us to 
shine brightly for thee in the midst of a dark 
world. May we not only own thee with our lips, 
but may we follow thee with all our hearts ! And 
do thou make us now and ever thine, through Him 
who died, and rose again, and ever liveth to make 
intercession for us. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IX THE YEAR. 



77 



WEDNESDAY. 



Acts iii. — 1. Now, Peter and John went up 
together into the temple at the hour of prayer, be- 
ing the ninth hour. 

2. And a certain man lame from his mother's 
womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the 
gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask 
alms of them that entered into the temple ; 

3. Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into 
the temple, asked an alms. 

4. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with 
John, said, Look on us. 

5. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to 
receive something of them. 

6. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none ; 
but such as I have give I thee : In the name of 
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. 



The most magnificent gate of the temple was that which 
stood before the sanctuary itself. This was seventy cubits high, 
and twenty-five broad : it was completely overlaid with gold, 
and had above it golden vines with huge clusters of grapes. 
In the courts and walls were nine gates, all overlaid throughout 
with gold and silver ; and besides these one of Corinthian brass, 
which, according to Josephus, "greatly exceeded in sump- 
tuousness those plated with silver and gold." Either this, or 
the one first mentioned, was distinguished as " the Beautiful 
Gate." In contrast with this magnificence of material wor- 
ship was a dilapidated temple of humanity, deformed, crippled, 
beggared. Just as, at the doors of the churches in Continental 
Europe, the most wretched objects are privileged to sit or lie 
as beggars ; so this impotent beggar was daily at the temple- 
gate to remind worshippers that charity is ever the most accept- 
able service. 

Peter and John knew what it was to be poor ; and the 
sight of this helpless fellow-creature touched them with such 



7. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted 
him up ; and immediately his feet and ankle-bones 
received strength. 

8. And he, leaping up, stood and walked, and 
entered with them into the temple, walking 
and leaping, and praising God. 

9. And all the people saw him walking, and 
praising God ; 

10. And they knew that it was he which sat for 
alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple : and 
they were filled with wonder and amazement at 
that which had happened unto him. 

11. And, as the lame man which was healed held 
Peter and John, all the people ran together unto 
them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly 
wondering. 



compassion as Jesus was wont to feel for suffering humanity. 
With the sympathy of the Master came his power also ; and 
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth imparted strength and 
motion to feet that had never walked. So conspicuous a 
miracle was like another resurrection of the crucified Nazarene, 
and gave new life and power to his gospel. 

Our Lord wrought miracles by his proper personality : the 
power resided in his own spirit ; the virtue went out from 
himself. His apostles performed miracles in his name, and 
never assumed to possess this power independently. By thus 
invoking Jesus for a power properly divine, they proclaimed 
their faith in his resurrection, his continued life, his ascension, 
his government over the world, his omnipresence and omnipo- 
tence ; in a word, their faith in his divinity. The cripple him- 
self felt that his healing was a divine act ; and his first use of 
his new powers was in praising God. So should every gift, 
every mercy, every new experience of his goodness, inspire us 
to show forth his praise. 



Appropriate Htmns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 9, 32. 



Father of lights, Fountain of all good, we lift up 
our hearts and voices in gratitude and love. Thy 
mercies are new every morning, and thy faithful- 
ness is repeated every night. We bless thee for 
life and health and reason ; for the use of our 
limbs and powers ; for our food and raiment and 
habitation ; for labor and reward ; for friends and 
kindred; for freedom from suffering, infirmity, 
and pain. By the remembrance of thy goodness, 
awaken in our hearts, God ! a purer love and 



danger. Help us in all things to show forth thy 
glory by a life and conversation becoming thy chil- 
dren. Keep us from conformity to a sinful world ; 
and so aid us by thy good Spirit, that we shall pre- 
serve ourselves unspotted, and shall perfect holiness 
in thy fear. In all our intercourse and dealings 
with men, help us to maintain our holy principles, 
and so commend the faith which we profess. 

May it please thee to bless all whom we love, and 
grant unto them the healthful spirit of thy grace ! 



devotion to thee. Inspire us with a true and child- ! Have compassion on all the children of toil and 
like trust in thy faithfulness and mercy. So stay j sorrow and suffering. Mercifully look upon the 
our minds on thyself, that we may be anxious about : afflicted and the dying, and give unto them ever- 
ything, but, leaving the future to thine infinite i lasting consolation and good hope through grace, 
wisdom, pass the rest of our lives in peace and Bless this household with such favors as thou seest 
quietness, fulfil all duty in reliance on thy prom- to be good for us ; and teach us to desire and seek 



ised strength, suffer all trials in submission to thy 
will, and patiently wait the issue of all thy deal- 
ings in our salvation. 

O God ! since thou hast opened our eyes to see 
the light of another day, be pleased to prosper us 
with thy continual favor in all its duties and en- 



only that which is good in thy sight. 

Holy Father, open our hearts to deeper and 
more living impressions of unseen and eternal 
things. Help us to walk by faith, that, by a pa- 
tient continuance in well-doing, we may come to 
glory and honor, through Jesus Christ, our blessed 



gagements. Keep us from sin, temptation, and i Lord and Saviour. Amen 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Acts iv. — 1. And, as they spake unto the peo- 
ple, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and 
the Sadducees, came upon them ; 

2. Being grieved that they taught the people, 
and preached through Jesus the resurrection from 
the dead. 

3. And they laid hands on them, and put them in 
hold unto the next day ; for it was now eventide. 

4. Howbeit, many of them which heard the 
word believed ; and the number of the men was 
about five thousand. 

5. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their 
rulers and elders and scribes, 

6. And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas 
and John and Alexander, and as many as were of 
the kindred of the high priest, were gathered to- 
gether at Jerusalem. 

7. And, when they had set them in the midst, 
they asked, By what power or by what name have 
ye done this ? 

8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said 
unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of 
Israel, 

9. If we this day be examined of the good deed 
done to the impotent man, by what means he is 
made whole; 

10. Be it known unto you all, and to all the peo- 
ple of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of 
Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised 
from the dead, even by him doth this man stand 
here before you whole. 

11. This is the stone which was set at nought of 
you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 



The men who had compassed the death of Jesus of Naza- 
reth were startled by the new impulse given to his doctrine. 
Five thousand converts gathered in Jerusalem alone within a 
few days gave a formidable aspect to the faith which the 
Sanhedrim imagined they had crucified along with its Teach- 
er. Not only was the hold of the priests upon the people 
again threatened, but there was danger of a popular re-action 



12. Neither is there salvation in any other ; for 
there is none other name under heaven given 
among men whereby we must be saved. 

13. Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter 
and John, and perceived that they were unlearned 
and ignorant men, they marvelled ; and they took 
knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. 

14. And, beholding the man which was healed 
standing with them, they could say nothing 
against it. 

15. But, when they had commanded them to go 
aside out of the council, they conferred among 
themselves, 

16. Saying, What shall we do to these men ? for 
that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by 
them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusa- 
lem, and we cannot deny it. 

17. But, that it spread no farther among the 
people, let us straitly threaten them that they 
speak henceforth to no man in this name. 

18. And they called them, and commanded them 
not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. 

19. But Peter and John answered and said unto 
them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to 
hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye ; 

20. For we cannot but speak the things which 
we have seen and heard. 

21. So, when they had further threatened them, 
they let them go, finding nothing how they might 
punish them, because of the people; for all men 
glorified God for that which was done. 

22. For the man was above forty years old on 
whom this miracle of healing was showed. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy 
great mercy hast promised forgiveness of sins to 
all that with hearty repentance and true faith 
turn unto thee, have mercy upon us ; pardon and 
deliver us from all our sins ; confirm and strengthen 
us in all goodness ; and finally bring us to ever- 
lasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God 
Almighty; just and true are all thy ways, thou 
King of saints. We would praise thee and wor- 
ship thee ever, world without end. We commit 
ourselves to thy love and faithfulness. In thee 
would we trust at all times. Confident in thy 
promises, and in the help of thy Spirit, may we 
not fear what man can do unto us ! 



against the instigators of the crucifixion. Yet they could 
think only of violence as a remedy. These preachers must 
be silenced by fear. But the disciples, who ran away at 
the approach of danger to their Lord, were now fortified 
by his death against the fear of dying. Conscience was 
mightier than any human authority, and faith stronger 
than fear. 



[Nos. 16, 47, 49. 



Prayer. 

Thou of thy great goodness hast caused us to 
dwell in safety during another night, and to awake 
in peace. May our conversation, this day, be such 
as becometh the gospel of Christ ! If trouble 
befall us, may we trust, and not be afraid ! Feed 
us with food convenient for us. Assist us to honor 
thee with our substance and with the first-fruits 
of our increase. May we do justice, love mercy, 
and walk humbly with our God ! and may each 
member of our family be kept from sin, and pre- 
served to recount thy mercies at evening! All 
these mercies we humbly beg in the adorable 
name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; who, 
with the Father and the Spirit, liveth and reigneth 
evermore. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



79 



FRIDAY. 



Acts iv. — 23. And, being let go, they went to 
their own company, and reported all that the chief 
priests and elders had said unto them. 

21. And, when they heard that, they lifted up 
their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, 
thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth, 
and the sea, and all that in them is ; 

25. Who by the mouth of thy servant David 
hast said, "Why did the heathen rage, and the peo- 
ple imagine vain things ? 

26. The kings of the earth stood up, and the 
rulers were gathered together against the Lord, 
and against his Christ. 

27. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, 
whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pon- 
tius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of 
Israel, were gathered together, 

28. For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy 
counsel determined before to be done. 

29. And now, Lord, behold their threaten in gs ; 
and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness 
they may speak thy word, 

30. By stretching forth thy hand to heal ; and 
that signs and wonders may be done by the name 
of thy holy child Jesus. 



31. And, when they had prayed, the place was 
shaken where they were assembled together; and 
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they 
spake the word of God with boldness. 

32. And the multitude of them that believed 
were of one heart and of one soul : neither said 
any of them that aught of the things which he 
possessed was his own ; but they had all things 
common. 

33. And with great power gave the apostles wit- 
ness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus ; and 
great grace was upon them all. 

34. Neither was there any among them that 
lacked ; for as many as were possessors of lands or 
houses sold them, and brought the prices of the 
things that were sold, 

35. And laid them down at the apostles' feet ; 
and distribution was made unto every man accord- 
ing as he had need. 

36. And Joses, who by the apostles was sur- 
named Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, the 
son of consolation), a Levite, and of the country of 
Cyprus, 

37. Having land, sold it, and brought the money, 
and laid it at the apostles' feet. 



" If we take the account of the origin of Christianity from 
the last evening of the life of Christ to the end of the fifty 
days that followed, it is undeniable that in this brief interval 
something- of a quite extraordinary character in inspiring 
their courage must have occurred to have brought the apos- 
tles, who timorously fled in that night, who were to the last 
degree helpless and destitute of self-reliance, — to have 
brought them to the point at which they stood, when, lifted 
above all fear of death in the presence of the judges of the mur- 
dered Jesus, judges exasperated to the last degree, they ex- 
claimed, ' We ought to obey God rather than man.' " — 
Paulus. 



This concession was forced from a disbeliever in the Gos- 
pels, as the honest verdict of a student of history. But the 
solution of this marvel is given in two facts, — the resurrection 
of Jesus, and the coming of the Holy Ghost. For the fact of 
the resurrection the apostles were ready to die ; and their 
word fell with the power of the Spirit. This power was 
mightily increased through prayer. Committing themselves 
to the glory of God, they drew upon his strength. 

Their common faith drew them together in love and in 
self-sacrifice for the common cause. Disowned by the Jewish 
leaders, they shared what they had one with another, and 
gave themselves unitedly to the work of the Lord. 



Appropeiate Htjixs,] 



Prayer. 



[Xos. Ill, 118, 202. 



God, our heavenly Father, in whom we live, I 
move, and have our being ! we give thee humble 
thanks for all thy mercies renewed to us every 
morning ; for life and health, for food and raiment, 
for relations and friends ; for the guardianship of 
thy holy angels, and for all the known and the 
unobserved favors, deliverances, visitations, and j 
graces of thy Holy Spirit. Grant that we may 
receive all things as from thee, and study to live 
always in thy fear and to thy glory, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. 

O Lord! look graciously upon us in that state of 
life unto which thou hast been pleased to call us. 
May thy blessing be upon our persons, upon our 
labors, upon our substance, and upon all that be- J 
longs to us ! Enable us to resist the temptations 
of the world, the flesh, and the Devil ; to follow the 
motions of thy good Spirit ; to be serious and holy 
in our lives, true and just in our dealings, watch- , 



ful over our thoughts, words, and actions, diligent 
in our business, and temperate in all things. Give 
us grace that we may honestly improve all the tal- 
ents thou hast committed to our trust, and that no 
worldly business, no worldly pleasures, may ever 
divert us from the thoughts of the life to come. 

O God ! we pray thee to bless all men. Bless 
thy holy Church, the children and the absent mem- 
bers of this family, our friends and benefactors, the 
poor, the sick, and the distressed : to each, Lord ! 
grant that which thou knowest to be best for him, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Into thy hands, God ! we commend ourselves 
this day. Let the favor of thy special presence be 
with us even to its close. Grant us never to lose 
sight of thee all the day long, but to worship and 
pray to thee, and to ponder the words of thy law 
and the blessings of thy saving grace, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 




SATURDAY. 



Acts V. — 1. But a certain man named Ananias, 
with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 

2. And kept back part of the price (his wife 
also being privy to it), and brought a certain part, 
and laid it at the apostles' feet. 

3. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled 
thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep 
back part of the price of the land ? 

4. While it remained, was it not thine own ? and 
after it was sold, was it not in thine own power ? 
Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine 
heart ? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 

5. And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down, 
and gave up the ghost. And great fear came on 
all them that heard these things. 

6. Aid the young men arose, wound him up, 
and carried him out, and buried him. 

7. And it was about the space of three hours 
after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, 
came in. 

8. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether 
ye sold the land for so much ? And she said, Yea, 
for so much. 

9. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye 
have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the 



A great religious revival is apt to bring along with it a re- 
vival of hypocrisy. No sin is so damning as covetousness. 
Ananias and Sapphira felt the pressure of the example of lib- 
erality around them, and wanted to share in the repute of such 
good works ; yet their hearts hankered after their treasures, 
and this betrayed them into hypocrisy and falsehood. 

The community of goods was not intended to be a law of 
the Church ; nor was this example of primitive communism 
to be taken as a binding precedent. The converts to Christi- 
anity at Jerusalem were people from all countries, who had 
come to the capital, as Jews, to observe their festival. At 
such times the residents of the city were extremely hospita- 



Lord ? Behold, the feet of them which have buried 
thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee 
out. 

10. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, 
and yielded up the ghost. And the young men 
came in and found her dead, and, carrying her 
forth, buried her by her husband. 

11. And great fear came upon all the church, 
and upon as many as heard these things. 

12. And by the hands of the apostles were many 
signs and wonders wrought among the people 
(and they were all with one accord in Solomon's 
porch. 

13. And of the rest durst no man join himself 
to them ; but the people magnified them. 

14. And believers were the more added to the 
Lord, multitudes both of men and women) ; 

15. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick 
into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, 
that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by 
might overshadow some of them. 

16. There came also a multitude out of the cities 
round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, 
and them which were vexed with unclean spirits ; 
and they were healed every one. 



ble. But these guests had adopted a faith which doubtless 
alienated from many the friends who had entertained them. 
They had overstaid their time, and were without means. To 
meet this condition of things, those converts who had property 
volunteered to share it with the rest. The sin of Ananias 
and Sapphira lay in professing to make the same sacrifice, 
when they were using it as a veil for their covetousness. It 
was necessary to free the infant Church from all taint of 
worldliness, time-serving, or hypocrisy. Hence this terrible 
judgment. Ah! if the Searcher of hearts should now go 
through the Church with a like test, how many, it is feared, 
must fall under his righteous sentence ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Search us, God ! and know our hearts ; try us, 
and know our thoughts ; and see if there be any 
wicked way in us ; and lead us in the way ever- 
lasting. Have mercy upon us, Lord ! according 
to thy loving-kindness ; according to the multitude 
of thy tender mercies, blot out our transgressions. 
Wash us thoroughly from our iniquities, and cleanse 
us from our sin. For we acknowledge our trans- 
gressions, and our sin is ever before us. 

We thank thee that thou hast safely brought us 
to the beginning of this . day ; defend us in the 
same by thy mighty power : and grant that this 
day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind 
of danger, but that all our doings, being ordered 
by thy governance, may be righteous in thy sight. 

Fit us day by day for the duties that lie before 
us. We would put ourselves and all that concerns 
us into thy hands, and ask thee to be our Guide and 
Counsellor. In all our ways we desire to acknowl- 



Prayer. [Nos. 28, 89. 

edge thee ; and do thou direct our path. Keep us, 
we beseech thee, from all evil, that we, being ready 
both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish 
those things that thou wouldst have us to do. 

Fit us, Lord ! for all the events of this short 
and uncertain life. If prosperity be our portion, 
keep us humble and watchful in the midst of it ; 
or, if sorrows and trials come upon us, give us 
grace cheerfully to submit, saying, "Father, not 
my will, but thy will, be done." 

[Give unto the children of this family grace to 
serve thee in the morning of life. Oh ! keep them 
from temptation and evil, and from every false and 
hurtful way.] Be very gracious to our friends : 
grant to them health and prosperity in this life, 
and make them meet for the life everlasting. And, 
Lord ! bless and save the whole world. 

We ask these blessings in the name of Jesus 
Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



81 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Exodus xix. — 1. In the third month, when 
the children of Israel were gone forth out of the 
land of Egypt, the same day came they into the 
wilderness of Sinai. 

3. And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord 
called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus 
shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the 
children of Israel : 

4. Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, 
and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought 
you unto myself. 

5. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice in- 
deed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a 
peculiar treasure unto me above all people ; for all 
the earth is mine : 

6. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, 
and a holy nation. These are the words which 
thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 

7. And Moses came and called for the elders of 
the people, and laid before their faces all these 
words which the Lord commanded him. 

8. And all the people answered together, and said, 
All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Mo- 
ses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. 

9. And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto 
thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when 
I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. And 
Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord. 

10. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the 
people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, 
and let them wash their clothes, 



11. And be ready against the third day ; for the 
third day the Lord will come down in the sight of 
all the people upon Mount Sinai. 

12. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people 
round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves that 
ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border 
of it : whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely 
put to death. 

13. There shall not a hand touch it but he 
shall surely be stoned or shot through ; whether 
it be beast or man, it shall not live : when the 
trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the 
mount. 

16. And it came to pass on the third day, in the 
morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, 
and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice 
of the trumpet exceeding loud ; so that all the 
people that was in the camp trembled. 

17. And Moses brought forth the people out of 
the camp to meet with God ; and they stood at the 
nether part of the mount. 

18. And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, 
because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and 
the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a fur- 
nace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 

19. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded 
long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, 
and God answered him by a voice. 

20. And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, 
on the top of the mount ; and the Lord called Moses 
up to the top of the mount, and Moses went up. 



There is a peak of Horeb known as lias Sufsafeh, which 
answers remarkably to the conditions of this narrative. In 
front of it is the broad plain of Er Rahah, which, with the ad- 
jacent wadies, would afford room for a vast encampment. The 
mountain, from base to summit, is in full view from every 
part of the plain ; and it rises so sheer, that it " might be 
touched " by one standing below. Here, in all probability, 
was made that display of majesty and might, the very thought 



of which fills one with awe as to-day he stands before the 
bare and silent precipice. Such warning, such reserve, such 
sanctity, such dread, were needed to impress a rude people 
with the power and the holiness of their God. But through 
all the grandeur and terror of this manifestation his gentle- 
ness appears, infolding, protecting, uplifting his people as 
with eagles' wings. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 155, 170, 176. 



Almighty God, who in times past didst speak 
unto the fathers by the prophets, we bless thee 
that in these latter days thou hast spoken unto us 
by thy Son ; that the glory which the patriarchs 
beheld afar off, and the promise which the prophets 
waited for, have been revealed in Christ ; and, above 
all, that we have in him the forgiveness of sins 
and the life everlasting. Grant us grace, we be- 
seech thee, ever to walk in thy light and to keep 
thy testimonies. May thy gospel this clay min- 
ister to our peace and comfort, our faith and hope, 
our instruction in righteousness, our sanctification 
through obedience of the truth ! May it quicken 
souls that are dead in trespasses and sins, and 
comfort and edify thy saints ! May children hear 
the voice of Jesus their Saviour, and come unto 



him ! While in thy house, may we have the 
spirit of prayer and praise, and give earnest heed 
to the things that we shall hear ! thou God of 
peace, who didst bring again the Lord Jesus from 
the dead ! grant us peace, we pray thee, through 
pardon in his blood and the hope of his resur- 
rection. May none of us neglect his great salva- 
tion ! 

We give thee thanks, Lord our preserver ! for 
rest and refreshment in the night : grant us, this 
day, rest from the toils and cares of life, — rest in 
thee. Fulfil unto this household, and to all believ- 
ing households, the mercies of thy covenant, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with thee, 
Father ! and the Eternal Spirit, be glory ever- 
lasting. Amen. 



82 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



John vii. — 14. Now, about the midst of the 
feast, Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 

15. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How know- 
eth this man letters, having never learned ? 

16. Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine 
is not mine, but his that sent me. 

17. If any man will do his will, he shall know 
of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether 
I speak of myself. 

18. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his 
own glory ; but he that seeketh his glory that sent 
him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in 
him. 

19. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet 
none of you keepeth the law ? Why go ye about 
to kill me ? 

20. The peojale answered and said, Thou hast a 
devil : who goeth about to kill thee ? 

21. Jesus answered and said unto them, I have 
done one work, and ye all marvel. 

22. Moses, therefore, gave unto you circum- 
cision (not because it is of Moses, but of the 
fathers) ; and ye on the sabbath-day circumcise 
a man. 

23. If a man on the sabbath-day receive circum- 



cision that the law of Moses should not be broken, 
are ye angry at me because I have made a man 
every whit whole on the sabbath-day ? 

24. Judge not according to the appearance, but 
judge righteous judgment. 

25. Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is 
not this he whom they seek to kill ? 

26. But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say 
nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed 
that this is the very Christ ? 

27. Howbeit, we know this man, whence he is ; 
j but, when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence 

he is. 

28. Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, 
saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I 
am; and I am not come of myself, but he that 
sent me is true, whom ye know not. 

29. But I know him ; for I am from him, and 
he hath sent me. 

30. Then they sought to take him ; but no man 
laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet 
come. 

31. And many of the people believed on him, 
and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more 
miracles than these which this man hath done ? 



Jesus had not been trained in the schools of the Rabbis; 
and beyond the fact that he could read and write, as every 
Jewish child was taught to do, there is no intimation of his 
having studied any branch of secular knowledge . his wisdom 
proceeded from his own higher life, which was " the light of 
men." Such teaching could not be tested by the teaching of 
the scribes, which dwelt upon the letter of the law, to the neg- 
lect of the spirit : its meaning must be felt in order to be appre- 
ciated ; and it could be felt only through the medium of a hum- 
ble teachable spirit, intent upon doing the will of God. This 
brings the blessed fulness of the gospel within the reach of 
all. However deficient in general knowledge and in the 
wisdom of this world, yet, by a docile obedient faith, we 



may know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, which is life 
eternal. 

A child leams by obedience; by trusting the word of 
parents and teachers in things which it cannot yet under- 
stand. But much more are spiritual truths to be apprehended 
by faith. Such truths cannot be weighed and measured like 
the facts of physical science: they are spiritually discerned. 
Faith is the eye of the spirit. When we take down the bars 
of prejudice, of unbelief, the light which God has prepared 
for this most delicate and receptive spiritual eye will shine in 
and irradiate the mind. Jesus identified himself with God 
in the truth he uttered and in the works he wrought. To 
believe Christ is to know God. 



Appropriate Hymns,) Prayer 

Lord ! we draw nigh unto thy throne of grace, of the wicked to an end, 



(Nos. 23, 33, 42. 



adoring thee as God over all, blessed for evermore. 
May we this night enter the inner chamber of 
thy presence ! Draw near to us as we draw near 
to thee. We bless thee that thou hast spared us 
during this day, and hast given us the privileges 
of the sabbath and the sanctuary. We thank 
thee for the Bible, the Sunday school, the Church, 
and all the means of grace ; and pray that by these 
helps, this day enjoyed, we may be made more meet 
for heaven. We thank thee, Lord ! for that home 
made ready for us, and endeared to us by the 
thought of many who have gone before us. May 
we follow their faith, and enter their rest ! 

While we pray for ourselves, we would remem- 
ber before thee all whom we ought to bear on our 
hearts at the throne of grace. Prosper thy cause 



Bless the young: may 
they spring up as willows by the water-courses, — 
trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord! 
Bless the aged: may they be gathered to the 
garner of the Great Husbandman as the shock 
of corn in its season, full of years, and ripe for 
glory ! 

Bless us as a family [parent and child]. Let 
us all own one common Master, one Father in 
heaven. Whether we wake or sleep, may we live 
together with thee ! There is no darkness to us if 
thou art with us. Defend us during the uncon- 
scious hours of slumber, that we may rise to a 
new day fitted for duty, happy in the assured con- 
tinuance of thy favor and love. And all we ask is 
for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Ke- 
deemer : in whose blessed name we ask and offer 



and kingdom in the world. Bring the wickedness , all. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



MONDAY. 



Psalm i. — 1. Blessed is the man that walketh | 
not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth 
in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of 
the scornful. 

2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and 
in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the 
rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his 
season ; his leaf also shall not wither ; and what- 
soever he doeth shall prosper. 

4. The ungodly are not so, but are like the 
chaff which the wind driveth away. 

5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the 
judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the 
righteous. 

6. For the Lord knoweth the way of the right- 
eous ; but the way of the ungodly shall perish. 

Jeremiah xvii. — 5. Thus saith the Lord : 
Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and 
maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth 
from the Lord. 



The contrast here so forcibly put, between the righteous 
and the ungodly, does not always appear in their outward 
temporal condition ; but it is to be found in their internal 
sources of happiness. It becomes more and more marked 
in the development of character as life goes on, and is 
often strikingly manifested in the close of life. There is a 
gradation in the terms of the first verse, such as often, in fact, 
marks the career of those who make companions of the 
wicked. He who begins with looking for pleasure to the ex- 
ample and counsel of men who disregard God, and adopting 
their suggestions, will presently be found standing in the way 
of sinners, frequenting their haunts, and lingering in their 
society, and by and by will deliberately sit among those who 
make a mock of serious things. 

Many a young man, who begins, by yielding to the solici- 
tations of irreligious companions, to throw off the outward 



6. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, 
and shall not see when good cometh, but shall 
inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a 
salt land and not inhabited. 

7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, 
and whose hope the Lord is. 

8. For 'he shall be as a tree planted by the 
waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the 
river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her 
leaf shall be green ; and shall not be careful in the 
year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding 
fruit. 

9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and 
desperately wicked : who can know it ? 

10. I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, 
even to give every man according to his ways, and 
according to the fruit of his doings. 

11. As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatch- 
eth them not ; so he that getteth riches, and not 
by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, 
and at his end shall be a fool. 



restraints of religion, ends in habits of profaneness and vice 
that shock the very decencies of life ; but, in the midst of his 
reckless career, he may be driven away like chaff to receive 
the judgment of his deeds. 

The best safeguard against a life so foolish, wasteful, and 
ruinous, is to make the word of God the counsellor, the com- 
panion, the delight, of the soul. He who does this shall be 
like the fruit-trees planted along the rivulets that flow 
through the gardens of Damascus, — always fresh and flourish- 
ing, and, in the season, yielding ripe and wholesome fruit. At 
peace with conscience, satisfied in his own soul, and approved 
of God, such a man is forever blessed. The roots of his life 
are nourished by the unfailing source of all life ; and so the 
vigor and beauty of his piety are perennial. No outward 
changes can affect him whose life is planted in the life of 
God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 52, 162, 165. 



We adore thee, Lord our God ! that thou hast 
not only revealed to us a heaven to come, but 
hast assured us that there are yet good things in 
store for this earth which we inhabit, and which 
has so long groaned under the curse of sin. We 
pray that thou wilt shorten these days of igno- 
rance, wickedness, and folly, and hasten the reign 
of the Lord Jesus. Help us, Lord our God! 
that we may not merely pray, but may also labor 
to the utmost to spread thy gospel and extend 
thy dominion. 

Oh ! fill us with the love of Him who went about 
doing good. May we glorify thee by bringing forth 
much fruit ! Thou hast commanded and encour- 
aged us, O Lord ! to make prayers and intercessions 
for all men. We commend to thee the members 
of this family, present or absent. May all be par- 
takers of thy grace ! Help us rightly to fulfil the 
duties of our several stations, always so exercising 



ourselves as to have a conscience void of offence 
towards God and towards men. 

[Bless the children. Cause them to remember 
thee, their Creator, in the days of their youth. 
Sanctify them by thy grace. Guide them by thy 
Spirit, and enable them in all things to prove 
themselves thy faithful and obedient children. 
Preserve them in health and strength, if it seem 
good in thy sight ; but oh ! above all, save them 
with an everlasting salvation.] 

We commend ourselves to thy merciful protection 
and kindness throughout this day. Preserve us 
from all evil ; and, in all our thoughts and words 
and actions, may we remember that thou, God, 
seest us ! 

. And unto Him who hath been with us all our life 
long — our Creator, our Preserver, our Benefactor, 
and our Redeemer, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — 
be glory both now and forever. Amen. 



84 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Psalm cxix. — 40. Behold, I have longed after 
thy precepts : quicken me in thy righteousness. 

41. Let thy mercies come also unto me, Lord ! 
even thy salvation, according to thy word. 

42. So shall I have wherewith to answer him 
that reproacheth me ; for I trust in thy word. 

43. And take not the word of truth utterly out 
of my mouth ; for I have hoped in thy judgments. 

44. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever 
and ever. 

45. And I will walk at liberty ; for I seek thy 
precepts. 

Romans vii. — 9. I was alive without the law 
once ; but, when the commandment came, sin re- 
vived, and I died. 

10. And the commandment which was ordained 
to life I found to be unto death. 

11. For sin, taking occasion by the command- 
ment, deceived me, and by it slew vie. 

12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the com- 
mandment holy and just and good. 

13. Was, then, that which is good made death 
unto me ? God forbid ! But sin, that it might ap- 
pear sin, working death in me by that which is 
good ; that sin by the commandment might become 
exceeding sinful. 

14. For we know that the law is spiritual ; but I 
am carnal, sold under sin. 



15. For that which I do I allow not : for what 
I would, that do I not ; but what I hate, that do I. 

16. If, then, I do that which I would not, I con- 
sent unto the law that it is good. 

17. Now, then, it is no more I that do it, but sin 
that dwelleth in me. 

18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) 
dwelleth no good thing : for to will is present with 
me ; but how to perform that which is good, I find 
not. 

19. For the good that I would I do not ; but the 
evil which I would not, that I do. 

20. Now, if I do that I would not, it is no more 
I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

21. I find, then, a law, that, when I would do 
good, evil is present with me. 

22. For I delight in the law of God, after the 
inward man ; 

23. But I see another law in my members war- 
ring against the law of my mind, and bringing me 
into captivity to the law of sin which is in my 
members. 

24. wretched man that I am ! who shall de- 
liver me from the body of this death ? 

25. I thank God, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. So, then, with the mind I myself serve 
the law of God ; but with the flesh, the law of 
sin. 



This inward conflict between good and evil, of right con- 
victions with unholy desires, of good purposes with evil solici- 
tations, of the inner law of conscience with the power of habit 
in the senses, is a universal experience of human nature. 
Pagan moralists have depicted it in language scarcely less 
vivid and earnest than this. David, in the Psalms, bewails it 
as pathetically as docs Paul in this touching lament. In 
Paul's philosophy, which he expresses more fully in other 
epistles, man consists of body, soul, and spirit : the body, with 
its animal appetites and desires ; the spirit, with its conscience, 
and its capacity for communion with God ; and the soul, which, 
by its various susceptibilities, links these two together. The 



spirit, in its normal state, has an affinity for God, and both 
reason and conscience would delight in his law. But the 
desires of the flesh have led away the soul, and the whole 
sentient nature is committed to sinful gratification. "While 
the illusion lasts, sin seems to give only pleasure ; and, while 
the law is kept out of sight, this kind of indulgence seems 
like enjoying life. But there comes a re-action : the law of 
God, in conscience and in his Word, asserts itself; the higher 
nature struggles to be free only to find itself chained to sin as 
to a body of death. Alas, poor wretched soul ! there is no 
deliverance, no hope, in thyself: only in Christ is there free- 
dom and peace. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 26, 58. 



Thou who wast tempted in all points like as we 
are, yet without sin, and who for our sakes didst 
endure such contradiction of sinners against thy- 
self! keep us, we pray thee, both outwardly in our 
bodies, and inwardly in our souls, that we may be 
defended from all adversities which may happen to 
the body, and from all evil thoughts which may as- 
sault and hurt the soul. Help us, Lord ! in our 
inward conflicts with doubts and fears and sins; 
help us in our conflicts with the temptations and 
evils of the world ; and, oh ! help us in our wrest- 
lings with unseen powers of evil, with the great 
Adversary of our souls. Lord ! increase our 
faith. Our hope is in thee ; our strength is from 
thee alone : dwell in us by thy grace ; fill us with 
thy Spirit. This very day may we gain new victo- 



ries over evil ! May we resist temptations in busi- 
ness to swerve from the truth, to take advantage 
of others, to act dishonorably, to be covetous and 
unjust ! May we resist temptations in society to 
envy and evil-speaking, to worldliness and frivol- 
ity ! May we in all things do that which is right in 
the sight of God ! [May these children grow up, 
dear Saviour, in thy strength and love, safe from 
the power of evil !] 

We thank thee for another night of rest, another 
day of mercy and of hope. Bless all dear to us ; 
our friends and neighbors. Succor, Lord ! the 
poor and needy, the sick, the tempted, the dying. 
O Lord Jesus ! be with us in our last conflict, and 



make us more than conquerors over 
to thy name be glory forever. Amen, 



death : and 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



85 



WEDNESDAY. 



Romans viii. — 1. There is, therefore, now no 
condemnation to them which are in Christ 
Jesus, who walk, not alter the flesh, but after the 
Spirit. 

2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ 
Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and 
death. 

3. For what the law could not do, in that it was 
weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son 
in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, con- 
demned sin in the flesh; 

4. That the righteousness of the law might be 
fulfilled in us, who walk, not after the flesh, but 
after the Spirit. 

5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the 
things of the flesh ; but they that are after the 
Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 

6. For to be carnally-minded is death ; but to be 
spiritually-minded is life and peace. 

7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against 



God ; for it is not subject to the law of God, nei- 
ther indeed can be. 

8. So, then, they that are in the flesh cannot 
please God. 

9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, 
if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, 
if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is 
none of his. 

10. And, if Christ be in you, the body is dead 
because of sin ; but the Spirit is life because of 
righteousness. 

11. But, if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus 
from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up 
Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mor- 
tal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 

12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to 
the flesh, to live after the flesh. 

13. For, if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die ; 
but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds 
of the body, ye shall live. 



The preceding chapter left man in a state of utter wretch- 
edness and hopelessness, straggling between two laws, — the 
law of reason and conscience, the inner voice of the spirit, 
dictating obedience to God ; but the desires of the flesh, and 
the habit of sinful indulgence, working as " a law in the mem- 
bers," and dragging him on to do that which he would not. 
To the soul thus struggling, almost despairing, Christ comes 
with succor, deliverance, and peace. By his life of holy obe- 
dience in human flesh, he condemned and conquered sin, and 
proved the possibility of obedience to the righteous law. 
Therefore he is able to take our sins upon himself, and to 
free from condemnation the soul that accepts Ms mediation 
and humbly trusts his grace. 

But this freedom comes through obedience to yet another 



law ; for while we are saved by believing, yet believing is 
obeying. We accept Christ by renouncing sin, by subjecting 
our will to his will, by walking in his steps. The carnal 
mind, or, more exactly, camal-mindedness, — a state of mind 
in which the affections and aims are fixed upon the things of 
this world as the chief good, — such love of the world is in 
opposition to the will of God, and can never be reconciled to 
the law of God. 

But, when the Spirit of divine life and love enters into 
the soul, he incites it to a loving, holy obedience to God ; 
and the evidence that we are in Christ, and freed from 
condemnation, is that we no longer follow mere natural 
appetites as our law, but seek to know and to do the things 
of God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 
When there was no eye to pity, and no arm to save, 
thou, Lord, didst not spare thine own Son, but 
didst deliver him up for us all. We draw nigh 
to thee with humble faith, and cast ourselves upon 
thee for salvation. We have sinned ; and what can 
we do unto thee, thou Preserver of men ? We 
can make no atonement for the past ; nor can we 
offer thee any excuse. 

But, gracious God, though we are thus helpless 
and hopeless in ourselves, we cannot despair when 
we look up unto thee. Thanks to thy name for 
having sent thy Son as our Saviour and Example. 
We rejoice that he died in our stead ; and we glori- 
fy thee that he lived to teach us how to live. Oh ! 
deliver us from condemnation, and from the fear of 
evil. 

We pray to be filled with Christ, and clothed 
with Christ. May we dwell in him, and may he 
dwell in us ! Seal us for thine own by thy Holy 
Spirit, that we may pray and live and walk in the 
Spirit, and be freed from the law of sin and death. 

[0 Lord ! we bring to thee the children of this 



Pra} T er. pfos. 25, 62, 124. 

household in earnest, believing prayer, that thou 
wouldst early rescue them from the power of evil, 
and so draw their thoughts and affections unto 
thyself, that they shall grow up in thy Spirit, and 
ever delight in thy will. Consecrated to thee, 
oh ! may they never become the children of this 
world, the children of the Wicked One !] 

We bless thee for thy mercy during the silence 
of the last night. We were not alarmed nor dis- 
turbed, because thy hand preserved us in safety 
and in peace. We give thee thanks for the light 
of this new day, and for remembering us with 
necessary food and raiment. May we use thy gifts 
as not abusing them, and see in them all our 
Father's hand ! Graciously bless us this day in 
our basket and store, in our domestic circle, in our 
going-out and coming-in, in our worldly business 
and transactions, and in our bodies and souls ; and 
for the sake of Him who was delivered for our of- 
fences, and raised again for our justification, and 
who is now at thy right hand making intercession 
for us, we pray for all these blessings and favors. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Romans viii. — 14. For as many as are led by 
the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 

15. For ye have not received the spirit of bond- 
age again to fear ; but ye have received the Spirit 
of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 

16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our 
spirit that we are the children of God : 

17. And if children, then heirs ; heirs of God, 
and joint-heirs with Christ ; if so be that we suf- 
fer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 

18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this 
present time are not worthy to be compared with 
the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

19. For the earnest expectation of the creature 
waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 

20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, 
not willingly, but by reason of him who hath sub- 
jected the same in hope ; 

21. Because the creature itself also shall be de- 
livered from the bondage of corruption, into the 
glorious liberty of the children of God. 



22. For we know that the whole creation 
groaneth, and travaileth in pain together until 
now ; 

23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which 
have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we our- 
selves groan within ourselves, waiting for the 
adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 

24. For we are saved by hope. But hope that 
is seen is not hope ; for what a man seeth, why 
doth he yet hope for ? 

25. But if we hope for that we see not, then 
do we with patience wait for it. 

26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infir- 
mities ; for we know not what we should pray for 
as we ought ; but the Spirit itself maketh inter- 
cession for us with groanings which cannot be 
uttered. 

27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth 
what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh 
intercession for the saints according to the will of 
God. 



Man lost by sin that conscious intercourse with the Father 
of spirits which was at first his privilege as a son of God. 
By subjecting his spirit to the rule of his lower appetites, he 
was thrown out of communion with his Maker. But he who 
believes on Christ, and turns to God in faith, receives the 
Spirit of God to restore within him this sense of the divine 
fellowship, by quickening his own spiritual life, his longings 
after God, and guiding both feeling and utterance in prayer. 
To such a soul there comes the consciousness of sonship. 
Discerning the compassion of God in the forgiveness of sin, 
feeling the " drawing " of the divine love, he cries, " My Fa- 
ther ! " and, in whatever language that cry is uttered, — the 
Abba of the ancient Hebrew, the Pater of the Greek and Ro- 
man, the Father of our English tongue, — the same Spirit 
bears witness to the believing supplicating soul that he is a 
child of God. 



This sonship, now revealed in the consciousness of all 
believers, shall hereafter be made manifest in their glorifica- 
tion at the coming of Christ. Then shall creation itself be 
delivered from the curse of sin , and in the new heavens and 
the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, shall be dis- 
played the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

The Bible represents the lower creation as in sympathetic 
woe with the fall of man. And certainly the brute creation 
suffers much through human wickedness : Nature is abused 
through the follies and vices of men ; and her development 
has been retarded through man's loss of that spiritual power 
wherewith he was originally invested for dominion over mat- 
ter. Man's final redemption — a purified spirit in a spiritual 
body — will restore the harmony of the whole creation which has 
been so disturbed and broken by his transgression. What a 
world of joy and beauty might even this be made by a holy race ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 20, 41, 105. 



Gracious God and Father in Christ Jesus, we 
lift up our hearts to thee this morning in the love 
and confidence of children. We acknowledge thy 
mercy, which hath surrounded our persons and our 
habitation through the night, and hath made the 
incoming of the morning to rejoice over us. As 
a family, we bring to thee our morning sacrifice of 
prayer and praise. Oh ! fill our home with thy 
peace ; fill our hearts with thy love. May we re- 
ceive thy gifts with humility, and use them as 
stewards who must give account to their Lord ! 

Especially do we bless thee for the revelation of 
thy redeeming love through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
We praise thee that he loved the Church, and gave 
himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse 
it with the washing of water by the Word ; that he 
might present it to himself a glorious Church, not 
having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but 
that it should be holy and without blemish. May 
it be the wish of our souls and the effort of our 



lives to be holy, and to be conformed to his divine 
will in all things ! 

We pray that He who has so freely loved us, 
and who has done so much for us, would make us 
still his peculiar care, keeping us from all evil in 
this present evil world, and finally taking us to 
himself. 

We adore thee, our blessed Redeemer ! for the 
great work thou didst on the earth. Hasten the 
day when those who have not heard thy name nor 
seen thy glory shall know the truth and be made 
free, and shall glory in the Lord. Soon may all 
nations hear of Him in whom are hid all the treas- 
ures of wisdom and knowledge. Then shalt thou, 
O Lord ! see of the travail of thy soul, and be 
satisfied. Then shall the earth yield her increase ; 
and God, even our own God, shall bless us : God 
shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall 
fear him. Hear these our unworthy petitions, gra- 
cious Father, in the name of our Redeemer. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



87 



FRIDAY. 



Romans viii. — 28. We know that all things 
work together for good to them that love God ; to 
them who are the called according to his purpose. 

29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did pre- 
destinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, 
that he might be the first-born among many breth- 
ren. 

30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them 
he also called ; and whom he called, them he also 
justified ; and whom he justified, them he also 
glorified. 

31. What shall we then say to these things ? If 
God be for us, who can be against us ? 

32. He that spared not his own Son, but deliv- 
ered him up for us all, how shall he not with him 
also freely give us all things? 

33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of 
God's elect ? It is God that justifieth. 



34. Who is he that condemneth ? It is Christ 
that died, yea, rather, that is risen again ; who is 
even at the right hand of God ; who also maketh 
intercession for us. 

35. Who shall separate us from the love of 
Christ ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecu- 
tion, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? 

36. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed 
all the day long ; we are accounted as sheep for 
the slaughter. 

37. Nay, in all these things we are more than 
conquerors through him that loved us. 

38. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor 
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor 
things present, nor things to come, 

39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other crea- 
ture, shall be able to separate us from the love of 
God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 



Oar salvation in Christ is a divine plan founded in divine 
love. Did it depend upon our goodness, our resolution, our 
faith, we should certainly fail through the weakness of the 
flesh, the temptations of the world, the trials of life. But the 
love of God, which led him to give his own Son to die for us, 
will not be baffled in our recovery to holiness and heaven, 
either by our weakness or by the combinations of evil against 
us. That love is committed to our salvation. 

When God sent his Son for our redemption, he foresaw all 
the hinderances to our recovery in ourselves and in the world, 
and planned to overcome these, and to carry through our 
salvation to the end. Christ bore every trial that meets us ; 
conquered every enemy that assails us : and in his arms we 
are safe ; we are strong. His love has undertaken to bear us 
through ; and nothing outside of ourselves can wrest or divide 
us from that love. This is our encouragement to faith and 
hope, to courage and patience, in conflicts and trials ; and, 
when we have fallen into sin, this, too, is our encouragement 
to return with penitential trust to the unfaltering love of 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Christ. Notliing can truly harm us if we cling to that love. 
He who controls all events will order incidents the most ad- 
verse in their seeming to work out some real good, either in 
our circumstances, our feelings, or our Christian character 
and life ; and, in the end, we shall find that He who bore the 
cross for us will conduct us through all crosses and trials 
here, to be glorified hereafter with himself. 

The children of God should live not merely in the hope of 
a final salvation, but in the present comfort of a salvation ac- 
complished and made sure. All things are even now working 
together for their good. Events taken singly may seem un- 
toward ; but the overruling providence of God can combine 
these hostile agencies for the service of his people. Thus, in 
the case of Joseph, the jealousy of his brethren, their selling 
him into slavery, his imprisonment in Egypt, the neglect of 
the butler, each in turn seemed a hopeless evil ; yet all these 
things worked together for good to him and to the house of 
Israel. "All things are yours; and ye are Christ's, and 
Christ is God's." 



Prayer 

Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto 
Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb 
for ever and ever ! God our Father ! how shall 
we praise thee for thy love in Jesus Christ thy 
Son ? Oh love eternal, infinite, past finding out ! 
Lord ! fill our souls with thankfulness to thee, 
that thy love may constrain us evermore. May we 
walk as thy redeemed ones ! May we follow the 
guidance of thy blessed Spirit ! Whether we eat 
or drink, or whatever we do, may we do all to thy 
glory ! 

Thou God of love, teach us by thy Spirit of 
love, hear us through the Son of thy love, while 
we make our intercessions for all men. 

For all in authority in our land ; for thy Church 
and her ministers, — we pray thee, good Lord. 

For all whom we love, and all who love us ; for 
our dear relations now absent from us ; for all con- 
nected with us in business or in society, — ive pray 
thee, good Lord. 

For all who have wronged or slighted us ; for all 



[Nos. 4, 142, 168. 

whom we have wronged or slighted ; for all who 
hate us without a cause, and all of whom we are 
disposed to think or speak uncharitably, — we 
pray thee, good Lord. 

For all who are infirm or sick or dying ; for all 
who have lost dear friends ; for all aged persons, 
and all little children, — we pray thee, good Lord. 

For all who are under sore temptation ; for all 
who are doubting in faith, or distressed in con- 
science ; for all who are under dejection, and 
hiding of thy countenance, — we pray thee, good 
Lord. 

We thank thee, as a family, for thy constant 
goodness to us ; for all the way in which thou hast 
led us ; for the home which thou hast given us ; 
for our means of support and of enjoyment ; for 
the loves and hopes that brighten our way, and for 
all the dealings of thy providence with us. 
Lord ! unite us all in the faith and hope of the gos- 
pel, and in the family of thy redeemed, through 
Jesus Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



John V. — 1. After this there was a feast of the 
Jews ; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 

2. Now, there is at Jerusalem, by the sheep-wior- 
ket, a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue 
Bethesda, having five porches. 

3. In these lay a great multitude of impotent 
folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the mov- 
ing of the water. 

4. For an angel went down at a certain season 
into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever 
then first, after the troubling of the water, stepped 
in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 

5. And a certain man was there which had an 
infirmity thirty and eight years. 

6. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he 
had been now a long time in that case, he saith 
unto him, Wilt thou be made whole ? 

7. The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have 
no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into 
the pool ; but, while I am coming, another steppeth 
down before me. 



8. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, 
and walk. 

9 And immediately the man was made whole, 
and took up his bed, and walked ; and on the same 
day was the sabbath. 

10. The Jews therefore said unto him that was 
cured, It is the sabbath-day : it is not lawful for 
thee to carry thy bed. 

11. He answered them, He that made me whole, 
the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. 

12. Then asked they him, What man is that 
which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and 
walk ? 

13. And he that was healed wist not who it was; 
for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude 
being in that place. 

14. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, 
and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole : 
sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. 

15. The man departed, and told the Jews that it 
was Jesus which had made him whole. 



The Pool of Bethesda is pretty well identified with the 
" Fountain of the Virgin," in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, a 
little south-east of the city. This fountain probably receives 
the overflow of the reservoir under the grand mosque which 
lies above it. It is connected with the Pool of Siloam, about 
four hundred paces below it ; and has the qualities of an inter- 
mittent spring. This gave rise to the popular notion, which 
is quoted, without being sanctioned, in verse 4. Porticos were 
built around the pool to shelter the sick. Jesus selected this 
paralytic because of the long continuance of his infirmity, its 
incurable nature, and the helplessness of his condition. It was 
a case for his compassion and his power, which he always 
rejoiced to blend in his miracles. At his word, the poor cripple 
felt life returning to the limbs that had long refused to do 
their office; the nerves of motion resumed their power: he rose, 
stood ou his feet, and walked, carrying the quilt used as a bed. 



Jesus, shunning notoriety, and wishing to bring men to him- 
self through their moral convictions, avoided the crowd which 
he knew the rumor of the miracle would bring together; but, 
meeting the man again, he revealed his omniscience by show- 
ing that he knew the sinful abuse which had brought his infir- 
mity upon him, and then aroused his conscience by a warning 
against further sin. God's judgments follow our transgres- 
sions even here ; and vain would be the healing of the body 
if the soul should still harbor the curse of sin. By sin we 
have made ourselves wretched and helpless ; but Jesus comes 
to heal us by his word in the fountain which he has opened 
for the sin of the world. Let us rise in his strength, and bless 
his name. We need not wait for help from man or angel. 
None could help us here. Christ has come ; the healing 
fountain is at our side ; his grace is all-sufficient : he bids us 
look to him, trust in him, follow him, and be saved. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 3, 100, 119. 



Eternal God, by whose power we were made, by 
whose goodness we have been preserved, let our 
cry come up unto thee with acceptance, for our Re- 
deemer's sake. 

God ! preserve us graciously through the day 
which has now begun. Make us obedient to thy 
holy will. Fit us for the discharge of our various 
duties. Whatsoever our hands find to do that is 
according to thy will, may we do it with all our 
might ! 

thou Lamb of God that takest away the sin 
of the world ! take away our sins. Be thou our 
shield and hiding-place. Draw us, thou Good 
Shepherd ! to thyself; keep us near thee ; suffer us 
not to wander ; feed us in the green pastures of thy 
Word. Let thy rod and thy staff guide, comfort, 
and support us. Make us to feel continually that 
we are thine, — bought with the price of thine own 
most precious blood. Help us to glorify thee in 
our bodies and in our spirits, which are thine. 



Grant that thy blessed book may be a lamp to 
our feet, and a light unto our path. May its coun- 
sels guide us, and its precious promises cheer and 
comfort us at all times ! Lord ! our eyes are upon 
thee, and our expectations from thee. From thee 
cometh every good and perfect gift. Give us, we 
beseech thee, wisdom and strength; give us joy 
and peace and comfort ; give us a hope that mak- 
eth not ashamed. Thou who hast not spared thine 
own Son, but hast delivered him up for us all, give 
us for his sake all things that are good and needful 
for us both for time and for eternity. 

We thank thee for daily strength and nightly 
rest ; for powers of mind and body ; for peace and 
quietness ; for the many gifts which thou daily 
bestowest upon us. Lord ! make us increasingly 
thankful for all thy loving-kindness ; and do thou 
accept our prayers and praises for the sake of Him 
who died, and rose again, and who liveth evermore. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



John v. — 16. And therefore did the Jews per- 
secute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he 
had done these things on the sabbath-day. 

17. But Jesus answered them, My Father work- 
eth hitherto, and I work. 

18. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill 
him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, 
but said also that God was his Father, making 
himself equal with God. 

19. Then answered Jesus, and said unto them, 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do 
nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father 
do ; for what things soever he doeth, these also 
doeth the Son likewise. 

20. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth 
him all things that himself doeth ; and he will show 
him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 

21. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and 
quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth 
whom he will. 

22. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath 
committed all judgment unto the Son ; 

23. That all men should honor the Son, even as 
they honor the Father. He that honoreth not 
the Son, honoreth not the Father which hath 
sent him. 



When Jesus spake of his Father, it was not in the sense in 
which we address God as our Father ; for, whereas we express 
hy this phrase a relation of dependence and the feeling of filial 
reverence, he associated himself with God upon terms of 
equality, and declared an absolute unity of the Father and 
the Son in thought, knowledge, purpose, will, honor, author- 
ity, power. The Jews understood him to make himself equal 
with God, and often charged him with blasphemy in such 
a claim. Yet Jesus never sought to free himself of such a 
charge by saying that they misunderstood him or perverted 
his meaning : on the contrary, he proved his oneness with the 
Father by citing his acts of divine supremacy. So complete 
is this oneness, that the Father and the Son could not possibly 
act in contrariety, nor would either act apart from the other. 

It was morally impossible that Jesus should do any thing 
of himself. By virtue of his oneness with the Father, he rep- 



24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hear- 
eth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, 
hath everlasting life, and shall not come into con- 
demnation, but is passed from death unto life. 

25. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is 
coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the 
voice of the Son of God ; and they that hear shall 
live. 

26. For as the Father hath life in himself, so 
hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 

27. And hath given him authority to execute 
judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 

28. Marvel not at this : for the hour is coming, 
in the which all that are in the graves shall hear 
his voice, 

29. And shall come forth ; they that have done 
good, unto the resurrection of life ; and they that 
have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

Daniel xii. — 2. And many of them that sleep 
in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to ever- 
lasting life, and some to shame and everlasting 
contempt. 

3. And they that be wise shall shine as the 
brightness of the firmament ; and they that turn 
many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and 
ever. 



resented to men the will of God, and wrought before them 
the works of God. He had power, at his own will, to raise the 
dead, — an act of absolute divinity. He was clothed with the 
prerogative of judgment, which requires both omniscience and 
omnipotence. He fixed the conditions of life and death for 
the whole race of man ; and in the last day he will summon 
the dead from their graves, and pronounce upon every one his 
appropriate sentence of life or condemnation. Even now this 
formal judgment is anticipated. He quickens our souls by 
his word ; and if we obey the voice of this almighty Saviour, 
believe on him, and live to do good, he will impart to us 
the warrant and the power of an endless life. All life is in 
him by reason of his essential unity with God ; all spir- 
itual life comes to us through his grace ; and the life ever- 
lasting is secured to us by the resurrection of Jesus from the 
dead. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 159, 177, 180. 



Almighty Father, who hast given thine only Son 
to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justifi- 
cation, grant, we humbly pray thee, that we may 
so truly partake of his death and resurrection as 
ourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. May this holy 
day witness to us the grace of Christ in our re- 
demption ! and may thy Holy Spirit witness and 
seal within us the pardon and peace which that 
redemption brings ! Grant us the comforts of thy 
gospel, Lord ! the joy of thy salvation ; the spirit 
of prayer and praise ; the communion of thy saints ; 
and, above all, communion with thyself. 

Bless thy Church, her worship and sacraments, 
her ministers and members : may the beauty of the 



Lord our God be upon her! Bless the Sunday 
school, and guide teachers and scholars in thy Word. 
Have compassion upon those who disregard thy day, 
and upon all who know thee not ; and incline thy 
people to seek and save the lost. Be with the mis- 
sionaries of the cross, according to thy promise, O 
Lord! and make known thy way among the hea- 
then. Hasten the coming of thy kingdom in uni- 
versal peace and knowledge and righteousness. 

We humbly thank thee for the mercies of an- 
other week, and the blessings of the past night. 
We commit to thy loving care this family, and all 
dear to us at home or abroad; and pray thee to 
bring us all together unto thy heavenly kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



— 1. 

me ! 



Lord, how 
many 



are they increased 
are they that rise up 



Psalm 

that trouble 
against me. 

2. Many there be which say of my soul, There 
is no help for him in God. 

3. But thou, Lord ! art a shield for me ; my 
glory, and the lifter-up of mine head. 

4. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he 
heard me out of his holy hill. 

5. I laid me down, and slept ; I awaked : for the 
Lord sustained me. 

6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people 
that have set themselves against me round about. 

7. Arise, Lord ! save me, my God ! for thou 
hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek- 
bone ; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 

8. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord : thy bless- 
ing is upon thy people. 

Psalm iv. — 1. Hear me when I call, God of 
my righteousness ! Thou hast enlarged me wfien I 
was in distress : have mercy upon me, and hear 
my prayer. 

2. ye sons of men ! how long will ye turn my 
glory into shame ? how long will ye love vanity, 
and seek after leasing ? 



It is the beauty of a true piety that it grows more calm 
and rich in faith and love toward God as troubles, sorrows, 
and perils are multiplied without. David's life was marked by 
dangers and conflicts before which a mere native heroism 
might have quailed ; but in presence of these he was serene 
and hopeful. When Absalom rebelled, and David fleeing from 
Jerusalem was mocked at by the people, and many rose up 
against him, he trusted in God as his shield, and slept calmly 
under his protection. When the Amalekites had burnt 
Ziklag, and carried off captive the women and children, 
David's band marching to the relief of the town were so bitter 
at their loss, that they turned against David, and would have 
stoned him to give vent to their rage. In this extremity, 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



3. But know that the Lord hath set apart him 
that is godly for himself : the Lord will hear when 
I call unto him. 

4. Stand in awe, and sin not ; commune with 
your own heart upon your bed, and be still. 

5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put 
your trust in the Lord. 

6. There be many that say, Who will show us 
any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy 
countenance upon us. 

7. Thou hast put gladness in my heart more 
than in the time that their corn and their wine 
increased. 

8. I will both lay me down in peace, and 
sleep ; for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in 
safety. 

Psalm cxxxi. — 1. Lord, my heart is not haugh- 
ty, nor mine eyes lofty ; neither do I exercise my- 
self in great matters, or in things too high for 
me. 

2. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself 
as a child that is weaned of his mother : my soul 
is even as a weaned child. 

3. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth 
and forever. 



beaten by his enemies, and set upon by his own people, 
"David encouraged himself in the Lord his God " (1 Sam. xxx. 
6). He took refuge in prayer; and, strong in the confidence 
of God's help, he rebuked his companions for their falseheart- 
edness toward himself, for their faint-heartedness toward God. 
At the very moment when they were murmuring against 
him, and clamoring, " Who will show us any good ? " he 
was silently communing with his own heart, and gathering 
strength and gladness from his trust in the Lord. In the 
most untoward circumstances, he could lie down in peace, and 
sleep, under the loving care of God. How sweet and blessed 
is that faith which can bring rest to the body through the 
peace and comfort of the soul ! 



Prayer 

Thou, Lord, only makest us to dwell in safety : 
therefore will we lie down in peace, and sleep. We 
commit ourselves to thy keeping ; for the darkness 
and the light are both alike to thee. O Thou who 
never slumberest nor sleepest ! keep us this night 
under the shadow of thy wings : grant us the sleep 
which thou givest to thy beloved ; or, if wakeful 
hours shall be allotted us, may we remember thee 
upon our bed, and meditate upon thee in the night- 
watches ! 

O Lord Jesus, who hast invited the weary and 
heavy-laden to come unto thee that thou mayest 
give them rest ! grant us, we pray thee, rest from 
all care and trouble, from all sin and sorrow; and 
prepare us by thy grace for that holy and blessed 
rest which remaineth for the people of God. 

We thank thee for this holy day, — its sacred 
memories, its blessed communion of prayer and 



[Nos. 33, 37, 71. 

praise, its comforting sacraments, its teachings, 
and promises, and its immortal hopes. 

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that the 
words which we have heard this day with our out- 
ward ears, may, through thy grace, be so grafted 
inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth 
in us the fruit of good living, to the honor and 
praise of thy name, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. 

And bless thy Word, also, to all who have heard 
it : to the young, for their guidance ; to the aged, 
for their comfort ; to all, for their instruction in 
righteousness. And, Lord ! send, we pray thee, 
thy Word to those who have it not. Let thy salva- 
tion be known in all the earth ; and hasten the 
coming of thy kingdom. And unto the King eter- 
nal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be 
honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



91 



MONDAY. 



John V. — 30. I can of mine own self do noth- 
ing : as I hear, I judge ; and my judgment is just; 
because I seek not mine own will, but the will of 
the Father which hath sent me. 

31. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is 
not true. 

32. There is another that beareth witness of me ; 
and I know that the witness which he witnesseth 
of me is true. 

33. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness 
unto the truth. 

34. But I receive not testimony from man ; but 
these things I say that ye might be saved. 

35. He was a burning and a shining light ; and 
ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 

36. But I have greater witness than that of 
John ; for the works which the Father hath given 
me to finish, the same works that I do, bear wit- 
ness of me that the Father hath sent me. 

37. And the Father himself, which hath sent 
me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have nei- 
ther heard his voice at any time, nor seen his 
sha 



Jesus could not conceive of himself as separate from the 
Father. When he declares that he can do nothing of himself, 
he is not speaking of the inability of a mere man to perform 
the mighty works of resurrection and judgment committed to 
his hands, but of the impossibility of the Son's separating 
himself from the Father, with whom he existed in an essen- 
tial unity of being, which, by the necessity of the case, ren- 
dered them one in thought, will, and act. The testimony of 
others that he was the Son of God, even that of so honored a 
prophet as John the Baptist, was nothing in comparison to 
the testimony of works which only the will of God, acting in 
and through him, could perform. 



38. And ye have not his word abiding in you ; 
for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 

39. Search the Scriptures ; for in them ye think 
ye have eternal life : and they are they which tes- 
tify of me. 

40. And ye will not come to me that ye might 
have life. 

41. I receive not honor from men. 

42. But I know you, that ye have not the love 
of God in you. 

43. I am come in my Father's name, and ye re- 
ceive me not : if another shall come in his own 
name, him ye will receive. 

44. How can ye believe, which receive honor one 
of another, and seek not the honor that cometh 
from God only ? 

45. Do not think that I will accuse you to the 
Father : there is one that accuseth you, even 
Moses, in whom ye trust. 

46. For, had ye believed Moses, ye would have 
believed me ; for he wrote of me. 

47. But, if ye believe not his writings, how shall 
ye believe my words ? 



Yet with this consciousness of divinity, and this preroga- 
tive of judgment, Jesus did not upon earth fulfil the office of 
Judge. He even submitted himself, his character, his works, 
his claims, to the judgment of men ; he honored the reason of 
his hearers by submitting to this the evidences of his mission; 
he honored their religious sentiment by referring to their own 
Scriptures for testimony concerning himself. But pride and 
ambition, leading them to look for the pomp and power of 
earthly royalty in their Messiah, closed their eyes to the evi- 
dences alike of the works and the word of God. The reception 
we give to Christ is the test, at once, of our sincerity in seek- 
ing the truth, and of our love to God the Father. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 135, 151, 188. 



O God, who hast spoken to us by thy Son, our 
Saviour Jesus Christ ! grant us, we pray thee, that 
faith in him which is eternal life. May we believe 
all that God the Lord hath spoken ! 

We thank thee for the many means which thou 
hast provided for our growth in grace and knowl- 
edge. Make thy holy Word to be our nourish- 
ment, our guide, and the great source of our 
comfort. May we by it be made wise unto salva- 
tion ! May it ever be as a lamp to our feet, 
and a light to our path ! Lord ! thou only 
teachest to profit : thou art the fountain of light 
and wisdom and truth. Do thou, we pray, by all 
the means of grace, lead us onward in the way to 
heaven. 

Pardon our many sins and short-comings. 
Cleanse thou us from secret faults. Keep us back 
from presumptuous sins. Help us, Lord ! to 
serve thee better, and to love thee more heartily. 
Sanctify us wholly, body, soul, and spirit. Let us 
not be conformed to this world, but transformed by 



the renewing of our minds. May thy Holy Spirit 
enlighten our understandings, and purify our hearts ! 
We bless thee that thou hast granted us peace- 
ful rest in the night-season. Now take our souls, 
holy Father ! into thy keeping. Whether we 
live, may we live unto thee ; and whether we die, 
may we die unto thee ; so that, living or dying, we 
may be evermore thine. We look to thee in trust 
for all things needful in this life. Continue thy 
favor to this family ; be very gracious to all our 
friends ; and show thy mercy and salvation unto 
all men. Follow with thy blessing the worship 
and teachings of thy Church upon thy holy day. 
May streams of life flow from thy sanctuary 
through all the week! Kevive thy people; and 
quicken unto a new life souls dead in trespasses 
and sins. Lord! hear these our prayers, and 
grant unto us an answer of peace ; for we come to 
thee trusting not in our own righteousness, but in 
the alone mediation of Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
Amen. 



92 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



was 



of 



Genesis xi. — 1. And the whole earth 
one language, and of one speech. 

2. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from 
the east, that they found a plain in the land of 
Shinar ; and they dwelt there. 

3. And they said one to another, Go to, let us 
make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And 
they had brick for stone, and slime had they for 
mortar. 

4. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city, 
and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven ; 
and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered 
abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 

5. And the Lord came down to see the city and 
the tower which the children of men builded. 

6. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, 
and they have all one language ; and this they be- 
gin to do : and now nothing will be restrained from 
them which they have imagined to do. 

7. Go to, let us go down, and there confound 
their language, that they may not understand one 
another's speech. 

8. So the Lord scattered them abroad from 
thence upon the face of all the earth ; and they 
left off to build the city. 



The building of Babel was an act of impiety ; an attempt, 
on the part of men with whom the flood was a yet recent 
tradition, to provide themselves a refuge and defence against 
further judgments of the Almighty, and especially to compact 
themselves together as a community, and to fortify their po- 
sition, so as to defy the physical agencies of divine retribution. 
They would fain set up an organic unity of their own in 
place of that spiritual unity which should bind all men to- 
gether as the children of God : they sought the consciousness 
of power by casting off their dependence upon their Maker. 

The land of Shinar answers, in the main, to the Babylonia 
and Chaldea of later times, — the vast fertile plain between the 
Euphrates and the Tigris. Several of the huge mounds still 
to be seen in that region have been taken for the remains of 
the Tower of Babel, and have in turn received its name in the 
local traditions ; and, though the exact site of Babel cannot 
be identified, these stupendous ruins serve to show upon what 



9. Therefore is the name of it called Babel, 
because the Lord did there confound the lan- 
guage of all the earth ; and from thence did the 
Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the 
earth. 

Daniel iv. — 30. The king spake, and said, Is 
not this great Babylon, that I have built for the 
house of the kingdom by the might of my power, 
and for the honor of my majesty? 

31. While the word was in the king's mouth, 
there fell a voice from heaven, saying, king 
Nebuchadnezzar ! to thee it is spoken : The king- 
dom is departed from thee ; 

32. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy 
dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field : they 
shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven 
times shall pass over thee, until thou know that 
the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and 
giveth it to whomsoever he will. 

33. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon 
Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from men, 
and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet 
with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown 
like eagles' feathers, and his nads like birds' 
claws. 



scale buildings were there projected, and this primitive tower 
may have been the pattern of the towers erected as temples of 
Belus. That of Bus Nimrud, for instance, was built in the 
form of an oblique pyramid, measuring two hundred and 
twenty-two feet square, and rising by receding platforms to 
the height of a hundred and fifty-six feet. Here was that 
great Babylon over which Nebudchadnezzar boasted himself, 
till, like the builders of the tower, he fell under the rebuke of 
the Almighty for his impious pride. The lines of race-mi- 
gration converge toward this middle plateau of Western Asia 
as the primitive home of man ; and the branches of language 
seem to have sprung from some common though yet undis- 
covered root in that same soil. Thus the traditions, the mon- 
uments, and the tongues of men all tend to confirm the Bible 
story. But that story, alas ! is the repetition of the sad tale 
of apostasy from God, marring the beauty and unity of the 
Creator's plan. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 88, 137. 



Lord our Creator, who hast made of one blood 
all nations of men ! we worship thee, the King of 
kings, and Lord of lords. Thou puttest down one, 
and settest up another ; and none can deliver out 
of thy hand. Thou hast set up thine own king- 
dom in this world, — a kingdom which shall never 
be moved. Oh ! make us willing subjects of thy 
kingdom. Lord, put thy good Spirit within us, 
that we may keep thy judgments and do them. 
We are not our own : we are bought with a 
price, — even the blood of thy dear Son. Oh ! let 
us not live to advance our own interests, or secure 
our own enjoyment, but to glorify him in our bodies 
and spirits, which are his. Deliver us from selfish- 
ness, and give us to feel the blessedness of submit- 



ting our own wills to thine. May we never build 
in our own pride, nor trust in our own strength, 
nor lean to our own understanding ! 

Gracious Father, thou hast watched over us 
through another night, and renewed our life and 
health, and family comforts. Thankful for the 
past, we would be trustful for the future. Deliver 
us this day from all fretting cares. Keep us this 
day from all evil tempers : may we be forbearing 
and forgiving, endeavoring to keep the unity of 
the Spirit in the bond of peace ! Prepare us for 
all unlooked-for events this day, whether of joy or 
sorrow ; yea, Lord, prepare us for all which thou 
hast in store for us in life and for thy heavenly 
kingdom, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



WEDNESDAY. 



Genesis xii. — 1. Now, the Lord had said unto 
Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy 
kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land 
that I will show thee : 

2. And I will make of thee a great nation, and 
I will bless thee, and make thy name great ; and 
thou shalt be a blessing : 

3. And I will bless them that bless thee, and 
curse him that curseth thee ; and in thee shall all 
families of the earth be blessed. 

4. So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken 
unto him, and Lot went with him ; and Abram 
was seventy and five years old when he departed 
out of Haran. 

5. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his 
brother's son, and all their substance that they had 
gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in 
Haran : and they went forth to go into the land 
of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they 
came. 

6. And Abram passed through the land unto the 
place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And 
the Canaanite was then in the land. 

7. And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and 
said, Unto thy seed will I give this land; and 



The early home of Abram was Ur, a city of Chaldea, on 
the right bank of the Euphrates, near the ancient head of the 
Persian Gulf. From this point he removed first to Haran, a 
pleasant and fertile region in the north-western part of Meso- 
potamia, watered by tributaries of the Euphrates, and skirted 
on the north by the mountains of Armenia. Here he seems 
to have been prospered in the accumulation of property. But 
the Lord commanded him to leave this second home, as he 
had already left the first, and to go to a strange land, then 
occupied by an unfriendly people ; and this with no title or 
prospect but the promise of God, " I will make of thee a great 
nation." Yet, upon that single warrant, Abram left country, 
kindred, home, every thing that attaches one to the place of 
his nativity, and "went out, not knowing whither he went;" 
and this at a time of life when men commonly think of pro- 
viding for their comfort and repose. 



there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who ap- 
peared unto him. 

8. And he removed from thence unto a mountain 
on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having 
Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east; and 
there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called 
upon the name of the Lord. 

Psalm cv. — 1. Oh ! give thanks unto the Lord ; 
call upon his name ; make known his deeds among 
the people. 

2. Sing unto him ; sing psalms unto him : talk 
ye of all his wondrous works. 

3. Glory ye in his holy name : let the heart of 
them rejoice that seek the Lord. 

4. Seek the Lord and his strength ; seek his 
face evermore. 

5. Remember his marvellous works that he hath 
done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, 

6. ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye chil- 
dren of Jacob his chosen! 

7. He is the Lord our God : his judgments are 
in all the earth. 

8. He hath remembered his covenant forever, 
the word which he commanded to a thousand gen- 
erations. 



Upon entering Canaan, he first halted at Sichem, the beau- 
tiful valley lying between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim in Middle 
Palestine, afterwards so celebrated as the site of Jacob's well, 
the place of Joseph's burial, the scene of the blessing and 
cursing of Israel, and, above all, the place where Jesus con- 
versed with the woman of Samaria. There Abram built an 
altar; and on removing farther south, to Beth-el, he built 
there also an altar to the Lord. Faith in God directed 
Abram in the whole course of his life. He planned nothing 
of himself, nothing for himself. Following the leadings of 
Divine Providence, with the one desire to honor and obey 
God, he carried with him the presence of the Lord ; and, 
wherever he fixed his abode, he consecrated it with an 
altar. We must walk in the steps of Abram's faith and 
devotion if we would be blessed of God in our lives and our 
homes. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 47, 84, 142. 



O Lord God ! our fathers trusted in thee, and 
were not ashamed ; and in thy love we would con- 
fide for ever and ever. While we are weak, and 
unable to help ourselves or to aid one another, we 
would look up to thyself, in whom is everlasting 
strength, and in thee would we trust. In health 
and in sickness, in hope and in sorrow, in enjoy- 
ment and in suffering, we would look up to the 
hills, whence cometh our help ; and we pray, that, 
trusting in thee, we may have that perfect peace 
which is given to those only whose minds are 
stayed upon the Lord. 

We come to thee this morning to thank thee for 
the mercies which have attended us during another 
night, and for the goodness and mercy thou hast 
provided with the opening day. The sun has 



spread its light over the world ; the earth is bring- 
ing forth renewed supplies of good. Thou providest 
for the wants of man and beast. We bless thee, 
Lord ! for thy gifts, and pray that thou wilt re- 
ceive our humble tribute of thanksgiving and 
praise. And still, merciful Father, be merciful to 
us in our renewed wants, and visit us with thy 
salvation. Continue to us, we entreat thee, the 
gifts of thy providence ; and ponr upon us, at the 
same time, the blessings of thy grace. 

Go forth with us, Lord ! to the engagements, 
the difficulties, the duties, and the pleasures which 
await us to-day. Oh ! keep us from evil and sin. 
Bless all who are dear to us by any tie ; all who are 
in any want, trouble, or sorrow ; and hasten the com- 
ing of thy kingdom, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 



94 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Genesis xii. — 10. And there was a famine in 
the land : and Abram went down into Egypt to 
sojourn there ; for the famine was grievous in the 
land. 

11. And it came to pass, when he was come near 
to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his 
wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair 
woman to look upon. 

12. Therefore it shall come to pass, when the 
Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This 
is his wife ; and they will kill me, but they will 
save thee alive. 

13. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister : that it 
may be well with me for thy sake ; and my soul 
shall live because of thee. 

14. And it came to pass, that, when Abram was 
come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman 
that she was very fair. 

15. The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and 



commended her before Pharaoh ; and the woman 
was taken into Pharaoh's house. 

16. And he entreated Abram well for her sake ; 
and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and 
men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, 
and camels. 

17. And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his 
house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's 
wife. 

18. And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What 
is this that thou hast done unto me ? Why didst 
thou not tell me that she was thy wife ? 

19. Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I 
might have taken her to me to wife : now, there- 
fore, behold thy wife, take her, and go thy 
way. 

20. And Pharaoh commanded his men concern- 
ing him ; and they sent him away, and his wife, 
and all that he had. 



Egypt being watered by the Nile, which we now know to 
be fed by immense lakes that drain the vast mountain regions 
of the equator, often had plentiful harvests, when Syria, which 
was dependent upon the uncertain rains, was suffering from 
famine. This contrast between these two neighboring coun- 
tries often comes out in the sacred narratives. 

The Bible is remarkable for its candor and fidelity in deal- 
ing with the characters of good men. Their frailties are made 
as prominent as their virtues, and they appear in all respects 
completely human. This is one token of the Divine Mind in 
the book ; for God knows what is in man, and God is always 
true. Abram resorted to equivocation in order to avoid 
trouble with the Egyptians on account of his wife. In one 
sense, he could call Sarah "his sister; " for she was the daugh- 
ter of his father, but not of his mother : but he meant to give 
the impression that she was not his wife. This device brought 



him into the trouble that he had hoped to escape by it ; and 
but for the mercy of God, shown through the forbearance of 
Pharaoh, it might have gone hard with the patriarch. As it 
was, he lost character in the eyes of the king of Egypt, and 
received his bitter reproaches. 

It is never profitable, as it can never be justifiable, to 
swerve from the truth. The attempt to deceive others degrades 
our own moral sense, and is pretty likely at some time to lead 
to exposure, and re-act to our injury. It is a true proverb, 
that one lie leads to another; and by and by the deceiver 
becomes so involved in the meshes of his own falsehoods, that 
he cannot extricate himself, and must stand convicted of his 
shame. And, when one has lost the confidence of others in 
his word, it is very hard to regain it. Children should shun 
a lie as they would shun poison. There can be no sterling 
character where truth is wanting. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 65, 136, 154. 



Almighty and most merciful Father, the day is 
thine, and the night also. Day unto day uttereth 
speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge 
concerning thee. All thy works, Lord ! do 
praise thee ; and, oh ! forbid that we, thine intel- 
ligent and immortal creatures, should refuse to 
bless thee. Remove the coldness of our hearts 
towards thee, and draw us nearer to thyself. 

Thou hast renewed to us this morning all the 
comforts needful for the body ; thou hast refreshed 
us with sleep, and spread our table with abundance. 
Lord, we bless thee for these ; but we pray thee to 
feed our souls likewise. Make good the blessed 
promise to each of us here. We know that we 
cannot be satisfied with the best blessings this 
world can give us. We are sinners before thee, 
the righteous and holy God : we have forfeited all 
claim to thy favor, and need the assurance of thy 
forgiveness. Our hearts are ever prone to evil, 
and we need thy blessed Spirit to purify our secret 
thoughts and motives. We bless thee for the sure 
promise, that, if any man sin, we have an Advocate 



with the Father, Jesus Christ ; and that, if we con- 
fess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us 
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- 
ness. Lord, cleanse thou the thoughts of our 
hearts by thy Holy Spirit. Create in us a clean 
heart, and renew within us a right spirit. Oh, may 
we not grieve thy Spirit so as to cause "him to de- 
part from us ! May he be with us in our several 
duties this day ! May we be diligent in business, 
fervent in spirit, serving the Lord ! 

We pray thee to keep us from temptation, from 
all deception and envy, from covetousness and 
evil desire. Give to us wisdom, Lord ! in 
our daily affairs, and grace to trust thee in all 
things. 

O Lord ! we place ourselves and our concerns in 
thy hands for the day on which we have now 
entered. May we in all things live as thine, and 
live in thy love ! And this, our morning sacrifice 
of prayer and praise, we offer through our great 
High Priest, who ever liveth to make intercession 
for us. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



95 



FRIDAY. 



Genesis xiii. — 1. And Abram went up out of 
Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and 
Lot with him, into the south. 

2. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, 
and in gold. 

3. And he went on his journeys from the south 
even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had 
been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Hai ; 

4. Unto the place of the altar, which he had 
made there at the first : and there Abram called 
on the name of the Lord. 

5. And Lot also, which went with Abram, had 
flocks and herds and tents. 

6. And the land was not able to bear them, that 
they might dwell together ; for their substance was 
great, so that they could not dwell together. 

7. And there was a strife between the herdmen 
of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle ; 
and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in 
the land. 

8. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no 
strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and 
between my herdmen and thy herdmen ; for we be 
brethren. 

9. Is not the whole land before thee ? Separate 
thyself, I pray thee, from me : if thou wilt take the 
left hand, then I will go to the right ; or if thou de- 
part to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 

10. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all 
the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every- 
where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Go- 



morrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the 
land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 

11. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan, 
and Lot journeyed east ; and they separated them- 
selves the one from the other. 

12. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan ; and 
Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain, and pitched 
his tent toward Sodom. 

13. But the men of Sodom were wicked and 
sinners before the Lord exceedingly. 

Psalm xlix. — 6. They that trust in their wealth, 
and boast themselves in the multitude of their 
riches ; 

7. None of them can by any means redeem his 
brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. 

10. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise 
the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave 
their wealth to others. 

11. Their inward thought is, that their houses 
shall continue forever, and their dwelling-places 
to all generations: they call their lands after their 
own names. 

12. Nevertheless, man, being in honor, abideth 
not: he is like the beasts that perish. 

13. This their way is their folly ; yet their pos- 
terity approve their sayings. 

14. Like sheep they are laid in the grave ; death 
shall feed on them ; and the upright shall have 
dominion over them in the morning; and their 
beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwell- 
ing. 



"Worldly interests beget jealousies and rivalries even among 
kindred, often among good men. The magnanimity of 
Abram in this affair is worthy of all praise. The elder in 
years and in family position, and holding directly from 
Jehovah the charter of the land, he might with propriety have 
assigned a portion to Lot, and have reserved the best for 
himself. But he gave the choice to his nephew, and was 
willing to accept whatever Lot should leave to him. The 
covetousness of Lot got the better of his respect for his vene- 
rable kinsman, the head of the house, the heir of the cove- 
nant ; and, as they stood upon a hill to the east of Bethel 
which commands a wide view upon the right hand and the 



left, he looked down the long ravine, clothed with the vine, the 
olive, and the fig, which from that point opens into the broad 
rich valley of the Jordan, and recalling the well-watered plain, 
which, before the catastrophe that sank the cities, rivalled 
Egypt in fertility, the tempting vision proved too much for 
his affection or his piety. For the prospect of worldly advan- 
tages, he chose to reside in a community notorious for wicked- 
ness. He turned his back upon the altar of the Lord, and 
pitched his tent toward Sodom. The fate that overtook him 
there is a warning to those who rush into temptation for the 
sake of gain. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 82, 136, 154. 



Almighty and everlasting God, in whom we live 
and move, and have our being, we, thy needy crea- 
tures, render thee our humble praises for thy 
preservation of us from the beginning of our lives 
to this day, and especially for having delivered us 
from the dangers of the past night. We thank 
thee that we have been kept from the alarm of 
sickness, of fire, of robbers, of sudden death, and 
have awaked in peace to behold the day. Lord ! 
we beseech thee, lift upon us the light of thy 
countenance, that we may begin the day in the 
conciousness of thy love, and may spend it joyfully 
in doing thy will, [May the children of this fam- 



ily learn to please thee, their Father in heaven, 
in all that they think and say and do ! and in 
these things may we all have the spirit of little 
children !] Keep us from malice and anger, from 
envy and pride, from covetousness, worldliness, 
and all sin. May we be useful in the world 
and in the Church of Christ ! May our kin- 
dred and friends be prospered in their lawful 
undertakings and desires, and all be partakers of 
thy grace ! Mercifully forgive our sins, and save 
us with an everlasting salvation, through our Lord 
Jesus Christ, who. with thee and the Holy Spirit, 
liveth and reigneth evermore. Amen. 



96 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Genesis xiv. — 14. And, when Abram heard that 
his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained 
servants born in his own house, three hundred 
and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 

15. And he divided himself against them, he 
and his servants, by night, and smote them, and 
pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left 
hand of Damascus. 

16. And he brought back all the goods, and also 
brought again his brother Lot and his goods, and 
the women also, and the people. 

17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet 
him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedor- 
laomer and of the kings that were with him, at 
the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 

18. And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brottght 
forth bread and wine ; and be was the priest of the 
most high God. 

19. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be 



Lot's choice soon brought him into trouble. The distiict 
where he had settled was a tempting prize to the border 
tribes of the wilderness, and also to the kings of Assyria, as 
an important route to Egypt. These last formed an alliance, 
and, coming down suddenly upon the princes of Sodom and 
Gomorrah, took their cities, and carried away much spoil. 
Lot was taken with all his family and possessions. A fugitive 
brought word of this to Abram, who was then living at 
Mamre, near Hebron. Overlooking the disrespect of his 
nephew in taking the first choice of the land, and his folly in 
settling among such an ungodly people, Abram set out at 
once for his rescue. It is evident that Abram's servants were 
not bond-slaves, but retainers, who were bound to him by 
fealty, and whom he was willing to trust with arms. Having 



Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven 
and earth ; 

20. And blessed be the most high God, which 
hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And 
he gave him tithes of all. 

21. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, 
Give me the persons, and take the goods to thy- 
self. 

22. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I 
have lifted up my hand unto the Lord, the most 
high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 

23. That I will not take from a thread even to 
a shoe-latchet, and that I will not take any thing 
that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made 
Abram rich : 

24. Save only that which the young men have 
eaten, and the portion of the men which went with 
me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre ; let them take their 
portion. 



routed the enemy, delivered the captives, and brought back 
Lot and his household, Abram would have returned quietly to 
his own home. But on the way he was met by a venerable 
man, who combined in himself the offices of king and priest, 
— the king of Salem, or Peace, and a worshipper of the true 
God. This Melchizedek brought refreshment to Abram, 
blessed him, and blessed God for his victories. Abram con- 
secrated his victory by paying tithes for the service of religion, 
and thus, as we afterwards learn, rendering homage, in the 
person of Melchizedek, to Christ, the true Prince of peace, the 
one High Priest. In striking contrast to this, with unselfish 
dignity, he refused to accept any portion of the spoil. This 
noble man served others without cost ; desired nothing from 
the world ; offered freely to the Lord. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 53, 86, 145. 



O Almighty God, who art the King of kings, 
and Lord of lords, and who art also the gracious 
Father of thy people ! we beseech thee to hear our 
praises and our supplications. We are not worthy 
to approach thee, or to take thy name into our lips. 
We are not worthy to be called thy children ; for 
we have offended thee in thought, word, and deed. 
Pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm 
and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to 
everlasting life. As we shall go forth into the 
world this day, oh ! give us grace that we may put 
off the works of darkness, and put upon us the 
armor of light. Grant that we may both perceive 
and know what things we ought to do, and also 
may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the 
same. May our life be a daily preparation for 
heaven ! May we live now by faith, and have 
hereafter the fruition of thy glorious Godhead ! 
And since thou hast exalted thy Son Jesus Christ 
into thy kingdom in heaven, so may we in heart and 
mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell. 

Whilst we are in the world, Lord ! do thou 
keep us from the evil. Let nothing turn us from 



the narrow path that leads to heaven. Grant that 
we may be ever ready when thou shalt call us 
hence ; so that, amidst all our occupations and en- 
gagements, our minds may be kept in perfect peace, 
being stayed upon thee. Lord ! be thou our por- 
tion now, and prepare us for thy presence here- 
after. 

We bless thee that thou hast provided for us a 
merciful and faithful High Priest : to him would 
we consecrate our persons and possessions, praying 
that we may receive his benediction of peace. And 
may that peace be given to all who are in any 
tribulation ! Have mercy upon any who are made 
desolate by war. Be with all who are travelling by 
land or by sea, with all sick persons, especially 
with any who are suffering in our own parish. 
Draw near to them in the hour of trouble, _ and 
give them a happy issue out of all their afflictions. 

Bless each one of us who are now kneeling 
before thee; be with all our dear kindred and 
friends ; and grant an answer of peace to these our 
prayers, which we offer up in the name of Jesus 
Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



97 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Genesis XV. — 1. After these things, the word 
of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, 
Fear not, Abram : I am thy shield, and thy exceed- 
ing great reward. 

2. And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou 
give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of 
my house is this Eliezer of Damascus ? 

3. And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast 
given no seed ; and, lo, one born in my house is 
mine heir. 

5. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, 
Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou 
be able to number them ; and he said unto him, So 
shall thy seed be. 

6. And he believed in the Lord ; and he counted 
it to him for righteousness. 

7. And he said unto him, I am the Lord that 
brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give 
thee this land to inherit it. 

8. And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know 
that I shall inherit it. 

9. And he said unto him, Take me a heifer of 
three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, 
and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, 
and a young pigeon. 

10. And he took unto him all these, and divided 



them in the midst, and laid each piece one against 
another ; but the birds divided he not. 

11. And, when the fowls came down upon the 
carcasses, Abram drove them away. 

12. And, when the sun was going down, a deep 
sleep fell upon Abram ; and, lo, a horror of great 
darkness fell upon him. 

13. And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety 
that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is 
not theirs, and shall serve them ; and they shall 
afflict them four hundred years ; 

14. And also that nation whom they shall serve 
will I judge : and afterward shall they come out 
with great substance. 

15. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace ; 
thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 

16. But, in the fourth generation, they shall come 
hither again ; for the iniquitj r of the Amorites is 
not yet full. 

17. And it came to pass, that when the sun went 
down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and 
a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 

18. In that same day the Lord made a covenant 
with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given 
this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great 
river, the River Euphrates. 



Abram had shown the strength of his faith by his ready 
and cheerful obedience. But lie was growing old ; and, as yet, 
he had no child : how, then, could the promise to his seed be 
fulfilled ? In this questioning frame, the Lord met him first 
with the broad declaration, " I am thy shield, and thy exceed- 
ing great reward." What guaranty could be compared with 
this, — God his protection, God his portion f But the Lord 
added a specific promise touching his seed and their future in- 
heritance ; and, to confirm the faith of Abram, he entered into 



the sacred solemnity of a covenant, making himself one with 
his servant in its promises and obligations. Abram accepted as 
real all that was set forth in the promise and the symbol. He 
believed God, and God acknowledged him as a friend. The 
same blessed assurance of God's protecting and rewarding 
love is sealed to us through the new covenant in the blood of 
Jesus. By faith in him, we, too, are made righteous, and be- 
come " the seed of Abraham, and heirs according to the 
promise." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 79, 107. 



Our heavenly Father, we thank thee for all thy 
goodness to us, especially for the many and great 
mercies of the Lord's day. Bless to us the priv- 
ilege of prayer, the reading and preaching of 
thy Word, and all the ordinances of thy house. 
And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of our 
mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thank- 
ful ; and that we may show forth thy praise, not 
only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up 
ourselves to thy service, and by walking before 
thee in holiness and righteousness all our days. 
Cause us to feel our sinfulness and our need of a 
Saviour. Teach us to love Christ with all our 
hearts ; and, as there is none other name under 
heaven given to men in whom and through whom 
we may receive health and salvation, give us faith 
to believe on him to the saving of our souls. 

Look, Lord ! in mercy on the world around us. 
Have compassion upon those who are sitting in 
darkness and in the shadow of death ; cause the 
light of the gospel to shine throughout the world ; 



make thy ways known upon earth, thy saving health 
unto all nations. Bless thy servants who are gone 
forth into distant lands to proclaim the message of 
salvation. Endue them with thy Holy Spirit ; en- 
rich them with thy heavenly grace ; prosper them 
in all their labors ; and give them souls as their re- 
ward. And, thou Lord of the harvest ! we pray 
thee to send forth more laborers into the harvest. 
Enable them both to sow the seed and to reap the 
fruit of their labors. 

Make sure to this household the mercies of that 
covenant of faith whereof we are made partakers 
through Christ, thy well-beloved Son, the seed of 
Abraham. 

And now, O heavenly Father! as thou hast 
promised to hear the prayers of those who ask^ 
in thy Son's name, fulfil the desires and petitions 
of thy servants as may be most expedient for us : 
granting us, in this world, knowledge of thy 
truth ; and in the world to come, life everlasting. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Luke xxii. — 1. Now, the feast of unleavened 
bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. 

2. And the chief priests and scribes sought how 
they might kill him ; for they feared the people. 

3. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed 
Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 

4. And be went his way, and communed with 
the chief priests and captains how he might be- 
tray him unto them. 

5. And they were glad, and covenanted to give 
him money. 

6. And he promised, and sought opportunity to 
betray him unto them in the absence of the multi- 
tude. 

7. Then came the day of unleavened bread, when 
the passover must be killed. 

8. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and 
prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 

9. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou 
that we prepare ? 



At the time of the passover, Jerusalem was thronged with 
Jews from all countries who came up to celebrate the feast ; 
and, as there were few inns, private hospitality was freely prof- 
fered to these guests. A householder, a friend of Jesus, had 
placed at his disposal a large upper room ; and a sign was 
given to Peter and John by which they should identify the 
place. To this observance of the yearly festival would per- 
tain an unprecedented interest, which had caused Jesus to 
look forward to it with intense desire. Not only would it be 
his last passover, but the whole meaning of the rite would 
then centre in himself- For ages this yearly sacrifice had 
been offered, to remind the people how the Lord, when he 
smote the first-born of the Egyptians, passed over the houses 
of the children of Israel whose door-posts were sprinkled with 



10. And he said unto them, Behold, when ye 
are entered into the city, there shall a man meet 
you, bearing a pitcher of water : follow him into 
the house where he entereth in. 

11. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the 
house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the 
guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with 
my disciples ? 

12. And he shall show you a large upper room 
furnished : there make ready. 

13. And they went and found as he had said 
unto them ; and they made ready the passover. 

14. And, when the hour was come, he sat down, 
and the twelve apostles with him. 

15. And he said unto them, With desire I have 
desired to eat this passover with you before I 
suffer. 

16. For I say unto you, I will not any more 
eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of 
God. 



the blood of the lamb. But this memorial was also a sym- 
bol of the greater redemption that should be accomplished 
through the blood of Jesus ; and, now that Christ our pass- 
over was to be sacrificed for us, he longed to gather about 
him the disciples who constituted his family, thus to fix in 
their minds the true significance of his dying, and to trans- 
form the sacrifice that prefigured his atonement into the sacra- 
ment that should commemorate his love. 

Already Jesus knew that Judas had yielded himself wholly 
to Satan, and was plotting his death. Calmly, tenderly, lov- 
ingly, our Lord prepared himself for the hour that should 
merge the passover of Moses in the supper of the Lamb, and 
so fulfil all that the law and the prophets had spoken in the 
perfected kingdom of God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 37, 100, 161. 



Almighty Father, we humbly draw near to thee 
this evening in the name of Jesus Christ, our 
Mediator and Redeemer. We bless and praise 
thee that through him thou hast opened a way by 
which we may approach thee with acceptance. 

We humbly thank thee for the supply of our 
bodily wants, and our preservation from danger 
and death. O God ! suffer us not to think little of 
our common blessings because they are every day 
renewed to us, and because others share them with 
us. Make us ever mindful of our own unworthi- 
ness, that we may be more truly thankful for all 
thy loving-kindness and tender mercy. Thou 
who art the God of all grace ! as thou hast supplied 
our temporal wants, supply also our spiritual ne- 
cessities. We thank thee for thine unspeakable 
gift, — the gift of thine own dear Son. Implant in 
us, Lord ! a true and lively faith in Christ. May 
our whole trust be in him, all our dependence upon 
him, and all our hopes drawn from him ! May his 
name he precious unto us, and his service delight- 
ful ! May we love his voice, and meekly follow him ! 



Lord, thou knowest our errors, and our faults 
are not hid from thee. Oh ! pity our weakness, and 
strengthen us with might by thy Spirit in the in- 
ner man. Pity our ignorance, and give us heav- 
enly wisdom. Of thy great mercy pardon our 
many sins and shortcomings, and incline us to 
walk more humbly and more diligently in thy 
ways. 

Bless thy gospel this day proclaimed, the truth 
taught to children in the family and the Sunday 
school, the truth preached in the sanctuary, 
the truth scattered by the wayside. Oh! unite 
thy whole Church in the feast of the Saviour's 
love. 

And, now that we are about once more to lie 
down to sleep, Lord ! graciously watch over us 
and protect us. Preserve our bodies from harm, 
and keep our minds in peace. Raise up, O Lord ! 
our hearts and hopes to thyself; scatter every anx- 
ious thought that disturbs us ; and keep us sim- 
ply trusting in thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ 
our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



MONDAY. 



John xiii. — 1. !Nbw, before the feast of the 
passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come 
that he should depart out of this world unto the 
Father, having loved his own which were in the 
world, he loved thern unto the end. 

2. And supper being ended (the devil having 
now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's 
son, to betray him), 

3. Jesus knowing that the Father had given 
all things into his hands, and that he was come 
from God, and went to God-; 

4. He riseth from supper, and laid aside his 
garments, and took a towel, and girded himself. 

5. After that, he poureth water into a basin, 
and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe 
them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 

6. Then cometh he to Simon Peter; and Peter 
saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet ? 

7. Jesus answered and said unto him, What I 
do thou knowest not now ; but thou shalt know 
hereafter. 

8. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash 
my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, 
thou hast no part with me. 



In the hour of his sorrow, Jesus, so far from retiring within 
himself, absorbed in his own sufferings, made the more tender 
demonstrations of love to his disciples. He gathered them 
about him for a family observance of the passover, gave them 
the most affectionate counsels, and instituted the Supper as a 
perpetual memorial of his presence and his love. At the mo- 
ment, also, when he was most deeply conscious of his divine 
power and glory, he the more graciously humbled himself in acts 
of love to his friends Assuming the dress, the manner, the 
office, of a servant, he expressed his scrupulous regard for the 
purity of his disciples by washing their feet. This was not 



9. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my 
feet only, but also my hands and my head. 

10. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed 
needeth not save to wash his feet, but is 
clean every whit ; and ye are clean, but not 
all. 

11. For he knew who should betray him : there- 
fore said he, Ye are not all clean. 

12. So after he had washed their feet, and had 
taken his garments, and was set down again, he 
said unto them, Know ye what I have done to 
you? 

13. Ye call me Master and Lord : and ye say 
well ; for so I am. 

14. If I then, your Lord and Master, have 
washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one 
another's feet. 

15^ For I have given you an example, that ye 
should do as I have done to you. 

16. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant 
is not greater than his lord, neither he that is sent 
greater than he that sent him. 

17. If ye know these things, happy are ye if 
ye do them. 



intended as a sacrament, nor as an action to be repeated in 
kind, but as a symbolical lesson in humility, which is the most 
difficult and at the same time the most characteristic virtue 
of Christianity. On Maundy-Thursday, the Pope, with much 
ostentation, goes through the ceremony of washing the feet 
of twelve beggars ; but Bengel has aptly said, " The Pope 
would do a more remarkable thing, if, in unfeigned humility, 
he washed the feet of one king, than he does in washing the 
feet of twelve poor men." The true imitation of Christ con- 
sists in forgetting ourselves, and acting for the good of others, 
without respect to our own honor or advantage. 



Appropriate Hymns, | 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 74, 78. 



Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 
When there was no eye to pity, and no arm to save, 
thou, Lord, didst not spare thine own Son, but 
didst deliver him up for us all. We draw nigh 
to thee with humble faith, and cast ourselves upon 
thee for salvation. We have sinned ; and what can 
we do unto thee, thou Preserver of men ? We 
can make no atonement for our transgressions : we 
cannot answer thee one of a thousand. 

But, though we are thus helpless and hopeless 
in ourselves, we cannot despair when we look up 
to thee. Thanks be unto thee, Lord ! for hav- 
ing sent thy Son as our Saviour and Example. 
We bless thee that he died in our stead ; and we 
glorify thee that he lived to teach us how to live. 
Oh ! deliver us from condemnation and from the 
fear of evil. 

We pray to be filled with Christ, and clothed 
with Christ. May we dwell in him, and may he 
dwell in us ! Seal us for thine own by thy Holy 



Spirit, that we may pray and live and walk in the 
Spirit, and be freed from the law of sin and death. 
Grant us the grace of humility, of brotherly-kind- 
ness, and of self-denial for the good of all men. 

We bless thee for thy mercy during the watches 
of the night. We were not disturbed by any 
danger, because thy hand preserved us in safety 
and in peace. We give thee thanks for the light 
of this new day, and for remembering us with 
necessary food and raiment. May we use thy gifts 
as not abusing them, and see in them all our heaven- 
ly Father's hand ! Graciously bless us this day in 
our basket and store, in our domestic circle, in our 
going-out and coming-in, in our worldly business 
and transactions, and in our bodies and souls ; and 
for the sake of Him who was delivered for our of- 
fences, and raised again for our justification, and 
who is now at thy right hand making intercession 
for us, we pray for all these blessings and favors. 
Amen. 



HBHBOnHSBH 



100 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



pray the Father, and he shall 
Comforter, that he may abide 



John xiv. — 15. If ye love me, keep my com- 
mandments : 

16. And I will 
give you another 
with you forever; 

17. Even the Spirit of truth ; whom the world 
cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither 
knoweth him : but ye know him ; for he dwelleth 
with you, and shall be in you. 

18. I will not leave you comfortless : I will come 
to you. 

19. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me 
no more ; but ye see me : because I live, ye shall 
live also. 

20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my 
Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 

21. He that hath my commandments, and keep- 
eth them, he it is that loveth me ; and he that 
loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I 
will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 

22. Judas saith unto him (not Iscariot), Lord, 
how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, 
and not unto the world ? 

23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man 
love me, he will keep my words ; and my Father 
will love him, and we will come unto him, and make 
our abode with him. 



What precious, wondrous words are these, — peace, com- 
fort, the coming of Christ, the indwelling of the Spirit, the 
manifestation of the Father ! We long for peace ; we seek for 
peace ; and, paradoxical as it seems, we strive for peace ; but 
Christ here promises to give peace, — even the perfect, the in- 
effable peace which kept his heart through all his conflicts, 
trials, and sufferings. When our hearts are burdened with 
anxieties, cast down with sorrows, distracted with cares and 
fears, we sigh for comfort; we seek a friend to confide in, — 
a help, a refuge, a deliverer : but in the Holy Spirit is provided 
a Helper ever within call. Sometimes, perplexed with doubts, 
unsettled in our affairs, disappointed in men, we long for the 
certainty of truth, a permanent and satisfying love : and, 



24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my say- 
ings ; and the word which ye hear is not mine, but 
the Father's which sent me. 

25. These things have I spoken unto you, being 
yet present with you ; 

26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 
whom the Father will send in my name, he shall 
teach you all things, and bring all things to 
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto 
you. 

27. Peace I leave with you ; my peace I give 
unto you : not as the world giveth give I unto you. 
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be 
afraid. 

28. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go 
away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, 
ye would rejoice, because I said I go unto the 
Father; for my Father is greater than I. 

29. And now I have told you before it come to 
pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might be- 
lieve. 

30. Hereafter I will not talk much with you; 
for the prince of this world cometh, and hath 
nothing in me. 

31. But that the world may know that I love 
the Father ; and as the Father gave me command- 
ment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. 



behold ! Christ proffers his lore so fully, so tenderly, so inti- 
mately, that it shall be as the coming of himself into our 
very hearts ; and by the coming of the Spirit to abide with 
us, teaching us, guiding us, quickening us, he will make 
his presence known to the consciousness of every believer, as 
he could not were he to remain in person on the earth ; and, 
more than all, God, who had been looked upon with distance 
and with dread, shall be recognized as a Father, and brought 
into near, constant, and reciprocal relations of love. All this 
is to be had upon the simple condition that we love Christ, 
and keep his commandments, — keep thtm in the spirit of love ; 
since love is "not only the bliss of sensibility, but has the 
moral feature of the unity of will with the object beloved." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 159, 166. 



Blessed Saviour, we beseech thee manifest thy- 
self unto us as thou dost not unto the world. May 
we know the peace of forgiveness,, the joy of com- 
munion with thyself! We thank thee, Lord ! 
for another day. As we go forth to the active 
duties of life in dependence on thy promised aid 
and grace, grant us strength equal to our engage- 
ments ; and in all things may thy glory be our 
first and final end ! We pray, not that thou 
shouldest take us out of the world, but that thou 
wouldest keep us from the evil. In the midst of its 
defilements, help us to preserve our garments un- 
spotted ; amidst its manifold temptations, succor 
us by thy mighty grace ; in all its dangers, let thy 
shield be over us ; in its strifes and conflicts, grant 
us the peace of God that passeth all understanding, 



and victory over all evil. May the Holy Comforter 
guide us into all truth, and lead us in ways of 
righteousness, for thy name's sake ! Oh, may this 
family be one in heart and life in the service of 
God, helping one another in the way to heaven ! 
May we live the rest of our life in the flesh by the 
faith of the Son of God, who loved us, and gave 
himself for us ! Help us to do his commandments, 
and to dwell in his love. 

Keep us to-day from all evil. May we acknowl- 
edge thee in all things, and fear to wander from 
thy paths ! Bless all who are in affliction. Have 
mercy on our country, and continue unto it thy 
favor. Oh ! pour out thy Spirit upon all men, and 
fill the earth with thy glory. We ask these bless- 
ings in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



101 



WEDNESDAY. 



Isaiah iiii. — 1. Who hath believed our report ? 
and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? 

2. For he shall grow up before* him as a tender 
plant, and as a root out of a dry ground : he hath 
no form nor comeliness ; and, when we shall see 
him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 

3. He is despised and rejected of men ; a man 
of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid, 
as it were, our faces from him ; he was despised, 
and we esteemed him not. 

4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried 
our sorrows ; yet we did esteem him stricken, 
smitten of God, and afflicted. 

5. But he was wounded for our transgressions ; 
he was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement 
of our peace was upon him ; and with his stripes 
we are healed. 

6. All we like sheep have gone astray ; we have 
turned every one to his own way ; and the Lord 
hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

7. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted ; yet 
he opened not his mouth : he is brought as a lamb 
to the slaughter ; and as a sheep before her shearers 
is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. 



8. He was taken from prison and from judg- 
ment : and who shall declare his generation ? 
for he was cut off out of the land of the liv- 
ing ; for the transgression of my people was he 
stricken. 

9. And he made his grave with the wicked, 
and with the rich in his death ; because he had 
done no violence, neither was any deceit in his 
mouth. 

10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him ; he 
hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his 
soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he 
shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord 
shall prosper in his hand. 

11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and 
shall be satisfied : by his knowledge shall my 
righteous servant justify many ; for he shall bear 
their iniquities. 

12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with 
the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the 
strong ; because he hath poured out his soul unto 
death : and lie was numbered with the transgress- 
ors ; and he bare the sin of many, and made inter- 
cession for the transgressors. 



From the tone of hope and exaltation in which the prophet 
had proclaimed the coming of Christ, he now drops into the 
minor key of lamentation as he foresees the reception that is 
given him by the people whom he comes to save. Seven hun- 
dred years after, John recorded the fact that "he came unto 
his own, and his own received him not." Though divine 
tokens heralded his coming, and his works revealed the arm 
of the Lord attesting his mission, he is not recognized in the 
lowliness of his advent, is not received in the spirituality of his 
life and teaching. This man of Nazareth, of so mean birth, 
without pretence of royalty or power to assume it, is despised 
like a root of feeble growth that gives no promise of beauty or 
of fruitfulness. " This is not the object of desire and trust for 
whom the people have been waiting : nay, his low condition, 
and especially his sufferings, make him rather an object of con- 



tempt. Even they for whom he suffers mistake his person 
and his office." 

Yet these very sufferings are the key to his character, the 
prelude and the means to his triumph. Voluntarily assumed, 
meekly borne for the sins and woes of others, these identify 
him with our humanity, and work out our redemption : 
through souls redeemed by his sacrifice, he who seemed so 
suddenly and hopelessly cut off from men prolongs his days 
in an ever-multiplying seed. His meekness before Pilate, his 
crucifixion between the thieves, his burial in the rich man's 
tomb, are pictured as graphically as if the prophet were an 
eye-witness of these events. But he looks through and beyond 
them to their issue in the numbers of the saved ; and so this 
wondrous elegiac strain emerges at last into the triumphal 
march of the world's redemption. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 177, 189, 195. 



Lord Jesus, who for our sakes didst endure 
such contradiction of sinners against thyself! grant 
us grace, that, like thee, we may be meek and lowly 
of heart. When offended and wronged by others, 
may we remember Him, who, when he was reviled, 
reviled not again, and who from the cross prayed 
for the forgiveness of his enemies ! 

Our Father in heaven, as we pray thee to for- 
give our manifold offences, may we ever show the 
spirit of forgiveness toward all who do us harm ! 
Set a watch, O Lord ! at the door of our lips, that 
we offend not in word ; and, while bold and firm 
for thy truth and cause, in all that concerns our- 
selves may we study the things that make for 
peace ! Help us this day to resist temptation, to 
walk uprightly, to do good as we have opportunity, 
to relieve the suffering and the needy, to be kind 
toward all, and to overcome the world. 



Father of all mercies, we commend this house- 
hold to thy loving care. [Oh ! take these children 
into thine arms ; defend them from the power of 
evil-, draw them to the cross of Christ, that they 
may there be baptized into the love of Him who 
died for them.] Grant us, Lord ! such prosperity 
as shall please thee ; yet, in all that we possess and 
enjoy, help us ever to remember that we are not 
our own, but are bought with a price, — even the 
precious blood of Christ. We pray for thy Church 
which thou hast redeemed: grant her peace and 
unity. And, oh ! hasten the ingathering of the 
nations, that thou mayest see of the travail of thy 
soul, and be satisfied. Heavenly Father, we bless 
thee for the mercy that has brought us to the be- 
ginning of this day ; we supplicate thy favor upon 
all our friends ; and, Lord ! have mercy upon us, 
and upon all men, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



102 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Matthew XXVi. — 36. Then cometh Jesus with 
them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith 
unto the disciples, Sit ye here while I go and pray 
yonder. 

37. And he took with him Peter and the two 
sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and 
very heavy. 

38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is ex- 
ceeding sorrowful, even unto death : tarry ye here 
and watch with me. 

39. And he went a little farther, and fell on his 
face, and prayed, saying, my Father ! if it be 
possible, let this cup pass from me : nevertheless, 
not as I will, but as thou wilt. 

40. And he cometh unto the disciples, and find- 
eth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What ! 
could ye not watch with me one hour ? 

41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into 
temptation : the spirit indeed is willing ; but the 
flesh is weak. 



42. He went away again the second time, and 
prayed, saying, my Father ! if this cup may not 
pass away from me except I drink it, thy will be 
done. 

43. And he came and found them asleep again ; 
for their eyes were heavy. 

44. And he left them, and went away again, 
and prayed the third time, saying the same 
words. 

45. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith 
unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: be- 
hold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is 
betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

46. Rise, let us be going : behold, he is at hand 
that doth betray me. 

47. And while he yet spake, lo ! Judas, one of 
the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude 
with swords and staves, from the chief priests and 
elders of the people. 



The passover was celebrated at the full moon ; and at that 
season the climate of Jerusalem would admit of spending the 
night in the open air. After the discourse and prayer which 
followed the institution of the Supper as narrated by John, 
our Lord went with his disciples out at the eastern gate of the 
city, down into the Valley of the Kedron (one may follow the 
same path to-day), and, crossing the brook to the slope of 
the Mount of Olives, entered a garden of olive-trees called 
Gethsemane. The probable spot is still marked by a group of 
very ancient olives. Leaving his disciples, he entered the 
shadow of the trees, and fell upon his face in prayer ; only 
Peter, James, and John bein^ near enough to afford him that 
sense of human companionship which the spirit craves in its 
inward conflicts. The innocent, sensitive spirit of Jesus 
shrank from the ignominy and suffering now immediately be- 
fore him. Yet his was not the mere nervous shrinking of a 
delicate nature from pain. A dread mystery of sorrow for our 



sakes entered into the anguish of his soul : a last temptation 
from Satan to swerve him from his resolve to die ; a forebod- 
ing of his loneliness when his disciples should forsake him, 
and the Father's face be hid, — all this was wrung into the 
cup now given him to drink ; and, as the holy purpose of his 
soul wrestled with the weakness of the flesh, his sweat ran 
from him as great drops of blood. 

Yet there was no faltering of his will to do the will of his 
Father. The Man of sorrows lies prostrate before us, in all 
the abasement and weakness of the nature he had taken upon 
him ; but even as the Son of man, tempted and suffering, yet 
without sin, he triumphs by faith and prayer and submission. 
Though his disciples, weary with watching and sorrow, fall 
asleep, there are heavenly watchers nigh to comfort and 
strengthen him ; for the struggle in his soul renews the con- 
flict between heaven and hell for the possession of the soul of 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 86, 171. 



Lord Jesus ! how shall we ever love thee and 
praise thee for the greatness of thy love for us? 
Forgive us our sloth and self-indulgence, our waver- 
ing and timidity ; and, by thine agony and bloody 
sweat, help us to bear our cross, and suffer us never 
to fall away from thee. May the love of Christ 
constrain us ! May we learn the joy of sacrifice, 
and be willing to labor and to suffer for those who 
do us wrong ! Father in heaven, teach us like 
thyself to do good to the evil and the unthankful. 

O God, who makest the outgoings of the morn- 
ing and the evening to rejoice ! we bless thee that 
ours has not been a night of anguish and sorrow. 
We lift up our hearts to thee with thanksgiving for 
the joy of another day ; for vigor for its duties, ap- 
petite for its pleasures, and readiness for its oppor- 
tunities of good. Bless us in our labors, keep us 
pure in our enjoyments, incite us to do thy will ; 
and oh ! we beseech thee, preserve us from harm, 
from temptation, and from sin. Keep us from 



that love and that fear of this world which would 
estrange us from thee. 

Seeing that we know not what a day may bring 
forth, we pray, that, if trials and disappointments 
shall come, we may have grace to meet them and 
to profit by them ; that in all events we may see 
the hand of our Father, and may say, "Thy will be 
done." Conscious of our weakness, humbly con- 
fessing our sins, we cast ourselves upon thine 
infinite grace in Christ our Saviour for pardon, 
strength, and sanctification. May we as a family 
honor thee in our daily walk and conversation ! 
May old and young alike know the beauty of holi- 
ness, the joy of consecration to Christ ! Grant thy 
grace to all who are dear to us ; and grant us grace 
to hold all men dear for Christ's sake, and to win 
them to the knowledge of his gospel. And may 
the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 
keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and 
love of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord ! Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



103 



FRIDAY. 



Luke xxiii. — 26. And, as they led him away, 
they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming 
out of the country ; and on him they laid the cross, 
that he might hear it after Jesus. 

27. And there followed him a great company of 
people, and of women, which also bewailed and 
lamented him. 

28. But Jesus, turning unto them, said, Daugh- 
ters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for 
yourselves and for your children. 

29. For, behold, the days are coming, in the 
which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and 
the wombs that never bare, and the paps which 
never gave suck. 

30. Then shall they begin to say to the moun- 
tains, Fall on us ; and to the hills, Cover us. 

31. For, if they do these things in a green tree, 
what shall be done in the dry ? 

32. And there were also two others, malefactors, 
led with him to be put to death. 

33. And when they were come to the place which 
is called Calvary, there they crucified him and the 
malefactors ; one on the right hand, and the other 
on the left. 

34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them ; for 
they know not what they do. And they parted his 
raiment, and cast lots. 



35. And the people stood beholding. And the 
rulers also with them derided him, saying, He 
saved others : let him save himself, if he be Christ, 
the chosen of God. 

36. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to 
him, and offering him vinegar, 

37. And saying, If thou be the King of the 
Jews, save thyself. 

38. And a superscription also was written over 
him, in letters of Greek and Latin and He- 
brew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE 
JEWS. 

39. And one of the malefactors which were 
hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, 
save thyself and us. 

40. But the other, answering, rebuked him, say- 
ing, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the 
same condemnation? 

41. And we indeed justly ; for we receive the 
due reward of our deeds : but this man hath done 
nothing amiss. 

42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me 
when thou comest into thy kingdom. 

43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say 
unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in 
paradise. 



The passions of thepopulace are quickly swayed from one 
extreme to another. The arrest of Jesus took place in the 
night, his trial and condemnation in the early morning ; and 
he was dragged to execution in the most summary manner. 
The chief priests had resorted to this secrecy and haste fear- 
ing that the popular enthusiasm which had greeted Jesus 
upon his entry into Jerusalem, live days before, would rally 
for his rescue. They had enlisted a mob against him ; and 
having a judicial warrant for his crucifixion, and the soldiers 
at their back, they no longer apprehended violence. But the 
news of their proceedings spread rapidly through the city ; 
and many ran together whose sympathies were moved for the 
sufferer, whom they looked upon as the friend of the people. 
Among these were women, who gave vent to their feelings in 



loud cries ; but Jesus, true to his unselfish pity, knowing the 
sad fate that hung over Jerusalem, bespoke their sympathy 
for themselves and their children. 

Near the city gate, the officers laid hold of a man who was 
just coming from the country, and compelled him to bear the 
cross ; for Jesus, worn down with suffering, was sinking under 
its burden. Arrived at Cavalry, the rulers, the rabble, and 
the soldiers vied with each other in reviling the sufferer ; one 
of the thieves even joining in their coarse abuse. With the 
tenderness of divine compassion, Jesiis invoked forgiveness 
for his tormentors ; while, with the majesty of divine preroga- 
tive, he promised to the penitent thief a place with him in 
paradise. Never were suffering and triumph, humiliation and 
glory, so blended as in this wondrous scene. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Pra3 r er. 



[Nos. 30, 116, 164. 



Saviour of sinners ! we look to thee. Thou 
who hast died that we might live ! help us to live 
to thee alone. Redeemed with the precious blood 
of the Son of God, may we walk as children of 
heaven ! Help us, Lord ! in our inward conflicts 
with doubts and fears and sins ; help us in our 
conflicts with the temptations and evils of the 
world ; and, oh ! help us in our wrestlings with 
unseen powers of evil, with the great Adversary 
of our souls. Lord ! increase our faith. Our 
hope is in thee ; our strength is from thee alone : 
dwell in us by thy grace ; fill us with thy Spirit. 
This very day may we gain new victories over evil ! 
May we resist temptations in business to swerve 
from the truth, to take advantage of others, to act 



dishonorably, to be covetous and unjust ! May we 
resist temptations in society to envy and evil- 
speaking, to worldliness and frivolity ! May we in 
all things do that which is right in the sight of 
God ! [May these children grow up, dear Saviour, 
in thy strength and love, safe from the power of 
evil !] 

We thank thee for another night of rest, another 
day of mercy and of hope. Bless all clear to us ; 
our friends and neighbors. Succor, Lord ! the 
poor and needy, the sick, the tempted, the dying. 
Lord Jesus ! be with us in our last conflict, and 
make us more than conquerors over death ; and 
to thy name be honor and glory for ever and ever. 
Amen. 



104 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



John xix. — 19. And Pilate wrote a title, and 
put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS 
OF NAZAKETH, THE KING OF THE 
JEWS. 

20. This title then read many of the Jews ; for 
the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to 
the city : and it was written in Hebrew and 
Greek and Latin. 

21. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to 
Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews ; but that 
he said, I am King of the Jews. 

22. Pilate answered, What I have written, I 
have written. 

23. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified 
Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, 
to every soldier a part ; and also his coat : now 
the coat was without seam, woven from the top 
throughout. 

24. They said therefore among themselves, Let 
us not rend it, but cast lots for it whose it shall be; 
that the scripture might be fulfilled which saith, 



What strange, even violent, contrasts were witnessed in the 
last moments of the Saviour's life ! — the vacillating governor 
rendering the tribute of his conscience to the " innocent " man 
whom his policy had sacrificed ; the malignant Pharisees pur- 
suing their victim with insults, even upon the cross ; the rough 
soldiers raffling for their spoils, and unwittingly fulfilling 
prophecy ; women looking on through their tears ; the Son of 
man thirsting, loving, praying, dying ! But how exquisite, 
amid these contrasted incidents, is the touch of humanity in 
the parting of Jesus from his mother ! He had shown the di- 
vine elevation of his spirit in praying for the forgiveness of his 
murderers ; he had exercised his divine prerogative as Re- 
deemer, by promising salvation to the thief; and he unveils 
his human tenderness by designating from his cross a home 



They parted my raiment among them, and for my 
vesture they did cast lots. These things, therefore, 
the soldiers did. 

25. Now, there stood by the cross of Jesus his 
mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of 
Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 

26. When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother, and 
the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith 
unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son ! 

27. Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy 
mother ! And from that hour that disciple took 
her unto his own home. 

28. After this, Jesus knowing that all things 
were now accomplished, that the scripture might 
be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 

29. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar ; 
and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it 
upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 

30. When Jesus, therefore, had received the 
vinegar, he said, It is finished ; and he bowed his 
head, and gave up the ghost. 



for his mother, and the disciple whom he loved to be to 
her, in his stead, as a son. In his mortal agony, as his soul 
was about to fall under the sword that smote him for our 
sakes, as he was entering into that horror of darkness that 
hid his Father's face, he turned to her that bare him, gave 
her a last look and word of love, and pointed her to a pro- 
tector. 

How beautiful, too, is Mary, in strength of character and 
fervor of affection, as she stands beneath the cross while the 
sword pierces her own soul, that she may look upon that dear 
face to the last! — as great in fortitude and endurance under 
trial as she had been humble, discreet, modest, and wise under 
the promise of mercy. How is the family relation exalted and 
sanctified in such a mother and such a son ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 16, 42, 99. 



Thou art the King of glory, Christ ! Thou 
art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou 
hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst 
open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou 
sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the 
Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be 
our Judge. We therefore pray thee help thy ser- 
vants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious 
blood: make them to be numbered with thy 
saints in glory everlasting. 

We bless thee, Lord ! for the peace and com- 
fort given us in Christ concerning those dear to us 
whom thou hast taken unto thyself: may we, by 
thy grace, walk in their steps in all things wherein 
they followed thee, and so live unto thee, day by 
day, that we shall be ready at all times for thy 
coming ! 

Merciful Saviour, we give thee thanks that thou 
didst enter into all the circumstances of our earthly 
condition, and didst sanctify all the relationships 
of life. Thou didst take little children in thine 



arms, and bless them ; thou didst hallow marriage 
by thy first miracle of power and grace ; thou didst 
bless the home of Martha and Mary; thou didst 
provide for thy mother a home of krve. Oh ! bless 
this home, we pray thee, — parents, children, broth- 
ers, sisters, all kindred and friends. Give to every 
one of us the spirit of our blessed Lord. 

Thou who hast brought us again from sleep 
to behold the light of a new day! help us so to con- 
fide in thee, to keep thee ever so near and so pre- 
cious to our thought, that we shall live above the 
fear of death, and look forward with joy to our 
final rest with thee. As children of the light, 
may we shun all evil, and show forth thy praise ! 
Fill us this day with the peace of Christ and the 
hope of immortality; fill thy Church with the faith 
and the power of his resurrection. May this house- 
hold, and all dear to us, be joined to the family 
of the saints on earth, and finally to the company 
of the redeemed in heaven, through Him who died 
for us ! — to whom be glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



105 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Luke xxiv. — 36. And, as they thus spake, 
Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and 
saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 

37. But they were terrified and affrighted, and 
supposed that they had seen a spirit. 

38. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled ? 
and why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? 

39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I 
myself: handle me, and see ; for a spirit hath not 
flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 

40. And, when he had thus spoken, he showed 
them his hands and his feet. 

41. And while they yet believed not for joy, and 
wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any 
meat? 

42. And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, 
and of a honey-comb. 

43. And he took it, and did eat before them. 

44. And he said unto them, These are the 
words which I spake unto you while I was yet 
with you, that all things must be fulfilled which 
were written in the law of Moses, and in the pro- 
phets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 



45. Then opened he their understanding that 
they might understand the scriptures, 

46. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and 
thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from 
the dead the third day ; 

47. And that repentance and remission of sins 
should be preached in his name among all nations, 
beginning at Jerusalem. 

48. And ye are witnesses of these things. 

49. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father 
upon you ; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem 
until ye be endued with power from on high. 

Zechariah xiii. — 1. In that day there shall be a 
fountain opened to the house of David and to the in- 
habitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 

6. And one shall say unto him, What are these 
wounds in thy hands ? Then he shall answer, 
Those with which I was wounded in the house of 
my friends. 

7. Awake, O sword ! against my Shepherd, and 
against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord 
of hosts ; smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall 
be scattered. 



This was on the evening of the day of our Lord's resurrec- 
tion. The women and Peter, who had seen him, were just 
telling their story, when the two disciples from Emmaus en- 
tered, and told how they also had seen the Lord. At this 
moment Jesus himself appeared, coming like an apparition, 
yet giving them tangible proofs of his identity. A mystery 
attaches to the bodily state of our Lord after his resurrection, 
which we cannot fully explain. " He appeared suddenly and 
vanished suddenly, when he pleased ; when it pleased him, he 
ate, he spoke, he walked : but his body was the body of the 
resurrection, only not as yet his glorified body, because he had 
not yet assumed his glory." 



The mystery of his appearing at first excited that dread of 
the spirit-world which is common to human nature ; but Jesus 
came with the same benediction of peace with which he had 
parted from them on the night of the Supper. Now was ful- 
filled that gracious promise, " Yet a little while, and ye shall 
see me." His work on earth was finished : theirs was to 
begin, — the work of testimony to his life, the work of convic- 
tion and persuasion through his death. That which he com- 
missioned his disciples to preach was not a new system of 
theology, a new code of morals, but the religion of the Bible, 
summoning men to repentance, and bringing the forgiveness 
of sins through a suffering and risen Saviour. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 17, 177, 180. 



Almighty God, who hast set apart one day in 
seven for the .special good of our souls, enable us 
to keep this day holy. Thou hast bidden us to 
rest from our worldly labors and employments : do 
thou also shut the world out of our hearts, and 
take full possession of them thyself. 

Lord, we cannot pray to thee aright without the 
help of thy Holy Spirit. May he rest upon us 
abundantly this day, teaching us both what to 
ask, and how to ask it ! And, when thy gospel is 
preached, give us the hearing ear and the under- 
standing heart; and enable us to receive with 
meekness and with faith the ingrafted word, which 
is able to save our souls. 

Bless, gracious God, thy Church : make it the 
instrument in thy hands of leading many to heav- 
en. Raise up faithful and earnest men for the 
work of the minstry. Do thou thyself teach them, 
that they may teach others. Especially be with 
the minister of this parish, who is set over us in 
the Lord. Holy Spirit ! let thy grace descend 



upon us in large measure. Let thy power be felt 
among us, awakening those who sleep, leading us 
all to greater earnestness, and making us more holy 
in our lives. And wherever thy gospel is preached 
this day, whether at home or abroad, oh ! grant that 
its influence may be felt, and that thousands may 
be' turned from darkness to light, and from the 
power of Satan unto God. 

Grant, Lord, that a special blessing may rest 
upon our Sunday schools, and all who are called to 
teach in them. Be with each one of our fellow- 
worshippers. Help them and us, and all who are 
dear to us, this day, on our way to heaven. 

We thank thee for all the mercies of the week ; 
we acknowledge thy goodness to this family ; and 
humbly commit ourselves to thy care, praying that 
our names may be written in heaven. 

Hear these our prayers, we beseech thee, and 
grant our requests, through the intercession 
of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
Amen. 



106 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm CXV. — 1. Not unto us, Lord ! not unto 
us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, 
and for thy truth's sake. 

2. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is 
now their God? 

3. But our God is in the heavens : he hath done 
whatsoever he hath pleased. 

4. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of 
men's hands. 

5. They have mouths, but they speak not ; eyes 
have they, but they see not : 

6. They have ears, but they hear not; noses 
have they, but they smell not : 

7. They have hands, but they handle not ; feet 
have they, but they walk not ; neither speak they 
through their throat. 

8. They that make them are like unto them ; so 
is every one that trusteth in them. 

9. Israel ! trust thou in the Lord: he is their 
help and their shield. 

10. O house of Aaron ! trust in the Lord : he is 
their help and their shield. 

11. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: 
he is their help and their shield. 

12. The Lord hath been mindful of us : he will 
bless us ; he will bless the house of Israel ; he will 
bless the house of Aaron. 



These psalms belonged to the temple-service, and were ar- 
ranged to be sung in a responsive form of worship. The 
first eight verses of Psalm cxv. would be sung by the choir of 
Levites ; then, in verses nine, ten, and eleven, the precentor 
invokes several classes to trust in the Lord, and the chorus re- 
sponds, " He is their help and their shield ; " after which the 
choir sing the praises of the Lord. This psalm was prob- 
ably composed during a time of pagan invasion and oppres- 
sion. Surrounding nations had their tutelary gods, who were 
represented to the eye under visible forms ; but Jehovah had 
no such form in his temple nor in the houses of his worship- 
pers ; and, when he suffered the Hebrews to be vanquished, 
the heathen would say, " Where is now their God 1 " Such a 
taunt called forth this magnificent burst of adoration to the 
God who is in the heavens, and who rules over all ; and this 



13. He will bless them that fear the Lord, both 
small and great. 

14. The Lord shall increase you more and more, 
you and your children. 

15. Ye are blessed of the Lord, which made 
heaven and earth. 

16. The heaven, even the heavens, are the 
Lord's ; but the earth hath he given to the chil- 
dren of men. 

17. The dead praise not the Lord, neither any 
that go down into silence. 

18. But we will bless the Lord from this time 
forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord. 

Psalm cxxvi. — 1. When the Lord turned again 
the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. 

2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and 
our tongue with singing ; then said they among 
the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for 
them. 

3. The Lord hath done great things for us; 
whereof we are glad. 

4. Turn again our captivity, Lord ! as the 
streams in the south. 

5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 

6. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing 
precious seed, shall doubtless come again with re- 
joicing, bringing his sheaves with him. 



enthusiastic confidence that he will help and save those who 
put their trust in him. 

Yet, when deliverance came, so marvellous was the hand 
of God, that, like the disciples upon the resurrection of Christ, 
they believed not for joy. When He to whom they had cried 
for help, and in whom they had trusted, put forth his hand, it 
was in a way so utterly beyond all human methods and cal- 
culations, that it seemed as a blissful dream. Even the heathen 
who had mocked at them now acknowledged that they had 
a God who cared for them and was able to deliver them. Most 
striking was such testimony from Cyrus when he decreed that 
the Jews should return from captivity. The experience of 
Israel invites us, under all discouragements,, and in face of all 
enemies, to maintain our trust in God ; sowing even in tears 
the seeds of faith and hope, that shall yield the harvest of joy. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 156, 160, 168. 



We come to thee this morning, heavenly Father, 
with hearts full of thankfulness for the mercies of 
the night. Thou hast kept us quiet from the fear 
of evil : nor sickness, nor death, nor tempest, nor 
fire, nor any calamity, hath overtaken us or our 
dwelling. Fulfil unto us, we beseech thee, thy 
mercies and promises in Christ, and cause that 
this day we may rejoice in thy salvation. 

Oh ! sanctify us by thy truth ; and, while we re- 
ceive its instruction and comfort in our hearts, 
may we carry out its precepts in our lives, and 
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
things ! May every day witness some new victory 
over evil desires and passions within us, and over 
the evil that is in the world ! [Oh, may these 



children grow in grace as they grow in years and in 
knowledge ! May they shun evil companions and 
evil ways, and walk in the way of thy command- 
ments !] Keep all dear to us even as the apple of 
thine eye. Bless our neighbors, and send thy Spirit 
upon this whole community. Bless our rulers, and 
the schools and churches in our land. May all who 
rule, and all who teach, be led and taught by thee ! 
Have pity upon the poor and the sorrowing ; upon 
homes made desolate by famine, pestilence, or war. 
Stay thy judgments, Lord ! and send peace and 
salvation to all people. Mercifully forgive our sins, 
and bring us unto the perfection of knowledge, of 
holiness, and of blessedness, in Jesus Christ our 
Lord; to whom be glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



107 



MONDAY. 



Romans i. — 16. I am not ashamed of the gos- 
pel of Christ : for it is the power of God unto sal- 
vation to every one that believeth ; to the Jew 
first, and also to the Greek. 

17. For therein is the righteousness of God 
revealed from faith to faith: as it written, The 
just shall live by faith. 

18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven 
against all ungodliness, and unrighteousness of 
men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. 

19. Because that which may be known of God 
is manifest in them ; for God hath showed it unto 
them. 

20. For the invisible things of him from the 
creation of the world are clearly seen, being under- 
stood bj T the things that are made, even his eternal 
power and Godhead; so that they are without ex- 
cuse: 

21. Because that, when they knew God, they 
glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, 
but became vain in their imaginations, and their 
foolish heart was darkened. 

22. Professing themselves to be wise, they be- 
came fools, 

23. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible 
God into an image made like to corruptible man, 



and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping 
things. 

21. "Wherefore God also gave them up to un- 
cleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to 
dishonor their own bodies between themselves ; 

25. "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, 
and worshipped and served the creature more than 
the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 

28. And, even as they did not like to retain God 
in their knowledge, God gave them over to a repro- 
bate mind, to do those things which are not con- 
venient : 

29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, forni- 
cation, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness ; 
full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; 
whisperers, 

30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, 
boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to 
parents, 

31. "Without understanding, covenant-break- 
ers, without natural affection, implacable, unmer- 
ciful : 

32. Who, knowing the judgment of God, that 
they which commit such things are worthy of 
death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in 
them that do them. 



In going to Rome, which was then, even more than the 
Paris of our time, the splendid capital of learning, art, luxury, 
empire, Paul knew that he should encounter both ridicule and 
violence in proclaiming the gospel of Christ. Yet confident 
in the power of that gospel, through the testimony of ^Nature, 
of conscience, of history, to the truth of God, and through 
the attestation of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers, 
he felt no timidity nor shame at the prospect of the contempt 
of philosophers, the scoffs of worldlings, the persecution of 
bigots. 

The very condition of Rome was an argument for the gos- 
pel. With all her intellectual pride, and her civic and military 
glory, she was barbarian in her idolatry, and beastly in her 



vices. The writings of Cicero, Seneca, Plutarch. Epictetus, 
and other sages of Rome, so nearly contemporary with Paul, 
the views of earlier Greek philosophers of the school of Socra- 
tes, the primitive monotheism of Egypt, and the theology of 
her " Book of the Dead," clearly show that it is possible for 
the human mind to know God from the study of itself and 
of the physical universe. But this knowledge was darkened, 
perverted, debased, through moral depravity ; and the super- 
stition and degradation of the pagan world, its very ignorance 
and idolatry, were the offspring of sin. Hence redemption 
from moral evil was necessary to render possible that very in- 
tellectual and social progress of which science now boasts. 
In every sense, Christ was the Light of the world. 



Appropriate Hymxs,] 



Prayer. 



\~Sos. 7, 18, 38. 



God, who didst create us in thine own image 
that we might know thee and enjoy thee forever [ 
we confess with shame that we have turned away 
from the blessedness that is found in thee to seek 
our good in the beggarly elements of this world. 
We have worshipped and served the creature more 
than the Creator; have abused our powers, mis- 
spent our time, wasted our opportunities, and have 
chosen death rather than life. Oh ! for the sake 
of Christ, the Son of thy love, forgive this our 
folly and sin, and restore within us the image of 
God by thine own Spirit. 

T\ e would look up to thee this morning as chil 



thy Word, and obey the voices of thy providence 
and grace ! Keep us, Lord ! from every evil 
passion and unholy desire ; from all sin in thought, 
word, or deed. 

We beseech thee, Father ! mercifully to look 
upon our nation, and, for the glory of thy name, 
turn from us all those evils that we most justly 
have deserved; and give unto us thy Holy Spirit. 

We bless thee for thy great goodness to us as a 
family. Incline us ever, we pray thee, to the choice 
of that which is good in thy sight. Be very gra- 
cious to all our friends. Bless our rulers; our 
schools and churches ; the poor and needy ; the 



dren, crying "Abba, Father !" Thou hast watched ! sick, the unfortunate, the sorrowing; yea, bless all 



over us with a Father's care ; thou dost surround 
us with a Fathers love : oh ! give to us a Fathers 
blessing in all the duties and occupations of this 



day. May we see thee in thy works, hear thee in j without end. Amen 



peoples with thy salvation, and turn the nations 
unto thy ways. And unto the Father, the Son, 
and the Holy Ghost, be glory and dominion world 



108 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Romans iii. — 10. As it is written, There is 
none righteous ; no, not one : 

11. There is none that understandeth ; there is 
none that seeketh after God. 

12. They are all gone out of the way ; they are 
together hecome unprofitable : there is none that 
doeth good ; no, not one. 

13. Their throat is an open sepulchre ; with 
their tongues they have used deceit ; the poison of 
asps is under their lips 



14. 



Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitter- 



ness. 

15. Their feet are swift to shed blood. 

16. Destruction and misery are in their ways ; 

17. And the way of peace have they not known. 

18. There is no fear of God before their eyes. 

19. Now, we know that what things soever the 
law saith, it saith to them who are under the law ; 
that every mouth may be stopped, and all the 
world may become guilty before God. 

20. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall 
no flesh be justified in his sight ; for by the law 
is the knowledge of sin. 

21. But now the righteousness of God without 
the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law 
and the prophets ; 



22. Even the righteousness of God, tchich is by 
faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them 
that believe ; for there is no difference : 

23. For all have sinned, and come short of the 
glory of God ; 

24. Being justified freely by his grace, through 
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus : 

25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitia- 
tion, through faith in his blood, to declare his 
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, 
through the forbearance of God ; 

26. To declare, I say, at this time, his righteous- 
ness ; that he might be just, and the justifier of 
him which believeth in Jesus. 

27. Where is boasting, then ? It is excluded. 
By what law ? of works ? Nay ; but by the law 
of faith. 

28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justi- 
fied by faith without the deeds of the law. 

29. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not 
also of the Gentiles ? Yes, of the Gentiles also ; 

30. Seeing it is one God which shall justify the 
circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through 
faith. 

31. Do we, then, make void the law through 
faith ? God forbid ! yea, we establish the law. 



That is a fearful indictment against human nature with 
which this section opens. That David should thus charac- 
terize tha treacherous and barbarous enemies who surrounded 
him was natural enough ; but when we consider, that, in the 
time of Paul, the Greeks and Romans held the foremost place 
in literature and art, and in whatever pertained to the civiliza- 
tion of the Old World, it may surprise us that the same sweep- 
ing indictment was brought against them. But look at the 
scenes in Paris in the year of grace 1871, so near the close of 
this nineteenth century of science, art, civilization. Every 
word of this indictment holds good against the atheistic Com- 
munists of to-day. The men who set tire to the city of Paris, 



and murdered in cold blood the ministers of religion, would 
have crucified the Lord Jesus Christ. It is human nature 
which is charged with these atrocious crimes : and, after all 
that civilization has done for the race, human nature, alike in 
man and in woman, is still capable of the same guilt, so long 
as it remains godless ; and " all have sinned, and come 
short of the glory of God." It is this universality of human 
sinfulness that calls for a propitiation, a redemption, such as 
only the Son of God could make. His righteousness vindicat- 
ing the holy law of God, his sacrifice upon the cross testify- 
ing at once for the justice and the mercy of God, is the one 
way of restoration for our sinning race. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



God ! we are sinners, and of a sinful race ; but 
great is thy mercy. Accept our thanks and praise. 

For our creation and preservation ; for our sleep 
last night, and our safety this morning ; for the 
comforts of this world, and the hopes of the world 
to come, — we bless thee, good Lord. 

For our stations and occupations in life ; for our 
dear relations and friends ; for all that reminds us 
of thee, and all opportunities of glorifying thee, — 
we bless thee, good Lord. 

For thy love in our redemption ; for thy free be- 
stowal of thine only-begotten Son ; for thine un- 
speakable gift of the Holy Spirit, — above all we 
bless thee, good Lord. 

We give thee thanks this day for home and 
country ; for knowledge and freedom ; for the favor 
of thy providence upon our land ; for the tokens of 
thy mercy in thy Church. As by obedience to 



[Nos. 5, 22, f5. 
jlory, and the earth 



thee the heavens declare thy 

showeth forth thy praise ; even so may we obey thy 
holy Word in all things, and finally be glorified 
with Him who redeemed us. 

We beseech thee, O Lord ! to continue the favor 
which thou hast shown unto us as a family. [May 
these children grow up in the knowledge and love 
of thy truth ! May they always incline to thy 
will, and walk in thy way ! May they be kept 
from the evil that is jn the world, and be the fol- 
lowers of the Lord Jesus !] Dwell by thy good 
Spirit in the homes of all whom we love. Bless 
this community, our State, our nation, with good 
things, temporal and spiritual. Have mercy, we 
beseech thee, upon an evil and ungodly world. 
Oli ! bring the wickedness of the wicked to an 
end ; and do good, in thy loving-kindness, unto all 
men, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



109 



WEDNESDAY. 



Romans iv. — 1. What shall we then say that 
Abraham, our father as pertaining to the flesh, 
hath found ? 

2. For, if Abraham were justified by works, he 
hath whereof to glory, but not before God. 

3. For what saith the scripture ? Abraham be- 
lieved God, and it was counted unto him for right- 
eousness. 

4. Now, to him that worketh is the reward not 
reckoned of grace, but of debt. 

5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth 
on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is 
counted for righteousness. 

6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness 
of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness 
without works ; 

7. Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are 
forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 

8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will 
not impute sin. 

9. Cometh this blessedness, then, upon the cir- 
cumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also ? 
For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for 
righteousness. 

10. How was it then reckoned ? when he was in 



The gospel, in the sense of a blessing promised to the obe- 
dience of faith, which could not rightfully have been claimed 
by one who had failed of perfect obedience to the law, — this 
reward of grace was given to Abraham in the promise of a 
blessing to his seed. At his time of life, all human experi- 
ence was against the fulfilment of such a promise ; but Abra- 
ham was not staggered by seeming impossibilities where he 
had the word of Jehovah. And again : when Abraham was 
commanded to sacrifice the son whom God had expressly 
given as the child of promise, though to human view this 
must defeat the covenant itself, he went forward in the obe- 



circumcision, or in uncircumcision ? Not in cir- 
cumcision, but in uncircumcision. 

11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a 
seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had 
yet being uncircumcised : that he might be the 
father of all them that believe, though they be not 
circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed 
unto them also ; 

12. And the father of circumcision to them who 
are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk 
in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham 
which he had being yet uncircumcised. 

20. He staggered not at the promise of God through 
unbelief, but was stron g in faith, giving glory to G od ; 

21. And being fully persuaded, that what he had 
promised he was able also to perform. 

22. And therefore it was imputed to him for 
righteousness. 

23. Now, it was not written for his sake alone, 
that it was imputed to him, 

24. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed 
if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord 
from the dead, 

25. Who was delivered for our offences, and 
was raised again for our justification. 



dience of faith, " accounting that God was able to raise him 
up even from the dead." 

Though Abraham had defects of character, so that by the 
standard of the law he could not be considered perfect, yet 
this marvellous faith was accepted as righteousness. Here is 
our encouragement as sinners, conscious of our short-com- 
ings and our ill-desert in presence of the holy law of God. 
By faith in God's own Son, whom he did not spare, but de- 
livered up for us all, we obtain pardon, justification, and 
eternal life. Even so great a thing as our salvation is possi- 
ble, if we will only believe. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Heavenly Father, we bless thee for the light of 
the morning : oh ! lift upon us the light of thy 
countenance, that we may see thy glory in the sun, 
may feel thy presence in the breath of life, may 
discern thy hand in all the good that comes to us, 
may meet thy grace in thy holy Word. Oh for a 
heart to love thee, to praise thee, to serve thee, as 
we ought! Goodness and mercy have followed us 
all the days of our lives. Thou didst create us for 
thy glory ; thou hast enriched us with thy bounty ; 
thou hast redeemed us with the precious blood of 
thy Son. Thou hast sent forth thy Spirit into our 
hearts to quicken us to a new life, that we might 
receive the.adoption of children; and crying with- 
in us, Abba, Father, oh, may we feel that we are 
thy children, and be separate from the children of 
this world in our loves and hopes, our aims and 
joys! Disobedient and unthankful children we 
have been ; and we confess our waywardness and our 



Prayer. t Nos - 30, 67. 

sin. Forgive us, we beseech thee, our Father ! 
for Christ's sake ; and help us this day to walk as 
children of the light, as children of heaven. 

God ! thy watchful providence is over all our 
ways. We pray thee this day to deliver us from 
temptation, to defend us from evil. Make sure to 
this family the mercies of thy covenant. [Give to 
the children grace to serve thee in the morning of 
life ; to be gentle, obedient, loving, and kind. May 
they grow up pure and holy !] Bemember all dear 
to us ; bless them in their hearts and in their 
homes. Visit, Lord ! with thy grace, the com- 
munity in which we live. Bless thy Church here, 
and in our land, and throughout the world. Oh ! 
send thy salvation to all people. We beseech thee 
to. comfort the poor, the sick, the sorrowing, the 
dying; and Lord! when heart and flesh shall 
fail us, be thou the strength of our heart, and our 
portion forever, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



110 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Isaiah ix. — 1. Nevertheless, the dimness shall 
not be such as was in her vexation, when at the 
first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and 
the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more 
grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond 
Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 

2. The people that walked in darkness have seen 
a great light : they that dwell in the land of the 
shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 

3. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not in- 
creased the joy: they joy before thee according to 
the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they 
divide the spoil. 

4. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, 
and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his op- 
pressor, as in the day of Midian. 

5. For every battle of the warrior is with con- 
fused noise, and garments rolled in blood ; but this 
shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 

6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is 
given ; and the government shall be upon his 
shoulder ; and his name shall be called Wonder- 
ful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting 
Father, the Prince of Peace. 

7. Of the increase of his government and peace 



there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, 
and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish 
it with judgment and with justice from henceforth, 
even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will 
perform this. 

Revelation xix. — 11. And I saw heaven opened, 
and, behold, a white horse ; and he that sat upon 
him was called Faithful and True, and in right- 
eousness he doth judge and make war. 

12. His eyes ivere as a flame of fire, and on his 
head were many crowns ; and he had a name writ- 
ten that no man knew but he himself. 

13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in 
blood ; and his name is called the Word of God. 

14. And the armies which were in heaven fol- 
lowed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, 
white and clean. 

15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, 
that with it he should smite the nations ; and he 
shall rule them with a rod of iron : and he tread- 
eth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of 
Almighty God. 

16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh 
a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LOED 
OF LOEDS. 



There cannot be a doubt as to the child whose birth was 
here predicted. The promise was literally fulfilled in Christ ; 
and such titles never could have been applied to any other : 
for, though Oriental courtiers and poets were accustomed to 
flatter their sovereigns with the names and attributes of their 
divinities, a Hebrew prophet was incapable of the blasphemy 
of ascribing to an earthly king the names and offices of Je- 
hovah. In a time of darkness and distress, when the calami- 
ties of war and captivity were hanging over the nation, the 
prophet promises that the night shall not be perpetual, the 
distress shall not be hopeless. In the midst of darkness, light 
shall break forth ; and even the. shadow of death shall be scat- 
tered by its shining. Israel, reduced to a remnant, should be 
multiplied by a spiritual increase from the Gentile nations, to 
whom also Christ should come through his mission in Gali- 



lee (verse 3 should read, " Thou hast multiplied the nation ; 
thou hast increased joy to it"); and so the joy of the op- 
pressed and afflicted people of God should be increased like 
the rejoicing at harvest or at a great victory. Through his 
coming, the very weapons and garments of war should lie 
heaped together upon the bloody field as food for fire. By the 
sword of his truth, as King of kings, he shall subdue the na- 
tions, and conquer war itself. For he is the Prince of peace, — 
wonderful in character and works ; infinite in wisdom as 
Counsellor ; clothed with the might of Jehovah ; the very 
Father of eternity in his inherent life, and eternal in his love 
for his people. Every glorious name and attribute of God 
was concentrated in the name of Jesus, which is above every 
name. Oh ! let us serve and adore him, our merciful Saviour, 
our glorious Leader, our everlasting Friend. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 119, 173, 186. 



O Thou who didst humble thyself to be born of 
a virgin, the everlasting Son of the Father, the 
Prince of peace ! we bless and adore thee for thy 
grace, and compassion for us sinners. We give 
thanks unto the Father, who so loved the world 
that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever 
believeth in him should not perish, but have ever- 
lasting life ; we praise and worship the Son, who 
took upon him our nature that he might redeem us 
from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a pecu- 
liar people, zealous of good works. Oh ! grant us, 
we beseech thee, thy peace, through the forgive- 
ness of sin, reconciliation with God, and the in- 
dwelling of the Spirit, that we may glorify and 
praise thee in our lives for all that we have heard 
and seen of thy grace. 

Save us, Lord ! from unbelief. Forbid that, 



by indifference to the gospel of thy Son, we should, 
at the last, fall under the condemnation of the 
Saviour as our Judge. And grant, we pray thee, 
that thy very judgments in the earth, overturning 
the powers of wickedness, may open the way for 
his grace to all nations. We give thee thanks for 
peaceful rest. Lord, keep this household from evil. 
[May the children remember that Jesus came as a 
little child to bless them ! May they give their 
hearts to his love !] May we all, in the spirit of 
little children, love and serve Him who came into 
the world to save sinners ! And, oh, may the world 
be saved ! may all men come to Christ ! may peace 
reign on the earth, and good-will bind all hearts to- 
gether for the glory of God ! And to Father, Son, 
and Holy Spirit, be honor and praise throughout 
all ages. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



Ill 



FRIDAY. 



Isaiah xi. — 1. And there shall come forth a rod 
out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow 
out of his roots; 

2. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon 
him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the 
spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge 
and of the fear of the Lord, 

3. And shall make him of quick understanding 
in the fear of the Lord : and he shall not judge 
after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the 
hearing of his ears ; 

4. But with righteousness shall he judge the 
poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the 
earth ; and he shall smite the earth with the rod 
of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall 
he slay the wicked. 

5. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his 
loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 



6. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and 
the leopard shall lie down with the kid ; and the 
calf and the young lion and the fatling together ; 
and a little child shall lead them. 

7. And the cow and the bear shall feed ;' their 
young ones shall lie down together : and the lion 
shall eat straw like the ox. 

8. And the sucking child shall play en the hole 
of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand 
on the cockatrice's den. 

9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my 
holy mountain ; for the earth shall be full of the 
knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the 
sea. 

10. And in that day there shall be a root of 
Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the peo- 
ple ; to it shall the Gentiles seek : and his rest 
shall be glorious. 



In the preceding chapter, the prophet had. likened the king- 
doms of this world to the mighty forests that clothed the sides 
of Lebanon. Assyria, the oppressor of Israel, had thus lifted 
herself up in the pride of her strength ; and, by the side of her, 
Judali, which represented the kingdom of God, was like the 
stump of a felled tree, like a root without stem or branches. 
But, to prepare for Christ's kingdom, this - great forest of 
worldly pride and power should be hewn down : and from the 
despised stump of Jesse, the humblest member of the almost 
extinct family of David, there should spring out of the buried 
root the merest twig ; but this fresh, green shoot should grow 
to strength, beauty, and fruitfnlness. 

The Son of David, born of the Virgin Mary, fulfilled this 
promise. This Heaven-appointed King should be endowed 
with the highest wisdom of discernment, the highest power of 
execution, the highest righteousness of decision. He would 
use his power and authority for the destruction of evil, for the 
protection of the poor and weak, for the defence of justice and 
truth. Righteousness should be his very garment. 



So much of this prediction as relates to the personal char- 
acter and qualities of the promised Prince found its counter- 
part in the just, the meek, the wise, the gracious, the loving, 
the holy Jesus of Kazareth. So much as relates to the prin- 
ciples that through the Messiah should transform society and 
rule the world was met in the doctrines and precepts of Christ. 
The conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity gave 
promise of the early realization of the whole of this glorious 
picture; and, though that promise is yet delayed, all things 
are moving toward its consummation. With the growth of 
Christ's kingdom, the most hostile and noxious things shall 
be subdued ; the most incongruous elements of human society 
shall be harmonized ; bloody men, in disposition like the wolf, 
the leopard, the lion, the bear, deceitful men like the asp and 
the cockatrice, shall be changed in their nature to the spirit of 
a little child. There is no reformer like the gospel: it is the 
kingdom of Christ, filling the earth, that will bring peace and 
good-will to men. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 2, 22, 146. 



Almighty and most merciful Father, who of thy 
tender love toward us didst send thy Son, our Sa- 
viour Jesus Christ, to be our Advocate and Interces- 
sor, hear us for his sake, and grant us the mercies 
which we need for another day. 

Graciously bestow upon us, O heavenly Father ! 
that Holy Spirit which thou hast promised to give 
to them that ask thee. Take away our ignorance, 
our hardness and coldness of heart, and our love 
of this present world. Enlighten our understand- 
ings ; give unto us the spirit of wisdom and revela- 
tion in the knowledge of Christ. May we know 
thee as our God and Saviour ! May we enter more 
and more into the riches of redeeming love ! Grant 
that, being set free from sin, and made servants to 
God, we may have our fruit unto holiness, and the 
end everlasting life. 

We thank thee for all thy goodness and thy 
care. Thou spreadest our table ; thou givest us 
life and breath and all things. Lord! our souls, 
and all that is within us, would bless and praise 



thy holy name. As a family, we bless thee for 
our home, and for all the comforts and joys of our 
daily life. [May the children whom thou hast so 
favored in this house remember thee, their heaven- 
ly Father, and love and serve thee !] Be with us 
this day to guide and keep us. 

most merciful Saviour, our compassionate 
High Priest, who ever liveth to intercede for us ! 
turn from us all those evils which we most justly 
have deserved ; pity our infirmities; heal our souls' 
sicknesses ; give us the joy of thy salvation, and a 
hope full of immortality. Strengthen us to live 
and labor for thee. Build up thy Church, Lord! 
Hasten that blessed day when war and violence, 
injustice and deceit, shall vex the earth no more, 
and the Prince of peace shall reign in righteous- 
ness. And at length take us to rest with thee 
above, for thine own name and mercy's sake ; and 
unto thee, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, 
be all honor and glory, now and forevermore. 
Amen. 



J 



112 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Romans V. — 1. Therefore, being justified by 
faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord 
Jesus Christ ; 

2. By whom also we have access by faith into 
this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope 
of the glory of God. 

3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations 
also ; knowing that tribulation worketh patience ; 

4. And patience, experience ; and experience, 
hope ; 

5. And hope maketh not ashamed, because the 
love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the 
Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

6. For, when we were yet without strength, in 
due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die ; 
yet peradventnre for a good man some would even 
dare to die. 

8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in 
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for 
us. 

9. Much more then, being now justified by his 
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

10. For if, when we were enemies, we were recon- 
ciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, 
being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

11. And not only so, but we also joy in God 
through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have 
now received the atonement. 

12. Wherefore as by one man sin entered into 
the world, and death by sin ; and so death passed 
upon all men, for that all have sinned. 



Death as a physical event was in the world long prior to 
the fall of man. This geology teaches from the remains of 
races that had become extinct upon our globe before man was 
created. But death, as we now conceive of it from the point 
of mere nature, with its pain and gloom and fear, and its fore- 
bodings of the judgment to come, is a perpetual witness for 
the divine displeasure at sin. Moreover, if man had not 
sinned, he might have been removed from this world to a 
higher sphere, as Elijah was, by a translation without death ; 
or the natural body, untainted by sin, might have been trans- 
formed into the spiritual. Sin is disobedience to law ; and 
since death, which to man is a consequence of sin, is universal, 



13. (For, until the law, sin was in the world ; 
but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 

14. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to 
Moses, even over them that had not sinned after 
the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the 
figure of him that was to come. 

15. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. 
For if, through the offence of one, many be dead ; 
much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, 
which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded 
unto many. 

16. And not as it xvas by one that sinned, so is 
the gift. For the judgment was by one to con- 
demnation ; but the free gift is of many offences 
unto justification. 

17. For if, by one man's offence, death reigned 
by one ; much more they which receive abundance 
of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall 
reign in life by one, Jesus Christ :) 

18. Therefore as, by the offence of (me, judgment 
came upon all men to condemnation ; even so, by 
the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon 
all men unto justification of life. 

19. For as, by one man's disobedience, many 
were made sinners ; so by the obedience of one 
shall many be made righteous. 

20. Moreover, the law entered that the offence 
might abound. But, where sin abounded, grace did 
much more abound ; 

21. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so 
might grace reign through righteousness unto eter- 
nal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 



therefore all men have transgressed the law of God. Those 
who have not, like Adam, transgressed a positive revealed com- 
mand, are nevertheless convicted of having disobeyed the law 
written in their hearts ; and so all men have followed Adam in 
his apostasy. The coming-in of a revelation has rendered more 
manifest this universal sinfulness of the race. But, through 
the coming of Christ, death itself has been transformed into a 
new agency of life. By his own death upon the cross he con- 
quered death and sin, and provided for our justification with 
God ; and now, to the believer in Christ, death has no more 
terror, no more power. Peace, patience, hope, love, joy, have 
entered in where once all was fear, darkness, despair. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 34, 39, 54. 



Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 
Who shall not fear thee, Lord ! and glorify thy 
name ? We confess our great unworthiness ; our 
sins of thought, word, and action ; our sins against 
light and privilege, and providence and grace. 
We cast ourselves upon Him who came to seek 
and to save the lost. Thanks be unto God for his 
unspeakable gift. Eemembering at what price our 
redemption hath been purchased, we would conse- 
crate our lives to Him who loved us, and gave 
himself for us. 

Bless the members of this household. May they 



walk before thee with a perfect heart ! May the 
young adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all 
things ! Have mercy, Lord ! upon a world that 
lieth in wickedness and in the shadow of death. 

Thankful for the mercies of the night, we com- 
mend ourselves to thee for this day. Guide us; 
provide for us ; go before us with thy presence ; 
defend us by thy grace. 

And now, Lord, what wait we for ? Our hope is 
in thee. Prepare us for living ; prepare us for 
dying. And all we ask is for the Lord Jesus 
Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



113 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



I Corinthians xv. — 1. Moreover, brethren, I 
declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto 
you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye 
stand ; 

2. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in 
memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have 
believed in vain. 

3. For I delivered unto you first of all that 
which I also received, how that Christ died for our 
sins according to the scriptures ; 

4. And that he was buried, and that he rose 
again the third day according to the scriptures ; 

5. And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the 
twelve ; 

6. After that he was seen of above five hundred 
brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain 
unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 

7. After that he was seen of James ; then of all 
the apostles. 

8. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of 
one born but of due time. 

9. For I am the least of the apostles, that am 
not meet to be called an apostle, because I perse- 
cuted the church of God. 

10. But by the grace of God I am what I am : 



and his grace which was bestowed upon me was 
not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than 
they all ; yet not I, but the grace of God which was 
with me. 

11. Therefore, whether it were I or they, so we 
preach, and so ye believed. 

12. N"ow, if Christ be preached that he rose from 
the dead, how say some among you that there is no 
resurrection of the dead? 

13. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, 
then is Christ not risen ; 

14. And if Christ be not risen, then is our 
preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 

15. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of 
God; because we have testified of God that he 
raised up Christ : whom he raised not up, if so be 
that the dead rise not. 

16. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ 
raised : 

17. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is 
vain ; ye are yet in your sins. 

18. Then they also which are fallen asleep in 
Christ are perished. 

19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, 
we are of all men most miserable. 



The resurrection of Christ is the truth upon which Chris- 
tianity itself hinges. By this he was proved to be the Son 
of God ; by this his life was attested as an incarnation ; by 
this his death was interpreted as an atonement ; by this his 
triumph over death and hell, and the complete redemption of 
our humanity, were assured. Yet this sublime fact lies so be- 
yond the grasp of man's philosophy, that mere rationalism 
cannot receive it. The Sadducees among the Jews, the Epi- 
cureans among the Greeks, mocked at the resurrection, as a 
thing impossible. But they were materialists, and believed 
neither in a spiritual existence nor in an hereafter. Some 
believers of the gospel were so staggered at a literal resurrec- 
tion, that they spiritualized the idea, and rejected the fact. It 



is such doubters whom the apostle is addressing in this grand 
argument for the resurrection. How strong, how invincible, 
is the evidence concerning Christ ! He was crucified in open 
day ; he was pronounced dead by the official guard, and then 
pierced to the heart by the spear of a Roman soldier ; he was 
buried in a new tomb cut from the solid rock ; the door was 
sealed, and put under guard ; he afterwards appeared in a body 
which was at once recognized by those who had known him 
intimately for years ; he appeared to them again and again, 
speaking and acting as a man ; and they were ready to die as 
witnesses to that fact. Yes, Christ rose from the dead ; and 
therefore there is redemption for our sins, and there is hope 
for our resurrection. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 79, 80, 94. 



O Lord God, Father of mercies, the Fountain 
of all comfort and blessing, who fillest heaven with 
thy glory, and earth with thy goodness ; to whom 
the heavens sing praise, and all their powers, with 
the earth and sea and all that are therein ! we 
praise and bless and glorify and give thanks to 
thee. Thou broughtest us out of nothing; and 
when, by our disobedience, we were fallen, thou 
didst raise us up again to an inheritance in thy 
kingdom. For these and all thy mercies we give 
thanks to thee, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
henceforth and forevermore. 

We bless thee for the sabbath, and pray that we 
may rightly improve its holy rest and the worship 
of thy holy house. May we have in lively remem- 
brance the resurrection and ascension of our 
blessed Lord ; by faith in him, be lifted above the 
power of sin, above the fear of death ; and, being 



risen with Christ, may we set our affections upon 
things above, and look with joy for his appearing ! 
[May these children delight in the Lord's day, 
and love to speak and sing of Jesus !] We pray 
for the whole Church of Christ, that she may 
possess all the gifts of thy Holy Spirit ; for all 
Sunday schools, — oh ! hear the hosannas of chil- 
dren, and show to them the love of Jesus their 
Saviour. We pray for the poor and needy, the 
sick and afflicted, for widows and orphans ; for all 
whom thou hast given to be near and dear to us. 
Give them thy blessing, Lord ! for Christ's sake. 
Accept, we beseech thee, O Lord! these our 
praises and supplications, and look graciously upon 
this family ; and so assist us by thy grace, that we 
may be fitted for that kingdom where all shall be 
joy and peace in the Holy Ghost ; to whom, with 
thee and thy Son, be all glory forever. Amen. 



114 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



I Corinthians xv. — 20. But now is Christ risen 
from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them 
that slept. 

21. For since by man came death, by man came 
also the resurrection of the dead. 

22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ 
shall all be made alive. 

23. But every man in his own order : Christ the 
first-fruits ; afterward they that are Christ's at his 
coming. 

24. Then cometh the end, when he shall have 
delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father ; 
when he shall have put down all rule, and all au- 
thority and power. 

25. For he must reign till he hath put all ene- 
mies under his feet. 

26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is 
death. 

27. For he hath put all things under his feet ; 
but, when he saith all things are put under him, 
it is manifest that he is excepted which did put 
all things under him. 

28. And when all things shall be subdued unto 
him, then shall the Son also himself be subject 
unto him that put all things under him, that God 
may be all in all. 



To make complete the redemption of humanity, it was 
needful that man should triumph on the very field where man 
had fallen, and over every foe to which man had been sub- 
jected. By his holy life, Christ triumphed over sin in human 
flesh, and over the condemnation which the law had pro- 
nounced upon our sinful race. In his atoning sacrifice, Christ 
triumphed over Satan through suffering, as he had before tri- 
umphed over him in the temptation ; and, by his resurrection, 
Christ triumphed over death. But this triumph, to be made 
complete and final, must be renewed in every one of his fol- 
lowers. Christ set up a kingdom of spiritual life and power. 
For this, he, as Mediator, now has dominion ; and unto this 
every enemy must be subdued : then the dominion of the Son 
as Redeemer shall be merged in that of God as Father. But 



29. Else what shall they do which are baptized 
for the dead, if the dead rise not at all ? why are 
they, then, baptized for the dead? 

30. And why stand we in jeopardy every 
hour ? 

31. I protest by your rejoicing which I have in 
Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 

32. If after the manner of men I have fought 
with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me 
if the dead rise not ? Let us eat and drink ; for 
to-morrow we die. 

33. Be not deceived : evil communications cor- 
rupt good manners. 

34. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for 
some have not the knowledge of God. I speak 
this to your shame. 

35. But some man will say, How are the 
dead raised up ? and with what body do they 
come ? 

36. Thou fool ! that which thou sowest is not 
quickened except it die : 

37. And that which thou sowest, thou sowest 
not that body that shall be, but bare grain ; it may 
chance of wheat or of some other grain : 

38. But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased 
him, and to every seed his own body. 



this shall not take place until death is conquered in the final 
resurrection. Of this the resurrection of Christ was the 
earnest and the pledge. The question of bodily identity, 
which perplexes some, Paul disposes of by a beautiful analogy. 
The sower does not expect to reap the self-same seed which 
he casts into the ground, but the same kind of grain, — wheat 
from wheat, barley from barley, maize from maize ; but what 
he reaps grows out of the germ of the seed that he sows, 
which is quickened into life by the death of its own body. 
So physiology itself may teach us that there is within us a 
life-principle, or germ, of spirit-potency, which is capable of 
being hereafter quickened and clothed with a body by Him 
who gives to every grain and plant its own body, answering 
to the seed from which it springs. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 8, 42, 45. 



O God, who hast taught us in thy Word that 
there is still laid up a rest for thy people, and 
who hast given us a promise of entering into it ! 
grant to us, we beseech thee, that we fail not of 
that promise through unbelief and disobedience. 
Teach us to look for a house that hath founda- 
tions, of which thou art the maker and builder. 
Lift our hearts thither in earnest desire. 

sabbath of eternal peace ! haven where the 
wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at 
rest ! When shall we see thee, Lord ! and behold 
the King in his beauty? When shall we meet the 
apostles and prophets, and the great multitude 
whom no man can number ? When shall we see 
again our dear friends who sleep in Jesus ? 

O God the Father, who hast the times and sea- 



sons in thine own power ! let not that day come 
upon us unawares. God the Son, who art gone 
to prepare a place for us ! in thine own time take 
us to thyself, that where thou art, there we may be 
also. God the Holy Ghost, the pledge of future 
glory in our hearts ! seal us until the redemption 
of the purchased possession. We bless thee for 
the help this clay received through thy holy Word 
and the prayers and praises of thy Church. We 
supplicate thy favor upon all who .have heard thy 
Word, and upon those who have it not. We bless 
thee for thy mercy to this household, and commit 
ourselves to thy fatherly protection for the night. 
Keep us under the shadow of thy wings ; and, 
Father ! bring us, we pray thee, finally to rest in 
thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



115 



MONDAY. 



I Corinthians xv. — 39. All flesh is not the same 
flesh ; but there is one kind of flesh of men, an- 
other flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another 
of birds. 

40. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies 
terrestrial ; but the glory of the celestial is one, 
and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 

41. There is one glory of the sun, and another 
glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars ; 
for one star differeth from another star in glory. 

42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It 
is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption : 

43. It is sown iu dishonor ; it is raised in glory : 
it is sown in weakness ; it is raised in power : 

44. It is sown a natural body ; it is raised a 
spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there 
is a spiritual body. 

45. And so it is written : The first man, Adam, 
was made a living soul ; the last Adam was made 
a quickening spirit. 

46. Howbeit, that was not first which is spirit- 
ual, but that which is natural ; and afterward that 
which is spiritual. 

47. The first man is of the earth, earthy : the 
second man is the Lord from heaven. 

48. As is the earthy, such are they also that are 
earthy ; and as is the heavenly, such are they also 
that are heavenly. 



The "natural" or psychical body is a body in which the 
animal nature — which Paul terms the psi/che, or "soul" — 
has ruled in place of the spiritual, which Paul terms the 
pneuma, or "spirit." By reason of this, the life has been 
" earthy," — more nearly related to sense, appetite, and the 
outer, visible world, than to the world of spiritual realities. 
But, in the resurrection, the spiritual life, restored by Christ, 
and fed with his power, shall mould the outer form to its 
own laws, and use it at its own will. The body itself shall 
be spiritualized. Sown in dishonor, with death as the mark 
of its degradation by sin, buried out of sight to return to its 
dust, it shall be raised resplendent with beauty and majesty 
like unto Christ's glorious body. Sown in weakness, too 
weak to cope with disease, helpless in the presence of death, 
it shall be raised with a dynamic force within itself capable 



49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, 
we shall also bear the image of the beavenly. 

50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and 
blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God ; neither 
doth corruption inherit incorruption. 

51. Behold, I show you a mystery : "We shall 
not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 

52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 
at the last trump ; for the trumpet shall sound, and 
the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we sball 
be changed. 

53. For this corruptible must put on incorrup- 
tion, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

54. So when this corruptible shall have put on 
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on 
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the 
saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in 
victory. 

55. Death ! where is thy sting ? Grave ! 
where is thy victory ? 

56. The sting of death is sin, and the strength 
of sin is the law. 

57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the 
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stead- 
fast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of 
the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is 
not in vain in the Lord. 



of resisting all evil, and of performing all the behests of the 
spirit. The renovated spirit shall lift the body to its own 
plane as a spiritual organism for the expression of only high 
and sacred thoughts, of pure and blessed feelings and desires. 
To the Christian, death is the liberation of the life-principle 
for an untold career of power and glory. The utmost gran- 
deur of existence is opened to him whose " life is hid with 
Christ in God." Where science speaks of improvement, 
Christianity speaks of renovation ; where science speaks of 
development, Christianity speaks of sanctification ; where sci- 
ence speaks of progress, Christianity speaks of perfection. 
And where, in the whole vocabulary of science, are terms to 
match these three, — incorruption, glory, power? Gladly do 
we join in this hymn of thanks to God ; willingly do we devote 
ourselves to the work of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 20, 34, 105. 



Thou blessed and glorious Bedeemer, who didst 
give thy life a ransom for us, grant us grace, we 
beseech thee, to follow in thy steps, and be bap- 
tized with the same baptism of devotion and sacri- 
fice for the glory of the Father and the good of men. 
Keep us from the absorbing power of earthly tilings. 
May we live under the powers of the world to come, 
loving thee now with a sweet and blessed foretaste 
of that love with which we shall love thee forever! 

We commend to thy gracious providence all thy 
people. Sanctify them by the indwelling of thy 
Holy Spirit. Give unto them both outward and 
inward peace. Bless our own immediate circle : 



may God be their Father, and Jesus their Elder 
Brother, and heaven their everlasting home ! 
[May the children of this family make thee their 
portion and their hope ! May they early learn to 
do thy will ; to wish for and to do only that which 
will please their Father in heaven !] 

May thy kingdom come ! May thy servants 
abound in the work of the Lord ! Sanctify affliction 
to all in sorrow ; and satisfy the poor with bread. 
Grateful for the mercies of the night, we pray thee 
help us to consecrate body, soul, and spirit to the 
glory of thy holy name. And all that we ask or 
hope for is for the Redeemer's sake. Amen. 



116 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Genesis xvii. — 3. And Abram fell on his face ; 
and God talked with him, saying, 

4. As for me, behold my covenant is with thee, 
and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 

5. Neither shall thy name any more be called 
Abram ; but thy name shall be Abraham : for a 
father of many nations have I made thee. 

6. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and 
1 will make nations of thee ; and kings shall come 
out of thee. 

7. And I will establish my covenant between 
me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their gen- 
erations, for an everlasting covenant ; to be a God 
unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 

10. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, 
between me and you, and thy seed after thee : 
Every man-child among you shall be circum- 
cised. 

Galatians iii. — 16. Now to Abraham and his 
seed were the promises made. He saith not, And 
to seeds, as of many ; but as of one, And to thy 
seed, which is Christ. 

17. And this I say, That the covenant that was 
confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which 
was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot 
disannul, that it should make the promise of none 
effect. 

18. For, if the inheritance be of the law, it is no 
more of promise ; but God gave it to Abraham by 
promise. 



This wonderful argument proves the identity of the sys- 
tem of grace in the Old Testament and the New. The gospel 
is, in reality, older than the law. When Jehovah entered into 
a covenant with Abraham to bless all nations in his seed, that 
promise looked forward to Christ. Between the giving of the 
promise and its fulfilment, the law came in as a means of train- 
ing and discipline. It was our schoolmaster, or, more exactly, 
our pedagogue, — the name given to a guardian who every day 
led the child to the teacher, and kept him under proper re- 
straint in going and coming. So the law led to Christ; and 
this in two ways : its commands caused men to realize the fail- 
ure of self-made righteousness, of attempts at character ; and 
its sacrifices fixed in the human mind and in human speech 
the idea of an atonement. With the coming of Christ, the 
Jewish system, with all that was local or national or typical 



19. Wherefore, then, serveth the law ? It was 
added because of transgressions, till the seed should 
come to whom the promise was made ; and it was 
ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 

20. Now, a mediator is not a mediator of one ; 
but God is one. 

21. Is the law, then, against the promises of 
God ? God forbid ! for if there had been a law 
given which could have given life, verily righteous- 
ness should have been by the law. 

22. But the scripture hath concluded all under 
sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ 
might be given to them that believe. 

23. But, before faith came, we were kept under 
the law, shut up unto the faith which should after- 
wards be revealed. 

24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to 
bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by 
faith. 

25. But, after that faith is come, we are no 
longer under a schoolmaster. 

26. For ye are all the children of God by faith 
in Christ Jesus. 

27. For as many of you as have been baptized 
into Christ have put on Christ. 

28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is 
neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor 
female ; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 

29. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's 
seed, and heirs according to the promise. 



in it, passed away ; but the original platform of the gospel re- 
mained, and Christ carried this out to the full meaning of the 
promise, abolishing in his kingdom the distinctions of race, of 
sex, and of condition. Baptism into this kingdom has taken the 
place of circumcision under the law, and carries with it all the 
blessings of the covenant to ourselves and to our children. 

Circumcision was practised among the ancient Egyptians, 
perhaps for sanitary reasons ; but to Abraham it was a sacred 
token, signifying the renewal of his nature through the con- 
secration of himself and his household unto God. The use of 
any such symbol in religion is both to assist our faith, and to 
remind us of our obligation. The covenant brought to Abra- 
ham duties as well as privileges ; and all God's promises to us 
are conditioned upon our fidelity to him. Let us, therefore, 
do our duty while we trust his grace. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 10, 59, 84, 88. 



O thou faithful God, who keepest covenant and 
mercy forever ! we awake this morning to the light 
of thy love, to the sense of thy gracious protec- 
tion, and the joy of thy presence ; and we bring 
to thee our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. 
Oh ! keep us this day from sin ; bless us in our 
home, in our labors, in our studies ; bless all our 
friends with both temporal and spiritual good ; and 
remember all men in mercy. May we be followers 
of them who through faith and patience inherit the 
promises ! May we all be the children of thy grace ! 

Lord, who hast taught us not only to pray, but 



to give thanks for all men ! we beseech thee to ac- 
cept our unfeigned thanks and praises for the grace 
thou hast wrought in thy saints, and through them 
bestowed on thy holy Church from the beginning of 
the world. For all thy servants who have departed 
this life with the seal of faith, we praise and mag- 
nify thy glorious name ; most humbly desiring of 
thy mercy and goodness that we may continue in 
their holy communion ; and that, following with all 
diligence their holy examples, we may together 
with them attain to the resurrection of the just, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



117 



WEDNESDAY. 



Genesis xviii. — 1. And the Lord appeared unto 
Abraham in the plains of Marnre ; and he sat in 
the tent-door in the heat of the day ; 

2. And he lifted up his eyes, and looked ; and, lo, 
three men stood by him : and, when he saw them, 
he ran to meet them from the tent-door, and 
bowed himself toward the ground, 

3. And said, My Lord, if now I have found favor 
in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy 
servant : 

4. Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched ; and 
wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree : 

5. And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and com- 
fort ye your hearts ; after that ye shall pass on : 
for therefore are ye come to your servant. And 
they said, So do as thou hast said. 

6. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto 
Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three meas- 
ures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon 
the hearth. 

7. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched 
a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young 
man ; and he hasted to dress it. 

8. And he took butter and milk, and the calf 
which he had dressed, and set it before them ; and 
he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. 



9. And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy 
wife ? And he said, Behold, in the tent. 

10. And he said, I will certainly return unto 
thee according to the time of life ; and, lo, Sarah 
thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in 
the tent-door, which teas behind him. 

13. And the Lord said unto Abraham, . . . 

14. Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At 
the time appointed I will return unto thee, accord- 
ing to the time of life ; and Sarah shall have a 
son. 

Psalm exxviii. — 1. Blessed is every one that 
feareth the Lord ; that walketh in his ways. 

2. For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands': 
happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with 
thee. 

3. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the 
sides of thine house ; thy children like olive-plants 
round about thy table. 

4. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed 
that feareth the Lord. 

5. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion ; and 
thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days 
of thy life. 

6. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, 
and peace upon Israel. 



The promise of Isaac to Abraham had special reference to 
the covenant of grace. Ishmael was the son of a bond-woman, 
and, as such, could not fitly become the type of that free 
spiritual community which was to be founded upon the faith 
of Abraham. The Bible always speaks of children as precious 
gifts of God ; and in the Old Testament they were the more 
prized as giving hope of the Messiah in the line of God's 
special promise. 

There is hardly a more lovely spot in Palestine than the 
valley along which lies the city of Hebron, — creeping up the 
hills upon either side, and imbosomed in vineyards, for which 
the locality is still famous, as the ancient " Eshcol." About 
a mile from the city, in the midst of the vineyards, stands a 
venerable tree, which tradition honors as the oak of Abraham, 
and which may mark the site of Mamre, where he so long 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

God, the Father of all the families of men ! 
we thank thee for thy great love in the gift of 
children ; for all the joy they bring with them ; 
for all the good thou dost prepare for them and by 
them. [May the children of this family be thine 
in the covenant of thy love, and grow up in the 
household of faith !] 

O Lord ! we adore thee as God over all, blessed 
forevermore. Thou art the Former of our bodies, 
and the Father of our spirits. All we are and all 
we have is derived from thee. There is nothing 
which we have that we have not received. Oh ! 
give us the blessing of grateful hearts. Let thy 
Spirit be our teacher ; let thy Word be our guide ; 
let thy will be our sovereign motive ; let thy glory 
be our final end. 



pitched his tent. The passage gives a beautiful picture of 
patriarchal hospitality. As Abraham was reposing at noon- 
tide in the shade, three travellers appeared before him ; and he 
hastened to show them attentions, — perhaps with a vague 
suspicion that these might be heavenly visitants. As the san- 
dals worn in the East exposed the feet to the dust of the way, 
the first thing was to provide water for the guests. Then, 
speaking modestly of his provision, he hastened to prepare for 
them the best that tent and herd afforded. According to cus- 
tom, the calf was cooked and eaten as soon as killed; and 
Abraham, in token of respect for his guests, stood to serve 
them while they sat to eat. His delicate and generous hospi- 
tality was followed by the choicest promises of divine favor. 
So the grace of God may come as a daily guest to our hearts 
and homes, if we are ever ready to welcome it. 



[Nos. 85, 124, 125. 



Prayer. 

Heavenly Father, we bring thee thanks for the 
rest and refreshment of sleep, and for the comforts 
of the morning. Bless us at our table, in our 
domestic occupations, and in all the business of 
life. Oh ! gladden this home with thy presence. 
Guide, keep, and prosper us this day. Bless all 
connected with us by whatever tie. May our ever- 
present God be with them, guiding them by his 
grace, defending them from temptation, and fitting 
them by his providence for the varied duties of 
the present life ! 

Bless the lambs of thy flock. We commend 
them to the Great Shepherd of the sheep, beseech- 
ing him to make them perfect, and to fold them 
in the arms of his mercy. And to thy name be 
ascribed all the praise. Amen. 



118 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Gsnesis xviii. — 16. And the men rose up from 
thence, and looked toward Sodom ; and Abraham 
went with him to bring him on the way. 

17. And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abra- 
ham that thing which 1 do ; 

18. Seeing that Abraham shall surely become 
a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of 
the earth shall be blessed in him ? 

19. For I know him, that he will command his 
children and his household after him, and they 
shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and 
judgment ; that the Lord may bring upon Abra- 
ham that which he hath spoken of him. 

20. And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom 
and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is 
very grievous, 

21. I will go down now and see whether they 
have done altogether according to the cry of it 
which is come unto me ; and, if not, I will know. 

22. And the men turned their faces from thence, 
and went toward Sodom ; but Abraham stood yet 
before the Lord. 

23. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt 
thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked ? 

24. Peradventure there be fifty righteous within 
the city : wilt thou also destroy and not spare the 
place for the fifty righteous that are therein ? 

25. That be far from thee to do after this man- 
ner, to slay the righteous with the wicked; and 
that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be 



The word of God, like his providence, often brings judg- 
ments and mercies into close connection. The heavenly mes- 
sengers who had just given to Abraham the promise of a son 
left his tent of blessing upon an errand of warning to Lot, and 
of destruction to Sodom. Sometimes the self-same purpose 
that looks toward the exaltation of the righteous involves the 
overthrow of the incorrigibly wicked. But, in the ways of 
God, " mercy rejoiceth against judgment ; " and, if the wicked 
would repent, he would rather pardon than punish. 

How exquisite the commingling of divine tenderness and 



far from thee : shall not the Judge of all the earth 
do right ? 

26. And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty 
righteous within the city, then I will spare all the 
place for their sakes. 

27. And Abraham answered and said, Behold, 
now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the 
Lord, which am but dust and ashes : 

28. Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty 
righteous : wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of 
five ? And he said, If I find there forty and five, 
I will not destroy it. 

29. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, 
Peradventure there shall be forty found there. 
And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake. 

30. And he said unto him, Oh ! let not the Lord 
be angry, and I will speak : Peradventure there 
shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will 
not do it if I find thirty there. 

31. And he said, Behold, now, I have taken upon 
me to speak unto the Lord : Peradventure there 
shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will 
not destroy it for twenty's sake. 

32. And he said, Oh ! let not the Lord be angry, 
and I will speak yet but this once : Peradventure 
ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not 
destroy it for ten's sake. 

33. And the Lord went his way as soon as he 
had left communing with Abraham ; and Abraham 
returned unto his place. 



human pathos in the scene here described ! What a testimony 
did God render to the faithfulness of Abraham in admitting 
him to his confidence, and taking him, as it were, into his 
counsel ! And how wonderful the privilege and the power of 
intercessory prayer, when a man can almost prescribe terms 
to God in pleading with him as friend with friend ! But even 
human sympathy and entreaty must at length pause before 
an iniquity that is past all recovery ; and the Judge of all the 
earth will do right. Ah ! let us secure by timely repentance 
an interest in the great salvation. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 57, 117, 166. 



G-od ! we are sinners, and of a sinful race. 
We deserve thy righteous displeasure ; yet do we 
draw nigh unto thee in the assurance of thy grace 
to help in every time of need : yea, the greater our 
sense of need and helplessness, the more plenteous 
is thy grace, the more ready is thy help. For 
Christ's sake, hear and save us. 

Thou madest us to lie down and rest in safety ; 
thou callest us to rise up and rejoice as in newness 
of life. Oh ! bless and furnish us abundantly, we 
beseech thee, for all that is before us this day, — 
our minds with strength, our hands with diligence, 
our hearts with love and devotion. May we be 
perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect in doing 
good unto all ! Keep us from the snares of the 
world. 



We beseech thee to have compassion upon all 
who are yet living in sin. Oh ! spare thy judg- 
ments, Lord, and show forth thy salvation; and 
imprint upon our hearts such a dread of thy judg- 
ments, and such a grateful sense of thy goodness 
to us, as may make us both afraid and ashamed to 
offend thee. Above all, inspire us with the joy of 
being with Christ in his glory ; and, having this 
hope in him, may we purify ourselves as he is 
pure ! 

Oh ! keep this household in thy love ; bless abun- 
dantly our friends, near or far away ; minister of 
thy comforts to the sick and needy, succor the per- 
ishing, and save the lost. Guide us ever with thy 
counsel, and finally bring us unto thy rest, for the 
Redeemer's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



119 



FRIDAY. 



Genesis xix. — 15. And when the morning 
arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, 
take thy wife and thy two daughters which are 
here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the 
city. 

16. And, while he lingered, the men laid hold 
upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and 
upon the hand of his two daughters, the Lord be- 
ing merciful unto him; and they brought him 
forth, and set him without the city. 

17. And it came to pass, when they had brought 
them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life : 
look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the 
plain ; escape to the mountain, lest thou be con- 
sumed. 

18. And Lot said unto them, Oh ! not so, my 
Lord. 

19. Behold, now, thy servant hath found grace in 
thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, 
which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life ; 
and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil 
take me, and I die. 

20. Behold, now, this city is near to flee unto, 
and it is a little one : oh ! let me escape thither, 
(is it not a little one ?) and my soul shall live. 

21. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted 
thee concerning this thing also, that I will not 
overthrow this city for the which thou hast 
spoken. 

22. Haste thee ; escape thither : for I cannot do 
any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the 
name of the city was called Zoar. 



The night before had been one of hoifible wickedness. Lot 
had taken home the strangers to his house, where they should 
have been safe under the sacred rights of hospitality. But a 
vile mob followed them, and strove in every way to insult, 
abuse, and injure them. The angels warned Lot to make 
ready his family for an early flight from the doomed city. 
Peter tells us that Lot had maintained his piety, and that his 
righteous soul was " vexed from day to day with the unlaw- 
ful deeds " of his townsmen. Yet at the last moment he " lin- 
gered," in hope of rescuing some of the goods that he had ac- 
cumulated at so great risk to the morals of his family. The 
angels almost forced him away : the one paramount concern 



23. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot 
entered into Zoar. 

24. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon 
Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of 
heaven ; 

25. And he overthrew those cities, and all the 
plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and 
that which grew upon the ground. 

26. But his wife looked back from behind him, 
and she became a pillar of salt. 

Jude. — 6. And the angels which kept not their 
first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath 
reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto 
the judgment of the great day. 

7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities 
about them in like manner, giving themselves over 
to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set 
forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of 
eternal fire. 

17. But, beloved, remember ye the words which 
were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord 
Jesus Christ ; 

18. How that they told you there should be 
mockers in the last time, who should walk after 
their own ungodly lusts. 

19. These be they who separate themselves, 
sensual, having not the Spirit. 

20. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on 
your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 

21. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking 
for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eter- 
nal life. 



was to escape for his life from the city of destruction. When 
God bids us forsake the world, we may not stop to parley, nor 
hope to carry something of the world with us. The light- 
nings from heaven, combining with the volcanic elements of 
the district, consumed Sodom and Gomorrah as speedily as 
Herculaneum and Pompeii were overwhelmed by the lava and 
cinders of Vesuvius. Lot's wife — regretting her home, or 
questioning the catastrophe, or curious to observe it — dis- 
obeyed the express injunction of the angel, was overtaken by 
the tempest of destruction, and perished. Our Saviour has 
warned us never to trifle with divine judgments : " Kemember 
Lot's wife." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 9, 82, 200. 



Thou holy and blessed Son of God, who for our 
sakes didst endure such contradiction of sinners 
against thyself, grant us, we pray thee, the spirit of 
meekness and patience under injury, and of for- 
giveness toward all who do us wrong. How often 
have we grieved and offended thee ! Have mercy 
upon us, we beseech thee, and teach us to be mer- 
ciful unto all men. May we be followers of thee, 
doing good as we find opportunity ! Heavenly 
Father, we bless thee for thy loving-kindness to- 
ward us, so free, so constant, so abounding. We 
would show forth thy loving-kindness in the morn- 



ing, and thy faithfulness every night. Oh ! grant, 
that, walking in love, we may be the children of 
our Father in heaven. 

God, whose blessed Son was manifested that 
he might destroy the works of the Devil ! grant 
us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we 
may purify ourselves even as he is pure ; that, 
when he shall appear again with power and great 
glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal 
and glorious kingdom, where, with thee, Father ! 
and thee, Holy Ghost ! he liveth and reigneth, 
ever one God, world without end. Amen. 



120 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Luke xvii. — 20. And, when he was demanded 
of the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should 
come, he answered them, and said, The kingdom of 
God cometh not with observation. 

21. Neither shall they say, Lo here ! or, Lo 
there ! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within 
you. 

22. And he said unto the disciples, The days 
will come when ye shall desire to see one of the 
days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 

23. And they shall say to you, See here ! or, See 
there ! Go not after them, nor follow them. 

24. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of 
the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other 
part under heaven ; so shall also the Son of man 
be in his day. 

25. But first must he suffer many things, and be 
rejected of this generation. 

26. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it 
be also in the days of the Son of man. 

27. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, 
they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe 
entered into the ark, and the flood came and de- 
stroyed them all. 

28. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot : 



At the time of Christ's appearing, the computation of the 
prophetic periods, the political circumstances of the Jews, and 
a general state of fermentation in the public mind, had awa- 
kened the expectation of the Messiah as a revolutionary leader, 
a conquering prince and deliverer. The kingdom of God was 
looked for with some sudden and mighty demonstration of 
power. More than once, Jesus had refused to pander to this 
feeling by taking advantage of the excitement caused by his 
miracles ; and now the Pharisees, with a tantalizing air, de- 
manded some positive information of the time and manner of 
that kingdom. But already that kingdom was among them, 
— in his presence, in his doctrine, in the hearts of his disciples : 
it would spread by moral means gentle and silent as the light ; 



they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, 
they planted, they builded ; 

29. But, the same day that Lot went out of 
Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, 
and destroyed them all : 

30. Even thus shall it be in the day when the 
Son of man is revealed. 

31. In that day, he which shall be upon the 
house-top, and his stuff in the house, let him not 
come down to take it away ; and he that is in the 
field, let him likewise not return back. 

32. Remember Lot's wife. 

33. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose 
it, and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 

34. I tell you, in that night there shall be two 
men in one bed : the one shall be taken, and the 
other shall be left. 

35. Two women shall be grinding together : the 
one shall be taken, and the other left. 

36. Two men shall be in the field : the one shall 
be taken, and the other left. 

37. And they answered and said unto him, 
Where, Lord ? And he said unto them, Whereso- 
ever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered 
together. 



but at last its presence should be manifested through the uni- 
versal kindling of that light, as when in an instant the light- 
ning illumines the whole heaven. While the kingdom itself 
should spread through the action of truth and grace within 
the hearts of men, the providences of God in the outer world 
would often concert for its manifestation. In this view its 
coming would be sudden, startling men in the common occu- 
pations of life, working in the field or reposing upon the flat 
roof of the house, or the women pounding the corn with the 
mill-stones at the street-door, — according to the customs of 
Eastern society. May we learn so to consecrate our daily 
life, that, whenever the Master shall come, we shall be found 
ready ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Blessed be God for the hope and the consolation 
of the gospel; for that faith which even now is 
our victory over the world, and which shall make us 
more than conquerors over death. O Lord ! may 
thy grace enable us to live as faithful and wise stew- 
ards who watch for the coming of their lord ! We 
bring to thee this morning the powers which thou 
hast given us, the lives which thou hast spared, 
and, with thanksgiving for thy mercies, consecrate 
all that we are and all that we possess unto 
thy service and glory. 

Heavenly Father, who hast commanded us that 
we should not be slothful in business, but fervent 
in spirit, serving thee, help us ever to remember 
that our work is thy appointment, and to do it 
heartily as unto thee. Make us to live with loins 
girded and lamps burning, looking for our Lord. 

Teach us to carry thy Word and thy Spirit with 



Prayer. [Nos. 21, 28, 39. 

us into the daily occupations of life. May our 
household-affairs, our studies, our dealings with the 
world, our social intercourse, all be in harmony with 
the gospel of Christ ! [Teach these children thus 
to make life happy in thy service.] 

O Lord ! to thy merciful providence we commend 
the wants of all mankind. Cause the light of thy 
glorious gospel to shine throughout the world. 
Bless thy whole Church, heal its divisions, and 
restore unto it the blessings of truth, unity, and 
peace. Bless our country : defend and preserve 
all in authority. Bless our schools of learning : fill 
them with thy light. Hear the cry of the poor and 
needy ; be gracious to all our relations and friends ; 
and grant, Lord ! that we may all at length find 
rest and peace with thy saints in thine eternal 
kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Mediator and 
Redeemer. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



121 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Psalm xlv. — 1. My heart is inditing a good 
matter : I speak of the things which I have made 
touching the King : my tongue is the pen of a 
ready writer. 

2. Thou art fairer than the children of men: 
grace is poured into thy lips : therefore God hath 
blessed thee for ever. 

3. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, Most 
Mighty ! with thy glory and thy majesty ; 

4. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because 
of truth and meekness and righteousness ; and thy 
right hand shall teach thee terrible things. 

5. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the 
King's enemies ; whereby the people fall under 
thee. 

6. Thy throne, God ! is for ever and ever : 
the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 

7. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wick- 
edness : therefore God, thy God, hath anointed 
thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 

8. All thy garments smell of myrrh and aloes 
and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they 
have made thee glad. 



9. Kings' daughters were among thy honorable 
women : upon thy right hand did stand the queen 
in gold of Ophir. 

10. Hearken, daughter! and consider, and 
incline thine ear ; forget also thine own people, 
and thy father's house ; 

11. So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty : 
for he is thy lord ; and worship thou him. 

12. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there 
with a gift ; even the rich among the people shall 
entreat thy favor. 

13." The King's daughter is all glorious within : 
her clothing is of wrought gold. 

14. She shall be brought unto the King in 
raiment of needlework ; the virgins her compan- 
ions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. 

15. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be 
brought : they shall enter into the King's palace. 

16. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, 
whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. 

17. I will make thy name to be remembered in 
all generations : therefor shall the people praise 
thee for ever and ever. 



Under the figure of a marriage festival, the union of Christ 
with his Church is set forth in this exceedingly rich and beau- 
ful psalm. That Christ is the subject of the song is clear from 
the quotation of the 6th and 7th verses, in Heb. i. 8, 9, to 
prove the divine kingship of Jesus. It could not have referred 
to David ; for he did not wed a foreign princess : nor to Solo- 
mon ; for, though he married a daughter of Pharaoh, he was 
not a warrior, such as is here described. Nor would divine 
honors and an eternal kingdom have been ascribed to any 
mortal sovereign. 

The heart of the Psalmist bursts with his theme, — the 



beauty, the righteousness, the grace, the majesty, the glory of 
the just and victorious King whom he celebrates. The Church, 
led forth as it were from a strange land, is brought to him to 
be enriched and beautified as his bride. Under this delicate 
symbol is pictured the love of Christ for his Church. He 
admits her to the most near, loving, confidential com- 
munion ; he elevates her to his own dignity and honor ; and 
he will hereafter bestow upon her the full blessedness of 
his presence, the full glory of his kingdom. Shall not our 
hearts, too, swell with his love, our tongues sound forth his 
praise 1 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 49, 62, 121. 



Almighty God, the fountain of truth and grace, 
who hast revealed unto us what eye had not seen, 
nor ear heard, and what had never entered into 
the heart of man to conceive, we bless thee for the 
revelation of thyself in Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Oh ! for his sake hear us, and take away our sins. 
Thankful for the night and the week now closed, 
which have brought us so many tokens of thy 
goodness, we joyfully commit ourselves to thee for 
this holy day. 

Lord of the sabbath, hear our prayers, that it 
may please thee to bless us with thy Spirit, so that, 
through the power of his grace, we may enter into 
the holiest rest, and partake of the purest joy. Mer- 
cifully prepare us for all holy service. Go with us 
to thy house. Help us to worship in the beauty 
of holiness. Give efficacy to thine own truth ; 
and may we receive it as able .to make us wise 
unto salvation through faith in thy Son ! 

We commend to thee, God, the whole catho- 
lic Church. Pour down upon her ministry, and 
all congregations committed to their care, the 



healthful spirit of thy grace ; and may it please 
thee to accompany their message with the demon- 
strations of thy Spirit and with power. Bless thy 
people, and lift them up forever. Let thy king- 
dom come, and thy will be done on earth as it 
is in heaven. Praised be thy name for the 
mercies of this life, — for our home-comforts, our 
means of education, our manifold enjoyments and 
privileges. 

Holy Father, we pray for all who are in trouble 
and sorrow, that it may please thee to comfort 
them in their distress, and give them a happy 
issue out of their affliction. Have compassion on 
the poor ; succor the tried and the tempted ; loose 
the chain of the captive ; hear the sigh of the 
prisoner; and be with those who are doomed to 
die. Finally, we commend ourselves as a family, 
with all our kindred and friends, unto thy heavenly 
care and blessing. Accept our thanks, pardon our 
sins, sanctify our souls, and prepare us for glory 
everlasting, through Jesus Christ, our only Medi- 
ator. Amen. 



122 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Isaiah Ix. — 15. Whereas thou hast been for- 
saken and hated, so that no man went through 
thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy 
of many generations. 

16. Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gen- 
tiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings ; and thou 
shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and 
thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. 

17. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I 
will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones 
iron : I will also make thine officers peace, and 
thine exactors righteousness. 

18. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, 
wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but 
thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates 
Praise. 

19. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; 
neither for brightness shall the moon give light 
unto thee : but the Lord shall be unto thee an 
everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 

20. Thy sun shall no more go down ; neither 



Not as a political power, nor through alliance with the 
State, is the Church to realize this condition of prosperity 
and splendor. Only the mastery of the spiritual over the 
material, through the consecration of all earthly power, pos- 
sessions, and affairs, to Jehovah, could bring about the state of 
society described in these verses, — a state of universal peace, 
justice, order, safety, — and the prosperity which this would 
secure ; peoples and governments alike honoring the prin- 
ciples of the gospel, and illustrating its spirit in all the con- 
cerns of life. As the kingdom of Christ is the proclamation 
of free grace, its gates shall be open continually, that all may 
enter in. As it acknowledges no distinction of race or caste, 
the Gentiles of every land shall come to it, kings and shep- 
herds alike, the wandering tribes of Midian and the rovers of 
the sea. Since Christianity shall sanctify trade, merchandise, 
art, — gold, silver, brass, iron, the wealth of nations, shall be 



shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall 
be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy 
mourning shall be ended. 

21. Thy people also shall be all righteous : they 
shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my 
planting, the work of my hands, that I may be 
glorified. 

22. A little one shall become a thousand, and a 
small one a strong nation : I the Lord will hasten 
it in his time. 

Zechariah xiv. — 6. And it shall come to pass in 
that day that the light shall not be clear nor dark ; 

7. But it shall be one day which shall be known 
to the Lord, not day, nor night : but it shall come 
to pass, that at evening-time it shall be light. 

20. In that day shall there be upon the bells of 
the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LOED : 
and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the 
bowls before the altar; 

21. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah 
shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts. 



devoted to its service and refined by its touch, and the choicest 
woods of Lebanon shall beautify its sacred places. 

And such ascendency shall its spirit and principles gain in 
the affairs of the world, in laws and institutions of govern- 
ment, and in the customs of society, that they who once de- 
spised it shall bow down and confess its power, and the sons 
of its early persecutors shall build its walls. Indeed, such 
shall be the predominance of this new spiritual power in the 
civilization of the world, that the nation which will not receive 
it shall perish. In the universal Christianizing of society, 
government, commerce, art, customs, laws, the alternative pre- 
sented to each nation is, to be itself Christianized, to receive a 
pure Christianity as the inspiring and moulding power of its 
life, or to fall behind the march of' civilization, and waste 
away, till it shall cease to be recognized among the powers of 
the earth. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 133, 186, 197. 



Lord ! how great is thy mercy toward us, in 
the circumstances of our lives, in the comforts of 
our home, in the means of grace, and the hope of 
the gospel ! We bless thee for the sacred rest of the 
sabbath, for the peace and quietness in which we 
dwell, for the plenty that spreads our table and 
fills our cup. Oh ! feed us with the bread of life. 

Bring home to our hearts thy truth which has 
this day been preached. May it prove to be the 
power of God unto the salvation of our souls ! 
Grant that the words which we have heard with 
our outward ears may, through thy grace, be so 
grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring 
forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honor 
and praise of thy name. 

May it please thee to bring into the way of 
truth all such as have erred and are deceived ; to 
strengthen such as do stand ; to comfort and help 
the weak-hearted ; to raise up those who fall ; and 
finally to beat down Satan under our feet ! 



We beseech thee to bless our country. Turn 
the hearts of our rulers unto thyself. Sanctify all 
trade, industry, knowledge, all wealth and influ- 
ence, unto thy service. May we be truly a Chris- 
tian people ! Oh ! bring in the latter-day glory 
among the nations, and fill the earth with thy 
praise. 

We commend unto thee, God ! all who are dear 
to us, and also those who are at this time afflicted 
or distressed in mind, body, or estate. May it 
please thee to relieve them according to their sev- 
eral necessities, giving them patience under their 
sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflic- 
tions ! 

And now, Father ! we desire to put ourselves 
under thy protection and care for the coming night. 
Defend us from all harm. Let thine angels en- 
camp round about us, and keep us in all our 
ways ; and so do thou bring us at length unto our 
Father's house, through Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



123 



MONDAY. 



Acts V. — 17. Then the high priest rose up, 
and all they that were with him (which is the sect 
of the Sadducees), and were filled with indigna- 
tion, 

18. And laid their hands on the apostles, and 
put them in the common prison. 

19. But the angel of the Lord by night opened 
the prison-doors, and brought them fortb, and 
said, 

20. Go, stand and speak in the temple to the 
people all the words of this life. 

21. And, when they heard that, they entered 
into the temple early in the morning, and taught. 
But the high priest came, and they that were with 
him, and called the council together, and all the 
senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the 
prison to have them brought. 

22. But when the officers came, and found them 
not in the prison, they returned, and told, 

23. Saying, The prison truly found we shut with 
all safety, and the keepers standing without before 
the doors ; but, when we had opened, we found no 
man within. 

24. Now, when the high priest, and the captain 
of the temple, and the chief priests, heard these 



things, they doubted of them whereunto this would 
grow. 

25. Then came one and told them, saying, Be- 
hold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing 
in the temple, and teaching the people. 

26. Then went the captain with the officers, and 
brought them without violence ; for they feared the 
people, lest they should have been stoned. 

27. And, when they had brought them, they set 
them before the council : and the high priest asked 
them, 

28. Saying, Did not we straitly command you 
that ye should not teach in this name ? and, behold, 
ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and 
intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 

29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered 
and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 

30. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, 
whom ye slew and hanged on a tree : 

31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand 
to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance 
to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 

32. And we are his witnesses of these things ; 
and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath 
given to them that obey him. 



It is always a hard fight when the civil power arrays itself 
against conscience. To a superficial observer, the issue may 
seem to be all upon one side. The civil power can arrest, im- 
prison, scourge, maim, hang, burn ; and, all the while, there is 
no physical resistance. Yet conscience lives, protests, main- 
tains its position, and gains ground before the people. Con- 
science cannot be reached by violence, cannot be intimidated 
by penalties, cannot be bound with chains, cannot be hurt of 
death. The Jewish council had already imprisoned Peter 
and John, and threatened them with severer penalties should 
they persist in preaching Christ. But the apostles insisted 
that they must obey the voice of God. Again they were ar- 



rested, and thrust into the prison of common felons. Eeleased 
by miracle, instead of seeking safety in flight, they began at 
once to preach the same name and doctrine. Their courage 
and enthusiasm stirred the people ; their doctrine grew ; faith 
and conscience were getting the better of persecution ; and, 
when the rulers attempted to silence the preachers by a show 
of authority, they were met by the assertion of a higher law, 
" We ought to obey God rather than men." Long ago that 
persecuting power went down ; but the truth for which the 
apostles testified lives and rules. Let this be our encourage- 
ment, in times of public irreligion and corruption, to stand by 
the truth of God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



O God ! we pray thee, make thy strength perfect 
in our weakness. In the trials and conflicts of life, 
in its perils and temptations, be thou ever nigh to 
counsel, uphold, direct, and comfort us. May we 
set our hearts supremely upon our duties to thee, 
and never fear what man can do unto us ! 

We beseech thee to regard us as a family, and 
sweetly constrain us all to walk in the narrow way. 
May we all have faith in the doctrines of thy 
Word ! Help us to rely on thy promises and obey 
thy commands. May we take thy yoke upon us, 
and learn of Christ, who was meek and lowly in 
heart, that we may find rest unto our souls ! 

May all who are weary and heavy-laden come to 
him, and find rest ! May thy heralds be multiplied 
until the world shall hear and obey thy truth ! Let 
the seed of the kingdom of heaven be broadcast 
everywhere ; and, according to thy promise, pour 
out of thy Spirit upon all flesh, that all may call 



Prayer. [ Nos - 122, 137, 191. 

upon thy name and be saved. Hasten the time 
when all the Lord's people shall be prophets, and 
thy Spirit shall be on them all. 

May the dreams, the visions and prophecies, of 
thy Word, be so fulfilled, that the young and the 
aged, thy sons and thy daughters, thy servants and 
thine handmaids, shall all testify of Christ ; that 
there may be no need of saying one to another, 
" Know the Lord," because all shall know thee, 
from the least to the greatest ! 

And now, Lord, we commend ourselves and all 
our concerns to thy gracious care. Keep us to-day 
from every snare of sin and of the Wicked One. 
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
evil; and whether we eat or drink, or whatever 
we do, may we do all to the glory of God ! And 
we will ascribe the praise to the Father, the 
Son, and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. 
Amen. 



124 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Acts viii. — 5. Then Philip went down to the 
city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 

6. And the people with one accord gave heed 
unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and 
seeing the miracles which he did. 

7. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, 
came out of many that were possessed with them ; 
and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, 
were healed. 

8. And there was great joy in that city. 

9. But there was a certain man, called Simon, 
which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, 
and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out 
that himself was some great one ; 

10. To whom they all gave heed, from the least 
to the greatest, saying, This man is the great 
power of God. 

11. And to him they had regard, because that 
of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 

12. But when they believed Philip, preaching 
the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the 
name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both 
men and women. 

13. Then Simon himself believed also ; and, 
when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, 
and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs 
which were done. 

14. Now, when the apostles which were at Jeru- 
salem heard that Samaria had received the word of 
God, they sent unto them Peter and John ; 



The preaching of Philip in Samaria was the beginning of 
evangelization outside the pale of Judaism. Missions were 
born of persecution. The violent measures of the adversary 
for the suppression of the gospel scattered it everywhere 
abroad. Majric arts were in great repute in the East ; and as, 
in times of religious excitement, all forms of enthusiasm come 
to the surface, Simon took advantage of the prevalent expec- 
tation of the Messiah to set himself up as one possessed of 
supernatural power. But " when he saw his followers drop- 
ping off, and was himself astounded at the miracles wrought 
by Philip, he thought it best himself also to acknowledge this 



15. Who, when they were come down, prayed 
for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost : 

16. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of 
them : only they were baptized in the name of the 
Lord Jesus.) 

17. Then laid they their hands on them, and 
they received the Holy Ghost. 

18. And, when Simon saw that through laying 
on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was 
given, he offered them money, 

19. Saying, Give me also this power, that, on 
whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy 
Ghost. 

20. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish 
with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift 
of God may be purchased with money. 

21. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this mat- 
ter ; for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 

22. Bepent, therefore, of this thy wickedness, 
and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine 
heart may be forgiven thee ; 

23. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of 
bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 

24. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to 
the Lord for me, that none of these things which 
ye have spoken come upon me. 

25. And they, when they had testified and 
preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jeru- 
salem, and preached the gospel in many villages of 
the Samaritans. 



superior power. He was convinced, from the works which 
Philip did, that he was in league with some powerful spirit. 
He viewed baptism as the initiation into communion with 
that spirit, and expected that he should be able to make use 
of the higher power thus gained for his own purposes, and 
unite this new magical power to his own." The offer to buy 
the Holy Ghost has given rise to the term simony, applied to 
buying and selling ecclesiastical benefices. Alas ! how many, 
who would revolt at the grossness of Simon's offer, neverthe- 
less endeavor to get some worldly gain out of the profession 
of godliness ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 73, 82, 90. 



We acknowledge thy loving-kindness this morn- 
ing, O God ! and bless thee for the consolations 
and the promises of thy holy Word. Thou hast 
spoken by thy prophets blessed things concerning 
the future ; and we pray thee hasten the day when 
the kingdoms of this world shall become the king- 
dom of our Lord and of his Christ. Let the peo- 
ple praise thee, God ! let all the people praise 
thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase ; and 
God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall 
bless us ; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. 

We praise thee that we have heard of this great 
salvation, and have known the power of redeem- 
ing grace. May we never pervert thy gospel to 
selfish ends, nor corrupt it with the spirit of Mam- 



mon ! Lord ! purify thy Church, and save thy 
people. 

Father in heaven, thou hast graciously spared us 
to see the light of another day. Thou hast spread 
a table for us in the wilderness ; our cup runneth 
over. Bless the Lord, our souls ! and forget not 
all his benefits. Keep us this day, we beseech 
thee, from all evil ; keep us mindful of thy will and 
our duty in all our occupations. May thy revealed 
will be the man of our counsel, and the rule of 
our lives ! Whatsoever things are just and true 
and honest and lovely and of good report, if there 
be any virtue, and if there be any praise, may we 
think upon these things ! We ask all for the 
Redeemer's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



125 



WEDNESDAY. 



Matthew ix. — 27. And, when Jesus departed 
thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and 
saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. 

28. And, when he was come into the house, the 
blind men came to him ; and Jesus saith unto 
them, Believe ye that I am able to do this ? They 
said unto him, Yea, Lord. 

29. Then touched he their eyes, saying, Accord- 
ing to your faith be it unto you. 

30. And their eyes were opened ; and Jesus 
straitly charged them, saying, See that no man 
know it. 

31. But they, when they were departed, spread 
abroad his fame in all that country. 

32. As they went out, behold, they brought to 
him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 

33. And, when the devil was cast out, the dumb 
spake ; and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It 
was never so seen in Israel. 

34. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out 
devils through the prince of the devils. 

35. And Jesus went about all the cities and vil- 
lages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching 
the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sick- 
ness and every disease among the people. 



36. But, when he saw the multitudes, he was 
moved with compassion on them, because they 
fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep having 
no shepherd. 

37. Then saith he unto his disciples, The har- 
vest truly is plenteous ; but the laborers are. 
few. 

38. Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, 
that he will send forth laborers into his har- 
vest. 

Ezekiel xxxiv. — 11. For thus saith the Lord 
God: Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, 
and seek them out. 

12. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the 
day that he is among his sheep that are scattered, 
so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them 
out of all places where they have been scattered 
in the cloudy and dark day. 

14. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon 
the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be : 
there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat 
pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of 
Israel. 

15. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them 
to lie down saith the Lord God. 



There is no sight more common in Syria than that of blind 
men sitting by the wayside, or begging at the village-gates 
and other public places. Indeed, throughout the East, blind- 
ness is much more common than with us, — a fact which Arch- 
bishop Trench attributes to these causes : " The dust and fly- 
ing sand, pulverized and reduced to minutest particles, enter 
the eyes, causing inflammations, which, being neglected, end 
frequently in total loss of sight. The sleeping in the open 
air, on the roofs of the houses, and the consequent exposure 
of the eyes to the noxious nightly dews, is another source of 
this malady." Add to these the incessant glare of light, 
and want of personal cleanliness. 

In healing the blind, our Lord commonly brought the act 



to their consciousness through the sense of touch ; and, in this 
instance, he directly measured the blessing by their faith. In 
the case of the dumb man, the physical infirmity was traced 
to a malignant spirit ; and to cast out the greater evil was 
to cure the less. Indeed, much as our Lord was affected by 
the infirmities and sorrows of men, he was more deeply 
" moved with compassion " because of their spiritual condi- 
tion : they were like sheep wandering every whither without 
guardians or guides. Now that we have heard his call, let 
us return unto the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls ; let 
us open our eyes to his gracious presence ; let us open our 
ears to his voice of mercv ■ let us loose our tongues for his 
praise. 



Appropriate Htmns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 24, 43, 91. 



Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock! we 
bless thee, that, when we were wandering and lost, 
thou didst send forth thy beloved Son the Good 
Shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep ; 
who leads his flock, and feeds them ; who gathers 
the lambs, and carries them in his bosom ; who 
watches over his own continually, and never slum- 
bers nor sleeps. May we be of the number of his 
sheep ! and, oh, may the time soon come when 
all mankind shall be brought into his fold! And 
for this we pray, thou Great Shepherd of the 
sheep ! that thou wilt give faithful pastors to thy 
churches and to the whole world. Millions are 
wandering, scattered, torn, and fainting, because 
they have no shepherds. May thy Spirit be 
poured out from on high, that thousands may go 
forth in thy name into the wilderness, and bring 
these lost sheep back to the fold ! 



thou compassionate Redeemer ! send forth 
laborers into thy harvest; incline the young to 
consecrate themselves to the blessed work of 
spreading thy gospel. May "Holiness to the 
Lord" be inscribed on all our domestic pursuits, 
on our trade, our commerce, our politics, and our 
pleasures ! 

We thank thee that we see this morning. Thy 
watchful care has preserved us during our sleep, 
and thou hast again spread our table with thy 
bounties. Help us to treasure the memorials of 
thy goodness in our hearts ; and may we shun 
every thing that might offend thee, our merciful 
and gracious Benefactor ! Keep us this day from 
all evil. Remember us as a family, and number us 
all with thy children. May all before thee be born 
of the Spirit, and be thine in an everlasting cov- 
enant ! And to thy name be glory forever. Amen. 



126 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Psalm Ixiv. — 1. Hear my voice, God! in my 
prayer ; preserve my life from fear of the enemy. 

2. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked ; 
from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity : 

3. Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend 
their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words ; 

4. That they may shoot in secret at the perfect : 
suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. 

10. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and 
shall trust in him ; and all the upright in heart 
shall glory. 

Matthew X. — 16. Behold, I send you forth as 
sheep in the midst of wolves : be ye therefore 
wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 

17. But beware of men ; for they will deliver 
you up to the councils, and they will scourge you 
in their synagogues. 

18. And ye shall be brought before governors 
and kings for my sake, for a testimony against 
them and the Gentiles. 

19. But, when they deliver you up, take no 
thought how or what ye shall speak ; for it shall be 
given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 

20. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of 
your Father which speaketh in you. 



21. And the brother shall deliver up the brother 
to death, and the father the child ; and the chil- 
dren shall rise up against their parents, and cause 
them to be put to death. 

22. And ye shall be hated of all men for my 
name's sake; but he that endureth to the end 
shall be saved. 

37. He that loveth father or mother more than 
me is not worthy of me ; and he that loveth son 
or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 

38. And he that taketh not his cross, and fol- 
loweth after me, is not worthy of me. 

39. He that findeth his life shall lose it; and 
he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 

40. He that receiveth you, receiveth me ; and he 
that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. 

41. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of 
a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward ; and 
he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of 
a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's 
reward. 

42. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one 
of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in. 
the name of a disciple, verily, I say unto you, He 
shall in no wise lose his reward. 



Christ held out no worldly inducements to his disciples. 
He warned them of the opposition and persecution they would 
encounter in spreading his gospel ; the hatred of religious 
zealots, of despotic rulers, of traffickers in idols and in the 
vices of society, and of the mob of evil-doers whose passions 
are enlisted against reformers. Personal interests or fears, 
religious bigotry or selfish passion, would, in some cases, prove 
stronger than family ties, and lead one member of a house- 
hold to betray another. This was often literally true in the 
first ages of the Church ; and there have not been wanting 
modern examples of such hatred and treachery toward con- 
verts, in Heathen, Mohammedan, and even in Koman-Catholic 



countries. 



In such circumstances, Christians should be careful not to 
provoke opposition by an imprudent and offensive zeal. Yet 
they must not be timid nor time-serving. He who makes his 
own comfort and safety, or even his life, his first care, shall 
forfeit the higher life in the hereafter ; but he who does not 
shrink from confessing Christ and doing his duty, even in the 
face of death, shall be kept in peace under all trials, and shall 
receive the blessed reward of the life everlasting. No earthly 
love, no earthly fear, should keep us back from Christ. By 
meditating upon his cross, we shall gain strength and endur- 
ance for bearing our own. His love, his meekness, his pa- 
tience, will enter and possess our souls ; and his life shall give 
us the victory over death. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 5, 10, 30. 



O Thou who never slumberest nor sleepest ! we 
have lain down and slept, and have risen again, 
because thou, Lord, hast sustained us. To thy 
watchful providence we owe it that no disturbance 
hath come nigh us or our dwelling, but that we 
are brought in safety to the beginning of this day. 
Thankful for the mercies of the night, we commit 
ourselves unto thee with all our wakeful powers, 
humbly beseeching thee to guide us in ways of 
truth and righteousness for thy name's sake. 

Send unto us, we pray thee, such prosperity as 
thou seest to be best for us ; and, above all, grant 
that our souls, being freed from sin, may prosper 
and be in peace, through the grace of Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Oh, may his mind be in us ! and may 
we be made like unto him ! — holy, harmless, un- 
defined, and separate from sinners. May every 
one of us, from the oldest to the youngest, be a 



child of God, partaking of the mercies of thy 
covenant ! Oh ! help us to give up all things for 
Christ; to know the joy of losing ourselves in 
Him, the sweetness of bearing the cross for Him, 
who hath borne our sorrows. May we fear noth- 
ing that this world can do to hinder our salvation ! 
for, if God be for us, who can be against us ? May 
we have the charity of the gospel, and do good in 
little things, by the word, the look, the act of 
kindness, in the Saviour's name ! 

We thank thee, O Lord ! for the friends thou 
hast given us, and pray that these may all be 
joined with us in fellowship of thy redeemed. We 
ask thy favor for the poor and needy, the sick, the 
afflicted, the dying ; for all sorts and conditions of 
men ; that thou wouldst be pleased to make thy 
ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all 
nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



127 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm Ixxi. — 1. In thee, Lord ! do I put my 
trust : let me never be put to confusion. 

2. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me 
to escape ; incline thine ear unto me, and save me. 

3. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I 
may continually resort : thou hast given com- 
mandment to save me ; for thou art my rock and 
my fortress. 

4. Deliver me, my God ! out of the hand of 
the wicked; out of the hand of the unrighteous 
and cruel man. 

5. For thou art my hope, Lord God ! thou art 
my trust from my youth. 

9. Cast me not off in the time of old age ; for- 
sake me not when my strength faileth. 

10. For mine enemies speak against me ; and 
they that lay wait for my soul take counsel to- 
gether, 

11. Saying, God hath forsaken him : persecute 
and take him ; for there is none to deliver him. 

12. God ! be not far from me. my God ! 
make haste for my help. 

16. I will go in the strength of the Lord God : 
I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of 
thine only. 

Matthew X. — 24. The disciple is not above his 
master, nor the servant above his lord. 



25. It is enough for the disciple that he be as 
his master, and the servant as his lord : if they 
have called the master of the house Beelzebub, 
how much more shall they call them of his house- 
hold ! 

26. Fear them not, therefore : for there is noth- 
ing covered that shall not be revealed, and hid 
that shall not be known. 

27. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye 
in light ; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach 
ye upon the house-tops. 

28. And fear not them which kill the body, but 
are not able to kill the soul ; but rather fear him 
which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

29. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? 
and one of them shall not fall on the ground with- 
out your Father. 

30. But the very hairs of your head are all num- 
bered. 

31. Fear ye not, therefore : ye are of more value 
than many sparrows. 

32. Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me be- 
fore men, him will I confess also before my Father 
which is in heaven ; 

33. But whosoever shall deny me before men, 
him will I also deny before my Father which is in 
heaven. 



Some ancient priests and philosophers had two sets of doc- 
trines, — one for the ear of the common people ; another, 
perhaps at variance with this, for the ear of select disciples : 
and the mystery thrown around this inner doctrine was one 
source of their power over the imaginations of the ignorant 
and the credulous. But Christ had one doctrine, one mes- 
sage, one faith, one salvation, for all men. Though he some- 
times explained his parables and discourses more fully to his 
disciples in private, this was for the convenience of indoctri- 
nating them in order that they might be prepared to preach 
the gospel to others. This he bids them do with the utmost 
boldness, speaking in the light, preaching from the house- 



Appropkiate Hymns,] 

O thou Preserver of men ! in the multitude of 
thy mercies hast thou preserved us during the 
hours of sleep, and raised us up to the duties of 
another day in the possession of health and rea- 
son, and surrounded by the manifold tokens of thy 
favor. Accept our humble praise, and graciously 
keep us this day from sin and every evil. Bless 
us in all the labor of our hands, and in all things 
teach us to glorify thy holy name. Show thy pity 
upon us as a family ; ever keep us in thy love ; 
and may we all be numbered with thy saints in 
glory everlasting ! 

Thou who watchest over the fall of the sparrow, 
how gently and graciously thou has cared for us, 
in the least things as well as in the greatest ! 

We thank thee for this thy daily care, and com- 
mit ourselves to thy loving providence. [May these 



tops ; and, to encourage them to fidelity, he points them to his 
own example of suffering in their behalf. Next he assures 
them that the plots of their enemies shall be exposed and 
frustrated ; and, at the worst, they can but kill the body. 
Again he warns them of Him who in the next world shall 
have power to visit upon them any lack of fidelity in this ; at 
the same time he encom-ages them to trust in the constant, 
personal, loving care of their Father in heaven, and to hope 
for the recognition and reward which he himself will give to 
his faithful servants at his coming. Thus the highest motives 
possible to the human mind attract and urge us to the faith- 
ful service of Christ. 



[Nos. 159, 183, 202. 



Prayer. 

children learn to see thee in the birds and the 
flowers, in all the beautiful things which thou 
hast made, and to love and trust thee, their gra- 
cious Father and Saviour !] 

Hear us, God ! when we pray that it may 
please thee to bless and keep all thy people ; that 
it may please thee to give to all nations unitj'', 
peace, and concord; that it may please thee to 
defend and provide for the fatherless children and 
widows, and for all that are desolate and oppressed ; 
that it may please thee to bring into the way of 
truth all such as have erred and are deceived; 
that it may please thee to give us true repentance, 
to forgive us all our sins, to endue us with the 
grace of thy Holy Spirit ; and, after this present 
life, to take us to live and reign with thee and 
thy Son in glory everlasting. Amen. 



128 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Job i. — 6. Now, there was a day when the sons 
of God came to present themselves before the 
Lord; and Satan came also among them. 

7. And the Lord said unto Satan, "Whence 
comest thou ? Then Satan answered tbe Lord, 
and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and 
from walking up and down in it. 

8. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou 
considered my servant Job, that there is none like 
him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, 
one that feareth God, and escheweth evil ? 

9. Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, 
Doth Job fear God for nought ? 

10. Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and 
about his house, and about all that he hath on 
every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his 
hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 

11. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all 
that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 

12. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all 
that he hath is in thy power : only upon himself 
put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth 
from the presence of the Lord. 

Luke X. — 17. And the seventy returned again 
with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject 
unto us through thy name. 



18. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as 
lightning fall from heaven. 

19. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on 
serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of 
the enemy ; and nothing shall by any means hurt 
you. 

20. Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the 
spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice be- 
cause your names are written in heaven. 

21. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and 
said, I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and 
earth ! that thou hast hid these things from the 
wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto 
babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in 
thy sight. 

22. All things are delivered to me of my Father : 
and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the 
Father ; and who the Father is, but the Son, and 
he to whom the Son will reveal him. 

23. And he turned him unto his disciples, and 
said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the 
things that ye see. 

24. For I tell you, that many prophets and kings 
have desired to see those things which ye see, and 
have not seen them; and to hear those things 
which ye hear, and have not heard them. 



The Bible teaches that there is an evil spirit, called Satan, 
or the Devil, the enemy of God and man. He tempted our 
first parents; he tempted David to sin ; he brought calamity 
upon Job. The account of Satan in the Book of Job is 
highly poetic and dramatic in form ; but the New Testament 
gives the same doctrine in literal words. Our Lord taught 
in many ways the personality of Satan ; and he here confirms 
the doctrine that Satan was originally a spirit in heaven, who 
was cast out because of sin. In saying that he witnessed the 
fall of Satan, he announced his own pre-existence. 

Scorpions abound in some parts of Syria, especially among 
ruins ; and are much dreaded on account of their venomous 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

O Thou who wast tempted in all points like as 
we are, yet without sin, and who for our sakes didst 
endure such contradiction of sinners against thy- 
self! keep us, we pray thee, both outwardly in our 
bodies, and inwardly in our souls, that we may be 
defended from all adversities which may happen to 
the body, and from all evil thoughts which may 
assault and hurt the soul. Help us, Lord ! in 
our inward conflicts with doubts and fears and 
sins ; help us in our conflicts with the temptations 
and evils of the world ; and, oh ! help us in our 
wrestlings with unseen powers of evil, with the 
great Adversary of our souls. Lord ! increase 
our faith. Our hope is in thee ; our strength is 
from thee alone. Dwell in us by thy grace ; fill us 
with thy Spirit. This very day, may we gain new 
victories over evil ! May we resist temptations in 
business to swerve from the truth, to take advan- 



sting. Serpents and scorpions are a common biblical symbol 
of evil spirits. But miraculous power over the forces of evil 
is not once to be compared with the power of faith over the 
spirit of evil in the heart. It is a greater honor to be enrolled 
and acknowledged as a disciple of Christ, and an heir of his 
glory, than to be clothed upon earth with miraculous gifts. 
The least in the kingdom of grace is greater than the mighti- 
est in the kingdom of nature ; and the revelation of God in 
Christ renders the humblest believer richer and wiser than the 
kings and prophets of the Jewish state : indeed, if we but use 
aright the prerogative of faith, we ourselves are made kings 
and priests unto God. 



[Nos. 159, 166. 



Prayer. 

tage of others, to act dishonorably, to be covetous 
and unjust ! May we resist temptations in society 
to envy and evil-speaking, to worldliness and frivol- 
ity ! May we in all things do that which is right 
in the sight of God ! [May these children grow 
up, dear Saviour, in thy strength and love, safe 
from the power of evil !] We thank thee for 
another night of rest, another day of mercy and of 
hope. Bless all dear to us ; our friends and neigh- 
bors : bless thy people. Succor, Lord ! the poor 
and needy, the sick, the tempted, the dying. 
Unveil to them the glories of thy presence, the 
promise of thy coming, that, by faith in thee, they 
may rise above all trouble and all fear. Lord 
Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith ! be 
with us in our last conflict, and make us more 
than conquerors over death ; and to thy name be 
glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



129 



SUNDAY MORNING-. 



I Corinthians xiii. — 1. Though I speak with 
the tongues of men and of angels, and have not 
charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tink- 
ling cymbal. 

2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and 
understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and 
though I have all faith, so that I could remove 
mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the 
poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and 
have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity 
envieth not ; charity vaunteth not itself, is not 
puffed up, 

5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not 
her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the 
truth. 



7. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth 
all things, endureth all things. 

8. Charity never faileth : but whether there be 
prophecies, they shall fail ; whether there be tongues, 
they shall cease ; whether there be knowledge, it 
shall vanish away. 

9. For we know in part, and we prophesy in 
part. 

10. But when that which is perfect is come, then 
that which is in part shall be done away. 

11. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I 
understood as a child, I thought as a child; but, 
when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

12. For now we see through a glass, darkly; 
but then face to face : now I know in part ; but 
then shall I know even as also I am known. 

13. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these 
three ; but the greatest of these is charity. 



Love, which has ever been the choicest theme of poets, is 
here celebrated in strains so exalted, that no verse could fitly 
reproduce them. " No single word in any language will ex- 
press the fulness of the Christian grace here spoken of." The 
common meaning of charity, though one should give all his 
goods to feed the poor, is far too narrow ; the human passion 
of love, too personal and too earthly : even philanthropy may 
be an instinct, or a sentiment merely, wanting in that Chris- 
tian view of man which creates a true " enthusiasm for hu- 
manity." This love makes no display of its sacrifices, and 
rests no pretensions upon its good deeds; it knows nothing of 
envy or jealousy; it is kind and persistent, without regai'd to 
the treatment that itself receives ; it is so deeply rooted in the 
heart, so well balanced in its principle, so unselfish in its aim, 
so impartial in its objects, that it cannot be ruffled by abuse 
or neglect, nor misled by impulse into any unbecoming or un- 
timely demonstration. It takes no satisfaction in the faults of 



others ; dislikes to think evil of any, but prefers to believe 
good of all ; and rejoices whenever truth triumphs over slan- 
der and falsehood. It never tattles, and never retaliates ; it 
bears reproaches against itself, endures meekly the indignities 
that are put upon it, and hopes on, "even against hope," that 
men will love the good and do the right. Such a love is 
greater than all knowledge, stronger than all faith. It is the 
one thing that shall never wear out nor exhaust itself. When 
the light of heaven shall open upon us, and it shall be seen 
how imperfectly truth was here reflected in the mirror of our 
sciences, then shall the boast of our wisdom vanish away. 
"Hope will remain, as anticipation certain to be fulfilled; 
Faith will remain, as trust, entire and undoubting. But we 
believe only one whom we love ; we hope only that which 
we love. And thus the forms of Faith and Hope, which will 
there forever subsist, will be sustained in and overshadowed 
by the all-pervading superior element of eternal love." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 53, 63, 89. 



Almighty and everlasting God, we bless thee for 
the return of another day of the Son of man. 
We thank thee that of thy great mercy we have 
been spared during another week. Let us hear 
thy gracious benediction, "Peace be unto you." 
May thine own day be begun, carried on, and 
ended with thee ! May all worldly thoughts, 
cares, and disquietudes be laid aside, that we may 
enjoy a foretaste of the everlasting blessedness 
and joy which are at thy right hand! 

We would remember before thee in our petitions 
all in whom we are interested. Bless all thy 
people this day throughout the Christian world : 
may multitudes be added to the Church of such as 
shall be saved ! Strengthen thy ministering ser- 
vants : may they have singleness of eye, and single- 
ness of aim! May many careless souls be arrested; 
may weak ones be strengthened ; may sorrowing 
ones be comforted; may the weary and heavy la- 
den find rest ! 

We commend our dear friends especially to thy 
protection. May they, too, be in the Spirit on the 



Lord's day ! may they call and find the sabbath a 
delight ! Keep them, good Lord, by thy mighty 
power. May they live soberly and righteously 
and godly in the present evil world, looking for 
that blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of 
the great God our Saviour ! Bless the members of 
this family-circle ; keep us ever near to thee. [May 
these children be the peculiar care of the great and 
good Shepherd ! May they know early the safety 
and happiness of his fold ! Make them to lie down 
in his green pastures ; lead them by the still waters.] 

Sanctify trial to the many sons and daughters 
of affliction. Grant them grace to submit to thy 
sovereign appointments, saying ever, "Even so, 
Father; for so it seemeth good in thy sight." 

Thou who art love ! fill us, we pray thee, with 
thine own Spirit, that, dwelling in love, we may 
dwell in God, and God in us. May we love our 
neighbor as ourselves; be kind toward all; bear 
malice toward none ! May we avoid evil-speaking, 
uncharitable judgments, unkind thoughts, envious 
desires ! We ask all this for Christ's sake. Amen. 



130 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Philfppians ii. — 1. If there he, therefore, any- 
consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any 
fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 

2. Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, 
having the same love, being of one accord, of one 
mind. 

3. Let nothing be done through strife or vain- 
glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem 
other better than themselves. 

4. Look not every man on his own things, but 
every man also on the things of others. 

5. Let this mind be in you which was also in 
Christ Jesus : 

6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it 
not robbery to be equal with God y 

7. But made himself of no reputation, and took 
upon him the form of a servant, and was made in 
the likeness of men : 

8. And, being found in fashion as a man, he 
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, 
even the death of the cross. 

9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, 
and given him a name which is above every name ; 

10. That, at the name of Jesus, every knee should 
bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and 
things under the earth ; 

11. And that every tongue should confess that 



The gospel requires of us no virtue or grace which Christ 
has not exhibited in that nature which he took upon him in 
common with our own ; hut the most amazing example of 
humility and of self-sacrifice for the good of others was given 
when he was made in the likeness of men. The full force of 
this example is brought out by a slight change in the reading 
of the sixth verse, according to the best scholars. The apos- 
tle here uses a bold figure, from the robber who is intent upon 
seizing and holding the prey or booty that he covets. Now, 
Christ was already in possession of the highest riches and 
glory, " being in the form of God : " yet, when he looked 
upon the possibility of saving men, he did not cling to and 
covet to retain the dignity and blessedness that were then his 
own ; he did not deem his equality with God a possession to 



Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the 
Father. 

Revelation V. — 9. And they sang a new song, 
saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to 
open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and 
hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of 
every kindred and tongue and people and nation ; 

10. And hast made us unto our God kings and 
priests ; and we shall reign on the earth. 

11. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many 
angels round about the throne, and the beasts, and 
the elders ; and the number of them was ten thou- 
sand times ten thousand, and thousands of thou- 
sands ; ' 

12. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the 
Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, 
and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, 
and blessing. 

13. And every creature which is in heaven, and 
on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are 
in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I say- 
ing, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be 
unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto 
the Lamb, for ever and ever. 

14. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the 
four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped 
him that liveth for ever and ever. 



be held fast against the call to save a dying world. He did 
not insist upon retaining his glory, but freely emptied himself 
of the honors and joys of his divine majesty, and took upon 
him the form of a servant ; and, having descended to this 
low condition, he accepted the further humiliation of death 
under the most painful and disgraceful form. He who was 
without sin submitted to death, which is the perpetual stigma 
of sin upon our humanity, and to death upon the cross be- 
tween malefactors ; and all this through the love he had for 
us sinners. How should this love inspire our hearts to con- 
fess and glorify the name of Christ! and how should this 
sacrifice incite us to renounce ourselves, that we may carry 
salvation to others ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose prov- 
idence both the day and night are governed, 
vouchsafe, we beseech thee, as thou hast this day 
preserved us by thy goodness, so still this night to 
shelter us beneath the shadow of thy wings, that 
the powers of darkness may not hurt us ; that we 
may be preserved from all adversities which may 
happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts 
which may assault and hurt the soul, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 

God, the God of the spirits of all flesh ! we 
humbly beseech thee to accept our intercessions in 
behalf of all men. We pray for thy universal 
Church, that it may be guided by thy Holy Spirit 
in the way of truth and peace ; and that thy peo- 
ple everywhere may shine like lights in the world, 



Prayer. t Nos - 8 > "> 157 - 

and adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
things. 

We commend, Lord ! to thy fatherly good- 
ness, our relations, friends, and neighbors, and 
all who desire or ought to be especially remem- 
bered in our prayers. Succor the poor and needy; 
bind up the broken-hearted; have mercy on the 
sick and dying ; and help us by thy grace to pre- 
pare ourselves daily for the hour of death. Look 
down, Lord ! we beseech thee, on this dwelling, 
and drive far from it all manner of evil. Let thy 
holy presence dwell within us to preserve us in 
peace, and let thy blessing be upon us forever, 
through Christ our Lord. The blessing of God 
Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, 
be with us this night and evermore. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



131 



MONDAY. 



2 Kings vii. — 1. Then Elisha said, Hear ye 
the word of the Lord : Thus saith the Lord, To- 
morrow about this time shall a measure of fine 
flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of 
barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 

2. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned 
answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the 
Lord would make windows in heaven, might this 
thing be ? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see 
it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. 

John vi. — 1. After these things, Jesus went 
over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Ti- 
berias. 

2. And a great multitude followed him, because 
they saw his miracles which he did on them that 
were diseased. 

3. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and 
there he sat with his disciples. 

4. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was 
nigh. 

5. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw 
a great company come unto him, he saith unto 
Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may 
eat? 

6. (And this he said to prove him ; for he him- 
self knew what he would do.) 



7. Philip answered him, Two hundred penny- 
worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every 
one of them may take a little. 

8. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's 
brother, saith unto him, 

9. There is a lad here which hath five barley- 
loaves and two small fishes ; but what are they 
among so many? 

10. And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. 
(Now, there was much grass in the place.) So the 
men sat down in number about five thousand. 

11. And Jesus took the loaves ; and, when he 
had given thanks, he distributed to the disci- 
ples, and the disciples to them that were set 
down ; and likewise of the fishes, as much as they 
would. 

12. When they were filled, he said unto his dis- 
ciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that 
nothing be lost. 

13. Therefore they gathered them together, and 
filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five 
barley-loaves which remained over and above unto 
them that had eaten. 

14. Then those men, when they had seen the 
miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that 
Prophet that should come into the world. 



Observe how Jesus, in putting forth his divine power, 
maintained also his human condition of relative dependence. 
He first gave thanks ; thus teaching his disciples, under all cir- 
cumstances, to honor their Father in heaven. The fame of his 
miracles brought to him the sick, and their friends and attend- 
ants, from a wide region ; so that it was in vain that he sought 
rest by crossing the lake into the comparatively unsettled dis- 
trict upon the eastern side. Thousands here thronged about 
him, having come many miles without provision, in their 
eagerness to witness some wonder, or to receive some benefit 
at his hand. Touched with compassion for this famished 
multitude, Jesus used his power over the elements of Nature 



for their immediate relief. The miracle was the more signal 
because wrought upon substances with which the people were 
familiar, and which were then before their eyes. Five thin 
cakes of the coarse barley-bread in common use among the 
people, and two tiny fishes, were so multiplied in the act of 
breaking by his hand, that all the thousands were fed. There 
was no mistaking the evidence of such a miracle, and no 
resisting the conviction that this was the Messiah. Christ 
here set before us the twofold example of ministering to the 
physical necessities of others, and of carefulness against 
waste in using the bountiful favors of God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 115, 132. 



Holy Father, we, thy children, commit ourselves 
to thee in the confidence of faith. At thy com- 
mand we lay down the burden of our cares and 
sorrows, and look up to thee as our helper and our 
comforter. Grant unto us, we beseech thee, the 
plenitude of thy grace and strength. Endue us 
with divine power and heavenly wisdom. Lift us 
out of ourselves, and out of all dependence on our 
own resources. Take from us the spirit of pride, 
and clothe us with humility. Teach us to lean 
upon thy hand, to confide in thy wisdom, to rest 
on thy power, to repose in thy love, to live on thy 
fulness. Ever bend our wills to thine ; and do 
thou, in thy great mercy, overrule all things in 
our lot for thy glory and our good. In the knowl- 
edge of thyself and of thy Son Jesus Christ may 
we seek eternal life ; and do thou so nourish this 
life in our souls by the daily communications of 



thy grace and the ever-active power of thy Spirit, 
that we may at last attain to the everlasting joy of 
thy presence. 

Thou givest us our daily bread : oh ! feed us with 
the bread of heaven ; and give unto all dear to us 
a like interest in the things of Christ. 

We would begin the labors of this week by ask- 
ing thy blessing on every one before thee. Let 
peace rule in our hearts, and reign in this house- 
hold. May mutual kindness, and harmony and 
love, here have their abode ! On our pursuits in 
life let thy blessing descend. Give us bread to eat, 
and raiment to put on ; give us thankful and cheer- 
ful hearts ; give us every spiritual gift necessary to 
prepare us for heaven ; and, in thy good time, give 
us an abundant entrance in that happy world, 
for the sake of our blessed Lord and Redeemer. 
Amen. 



132 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



John vi. — 22. The day following, when the 
people which stood on the other side of the sea 
saw that there was none other boat there save 
that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and 
that Jesus went not with his disciples into the 
boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone ; 

23. (Howbeit there came other boats from Ti- 
berias nigh unto the place where they did eat 
bread, after that the Lord had given thanks ;) 

24. When the people therefore saw that Jesus 
was not there, neither his disciples, they also took 
shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for 
Jesus. 

25. And, when they had found him on the other 
side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when 
earnest thou hither? 

26. Jesus answered them, and said, Verily, ver- 
ily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye 
saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the 
loaves and were filled. 

27. Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but 
for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, 
which the Son of man shall give unto you ; for 
him hath God the Father sealed. 



28. Then said they unto him, What shall we do 
that we might work the works of God ? 

29. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is 
the work of God, that ye believe on him whom 
he hath sent. 

30. They said therefore unto him, What sign 
showest thou, then, that we may see, and believe 
thee ? what dost thou work ? 

31. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert ; as 
it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to 
eat. 

32. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, 
I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread 
from heaven ; but my Father giveth you the true 
bread from heaven. 

33. For the bread of God is he which cometh 
down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 

34. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore 
give us this bread. 

35. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread 
of life : he that cometh to me shall never hunger, 
and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 

36. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen 
me, and believe not. 



There are natures in which the love of the marvellous 
could never be satisfied. Each miracle would create a de- 
mand for another ; and, if miracles were continually repeated 
to meet this craving of credulous minds, they would soon be- 
come like the every-day facts of Nature. The very people 
who had witnessed the power of Jesus in healing all manner 
of diseases, and had been fed by the miracle of the loaves and 
fishes, now demanded " a sign " that his works were of God ; 
for instance, a shower of manna from heaven. Jesus, who 
read their hearts, knew that their running after him, and 
their professed eagerness for something to assure their faith, 
were not prompted by a desire to be brought nearer to God, 
but by curiosity ; by love of excitement and adventure ; by 
the hope of profiting in some way by his wonderful works. 



But faith is a higher evidence of " the work of God " than 
miracle. This lifts the soul into that spiritual sphere of life 
from which the power of miracle descends ; and men who to- 
day imagine that signs from heaven would cause them to be- 
lieve, if only they would believe upon what Christ has done 
and said, would find in their experience a proof of God's 
work as strong as the raising of the dead. A tithe, a thou- 
sandth part, of the labor they put into inquiries and endeavors 
about religion, if concentrated upon the simple act of faith, 
would secure to them the " true bread from heaven," the 
source and the pledge of everlasting life. So simple, so sure, 
so satisfying, is the substance of all true religion, — faith in 
the Lord Jesus Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 118, 177, 188. 



Thy hands, Lord ! have made us and fashioned 
us : give us understanding, that we may learn thy 
commandments. By thy wisdom we have been 
fearfully and wonderfully made ; by thine ever- 
watchful providence we have been preserved. Oh ! 
give us thy grace, that the lives which thou hast 
bestowed and prolonged may be dedicated to thy 
service. Take not thy Holy Spirit from us. Per- 
fect thy strength in our weakness. Put into our 
minds good desires ; and, by thy continual help, 
enable us to bring them to good effect. 

We ask thy grace and guidance, Lord ! for the 
duties of another day. Thou hast appointed unto 
us our different stations ; thou hast placed us 
where we are. Give us cheerful and contented 
minds, and keep us from every faithless murmur- 
ing thought. Deliver us from a spirit of sloth 
and self-indulgence. Make us ready for every 



good word and work. May we all be filled with 
one great and earnest desire to serve and love and 
honor thee ! and, loving thee above all others, 
may we love one another with a pure heart fer- 
vently ! 

Lord, bless our country, and let it be established 
in righteousness. Grant unto all in authority over 
us true wisdom : direct all their plans and counsels 
for the promotion of thy glory, and the good of 
thy Church and people. 

Be gracious to our neighbors. Oh, may thy 
Word and thy truth be spread and honored in 
the midst of us ! Hasten the glorious day when 
the kingdoms of this world shall become the king- 
dom of our Lord and of his Christ ; in whose 
name we offer up these our prayers, and to whom 
be glory and honor and dominion, world without 
end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



133 



WEDNESDAY. 



Proverbs viii. — 22. The Lord possessed me in 
the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 

23. I was set up from everlasting, from the be- 
ginning, or ever the earth was. 

30. Then I was by him, as one brought up with 
him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always 
before him ; 

31. Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth ; 
and my delights were with the sons of men. 

32. Now therefore hearken unto me, ye chil- 
dren ! for blessed are they that keep my ways. 

33. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it 
not. 

34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watch- 
ing daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my 
doors. 

35. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall 
obtain favor of the Lord. 

36. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth 
his own soul : all they that hate me love death. 

John vi. — 37. All that the Father giveth me 
shall come to me ; and him that cometh to me I 
will in no wise cast out. 

38. For I came down from heaven, not to do 
mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 

39. And this is the Father's will which hath 



Luther, in his homely but emphatic way, paraphrases the 
last four verses as follows : " You wish to subject me to measure 
and square, and judge my word by your reason ; but I say to 
you, That is not the right way. You will not come to me till 
the Father opens to you his great mercy, and himself teaches 
you that from his fatherly love he sent Christ into the world. 
For the drawing is not as a hangman draws a thief to the gal- 
lows ; but it is a friendly alluring and drawing to himself." 
An old Greek father puts it still better thus : " As the magnet 
does not attract every thing, but only iron ; so also, to be at- 
tracted by Christ, there must exist a certain frame of mind, — 
the feeling of what we should be, and are not." This drawing 
is neither arbitrary nor miraculous, but by all the varied influ- 



sent me, that of all which he hath given me I 
should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at 
the last day. 

40. And this is the will of him that sent me, 
that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth 
on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise 
him up at the last day. 

41. The Jews then murmured at him because 
he said, I am the bread which came down from 
heaven. 

42. And they said, Is not this Jesus the son of 
Joseph, whose father and mother we know ? How 
is it, then, that he saith, I came down from heaven ? 

43. Jesus therefore answered and said unto 
them, Murmur not among yourselves. 

44. No man can come to me, except the Father, 
which hath sent me, draw him ; and I will raise 
him up at the last day. 

45. It is written in the prophets, And they shall 
be all taught of God. Every man, therefore, that 
hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh 
unto me. 

46. Not that any man hath seen the Father, 
save he which is of God ; he hath seen the Father. 

47. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that 
believeth on me hath everlasting life. 



ences of truth and motive in the word, the providence, and the 
grace of God. 

How many, alas ! are drawn who will not come ! — by the 
voice of God in mercies, afflictions, invitations, and warnings, 
to which they give no heed. But never did a sinner heed that 
voice, and come to Christ in vain ; never was a trembling 
penitent cast out. Whosoever will may come : and, to every 
one who trusts in him, Jesus gives everlasting life ; not merely 
the promise of life in the hereafter, but the possession now of 
that principle of life which can never die. Even his body 
shall not be hurt of death, but shall be raised up at the last 
day in the likeness of Christ's glorious body. Redemption 
shall thus forever destroy both the power and the effects of sin. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 59, 108, 154. 



O almighty and most merciful God, who hast 
delivered us from all the dangers of the past night ! 
of thy bountiful goodness keep us this day, we 
beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; 
that we, being ready both in body and soul, may 
cheerfully accomplish those things which thou 
commandest, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
We lift up our hearts in thanksgiving for the 
mercies that daily crown our lives, — for home and 
its comforts ; for education, freedom, peace, and 
general prosperity; for the gratification of our 
tastes in the beauty and glory of thy works, and 
of our affections in the joys of human friendship, 
and in communion with thyself as our Father, and 
with Jesus our loving Saviour. 

We give thee thanks for thy promises to thy 
Church, and for the hope of salvation for our ruined 



world ; and we pray thee, bless the efforts of thy 
people to extend the knowledge of thy gospel, and 
speedily bring all nations under its power. Help 
us, Lord ! to live in all things according to the 
spirit and the precepts of Christ, and by the gen- 
tleness and purity of the gospel, illustrated in our 
daily walk, to commend it to all around us. 

We call to mind, God ! before thy throne of 
grace, all who are near and dear to us, and all for 
whom we are bound to pray ; beseeching thee to 
remember them for good, and to supply, as may 
be most expedient for them, all their desires and 
wants. And we commend to thy mercy all who 
have wronged us, whether by word or deed ; be- 
seeching thee to forgive them all their sins, and 
to bring them, together with us, to thy heavenly 
kingdom, though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



134 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Psalm Ixxviii. — 22. They believed not in God, 
and trusted not in his salvation ; 

23. Though he had commanded the clouds from 
above, and opened the doors of heaven, 

24. And had rained down manna upon them to 
eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. 

25. Man did eat angels' food : he sent them 
meat to the full. 

26. He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven ; 
and by his power he brought in the south wind. 

27. He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and 
feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea ; 

28. And he let it fall in the midst of their 
camp, round about their habitations. 

29. So they did eat, and were well filled : for 
he gave them their own desire ; 

30. They were not estranged from their lust. 
But, while their meat was yet in their mouths, 

31. The wrath of God came upon them, and 
slew the fattest of them, and smote down the 
chosen men of Israel. 

32. For all this they sinned still, and believed 
not for his wondrous works. 

33. Therefore their days did he consume in 
vanity, and their years in trouble. 

34. When he slew them, then they sought him ; 
and they returned and inquired early after God. 

35. And they remembered that God was their 
E/Ock, and the high God their Redeemer. 



In his best gifts to men, Christ was himself that which he 
gave. He did not content himself with promising to give the 
bread of life, to provide that divine knowledge which is the 
food of the soul. He said, " I am the bread of life ; " and in- 
vited his disciples to a participation of himself so intimate 
and entire, that it would be like eating his flesh and drink- 
ing his blood, and thus, as it were, incorporating his life into 
ours. His language is sacrificial and symbolic : it teaches the 
offering of himself a sacrifice "for us men and for our salva- 
tion ; " and, under the symbol of bread, it represents the faith 
that appropriates Christ as the true ambrosial food that con- 
fers immortal youth. He is not here speaking literally of the 
sacrament of the Supper, which had not then been instituted, 



John vi. — 48. I am that bread of life. 

49. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilder- 
ness, and are dead. 

50. This is the bread which cometh down from 
heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 

51. I am the living bread which came down from 
heaven : if any man eat of this bread, he shall 
live forever : and the bread that I will give is my 
flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 

52. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, 
saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat ? 

53. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, 
I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the 
Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life 
in you. 

54. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my 
blood hath eternal life ; and I will raise him up at 
the last day. 

55. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood 
is drink indeed. 

56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my 
blood dwelleth in me, and I in him. 

57. As the living Father hath sent me, and I 
live by the Father ; so he that eateth me, even he 
shall live by me. 

58. This is that bread which came down from 
heaven ; not as your fathers did eat manna, and 
are dead : he that eateth of this bread shall live 
forever. 



though this is one very obvious application of his words ; 
but whatever tends to incorporate into our souls as a living 
principle the sacrificial death of Christ is that " eating his 
flesh " which causes us to live by him. As we feed upon the 
words, the looks, the tokens, of an absent friend, and, when 
next we greet him, devour him with love ; so do we seize upon 
all that pertains to Christ, and especially upon the fact that 
he died for us, as the very nourishment and life of our souls. 
His words most clearly teach, that " not the appearing of 
Christ in human life in itself, but the offering-tip of this life 
for the world, possesses the nourishing power. His atone- 
ment becomes life to the soul that believes upon him as the 
Saviour of the world. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 100, 134, 177. 



Almighty God, the living Father of all, in whom 
we live and move and have our being, we worship 
thee in thy majesty, and give thanks unto thee for 
thy great glory. As we behold thee in the works 
of thy hands, and commune with thee in the pages 
of thy Word, may our hearts ever be filled with 
thy praise ! 

Thou art the God of the evening and the morn- 
ing ; and every day renews the testimony of thy 
tender mercies, which are over all thy works. We 
bless thee for thy mercy unto us in the night-sea- 
son ; for the refreshment of sleep ; for the health 
and comfort with which we enter upon another 
day. Remembering that life is thy gift, may we 



spend it in thy service and to thy glory ! Give 
us, this day, our daily bread ; and, oh ! give unto 
us that bread from heaven which shall nourish our 
souls for the eternal life. We pray thee to pre- 
serve us from evil, and keep us from sin. May 
thy blessing rest upon this household, and all that 
pertain to it; upon the families of all who are 
allied to any of us ; upon the community in which 
we dwell ; upon our country ; upon all kindreds 
and peoples of the earth, the creatures of thy 
power, the children of thy love! Make perfect, 
we beseech thee, the new creation which thou hast 
begun in Christ Jesus our Lord ; and blessed be 
thy glorious name forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



135 



FRIDAY. 



'" John vi. — 59. These things said he in the 
synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 

60. Many therefore of his disciples, when they 
had heard this, said, This is a hard saying : who 
can hear it ? 

61. When Jesus knew in himself that his dis- 
ciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth 
this offend you ? 

62. What and if ye shall see the Son of man 
ascend up where he was before ? 

63. It is the Spirit that quickeneth ; the flesh 
profiteth nothing : the words that I speak unto you, 
they are spirit, and they are life. 

64. But there are some of you that believe not. 
For Jesus knew from the beginning who they 
were that believed not, and who should betray 
him. 

65. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, 
that no man can come unto me except it were 
given unto him of my Father. 

66. From that time many of his disciples went 
back, and walked no more with him. 

67. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye 
also go away ? 

68. Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to 
whom shall we go ? thou hast the words of eternal 
life. 

69. And we believe and are sure that thou art 
that Christ, the Son of the living God. 



The true sacrament is in the doctrine of Christ. The 
visible sacraments are forms whose inner substance and life is 
the truth which they set forth to the eye. When Christ spake 
of eating his flesh and drinking his blood, he did not refer to 
the form of partaking of the Lord's Supper ; much less did 
he give countenance to the notion of transubstantiation, — that 
he is literally present, in body and blood, in the bread and 
wine. His words were spirit and life. Whoever shall pene- 
trate to the deep meaning of that saying, " He that eateth 
me shall live by me," shall find in these words a quickening 
spiritual power, which is the earnest of eternal life. It was 
his death that he was speaking of, which should be followed 



70. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen 
you twelve, and one of you is a devil ? 

71. He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of 
Simon ; for he it was that should betray him, being 
one of the twelve. 

I John i. — 1. That which was from the begin- 
ning, which we have heard, which we have seen 
with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and 
our hands have handled, of the Word of life ; 

2. (For the life was manifested, and we have 
seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that 
eternal life which was with the Father, and was 
manifested unto us ;) 

3. That which we have seen and heard declare 
we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship 
with us : and truly our fellowship is with the 
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, 
and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth ; 

7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, 
we have fellowship one with another, and the blood 
of Jesus Christ his' Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive 
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just 
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all 
unrighteousness. 

10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make 
him a liar, and his word is not in us. 



by his ascending up where he was before. It was his death as 
an offering for the life of the world ; and when the poor, 
famishing, condemned soul seizes upon Christ as its Saviour, 
it wins from his cross that spiritual power which is life from 
the dead. 

Yet, now as then, this very doctrine of the cross sifts and 
tests mankind, and even the followers of Christ. How many 
will not believe upon Christ crucified ! But, if we turn away 
from Jesus, whither shall we go ? Where is the philosophy, 
the learning, the science, that can speak to us such words of 
eternal life, or that possesses this quickening, renovating 
power to transform the soul, and lift it up to God ? 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayeu 



[Nos. 76, 134, 135. 



O God, the Author of our being, and the Pre- 
server of our lives ! we raise our hearts and voices 
unto thee this morning in thankfulness for preser- 
vation during the night, and for the circumstances 
of mercy in which we are permitted to begin the 
day. Oh ! quicken our souls by thy Word : may 
it be to us spirit and life ! Let that mind be in 
us which was in Christ Jesus ; who was holy, harm- 
less, undefiled, and separate from sinners ; who 
came down from heaven, not to do his own will, 
but the will of Him who sent him; and who, 
though he were a Son, yet learned obedience by 
the things that he suffered. When sinners entice 
us, may we not consent. Suffer no temptation 
to bring us in peril of our souls ; but, with 



every temptation, make a way for our escape. 
Being born of God, may we, while in the world, 
be kept from its evil, and prove that this is the 
victory which overcometh the world, even our 
faith ! 

May it please thee, Lord ! to prosper us in our 
daily occupations ; to preside over this household 
with thy good Spirit ; to preserve us from harm ; 
to bless the children, and lead them in the right 
way ; to bless our friends, and number them all 
with thy chosen ; to bless our land with plenty, 
with peace, and with the power of thy gospel ; to 
bless and save a world that lieth in wickedness. 
These mercies we ask, humbly confessing our sins, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



136 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Psalm I. — 16. Unto the wicked God saith, What 
hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou 
shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth ? 

17. Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest 
my words behind thee. 

18. When thou sawest a thief, then thou con- 
sentedst with him, and hast been partaker with 
adulterers. 

19. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy 
tongue frameth deceit. 

20. Thou sittest and speakest against thy 
brother ; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. 

21. These things hast thou done, and I kept 
silence : thou thoughtest that I was altogether 
such a one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, 
and set them in order before thine eyes. 

22. Now, consider this, ye that forget God, lest 
I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. 

Acts i . — 15. And in those days Peter stood up 
in the midst of the disciples, and said (the num- 
ber of the names together were about a hundred 
and twenty), 

16. Men and brethren, this scripture must needs 
have been fulfilled which the Holy Ghost by the 
mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, 
which was guide to them that took Jesus. 

17. For he was numbered with us, and had ob- 
tained part of this ministry. 



The fate of Judas is a terrible example of the power of 
conscience. Possibly he had deluded himself with the 
thought that Jesus would escape arrest by some miracle, and 
so he should get his compensation without crime ; but, when 
he saw that he had brought his Lord to the cross, he was so 
wrung with remorse that he refused to take his pay, saying, 
" I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood." 
And, when his hire was forced upon him, " he cast down the 
pieces of silver in the temple, and went and hanged himself." 
The priests took the money, and bought a potter's field, in 
which, probably, the traitor was the first to be buried ; and 



18. Now, this man purchased a field with the re- 
ward of iniquity ; and, falling headlong, he burst 
asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 

19. And it was known unto all the dwellers at 
Jerusalem ; insomuch as that field is called, in 
their proper tongue, Aceldama ; that is to say, the 
field of blood. 

20. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let 
his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell 
therein ; and, His bishopric let another take. 

21. Wherefore of these men which have com- 
panied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus 
went in and out among us, 

22. Beginning from the baptism of John, unto 
that same day that he was taken up from us, must 
one be ordained to be a witness with us of his 
resurrection. 

23. And they appointed two, Joseph called Bar- 
sabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 

24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, 
which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether 
of these two thou hast chosen, 

25. That he may take part of this ministry and 
apostleship, from which Judas by transgression 
fell, that he might go to his own place. 

26. And they gave forth their lots, and the lot 
fell upon Matthias ; and he was numbered with 
the eleven apostles. 



hence he is said to have purchased the field with the reward 
of iniquity. " He thought to enrich himself by his treachery ; 
but all that he gained was, that he got for himself a field 
where blood was paid for blood." 

A necessary qualification for the apostleship was a per- 
sonal knowledge of the life and death of Christ : hence the 
choice of a substitute for Judas was limited ; and, after the 
first generation, the apostles strictly could have no successors. 
Paul was qualified by the immediate call of Christ, and by 
such visions and revelations as were the equivalent of this 
personal knowledge. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 40, 78, 89. 



O Lord ! we beseech thee, grant us grace to with- 
stand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and 
the Devil, and with pure hearts and minds to fol- 
low thee. Suffer us never to fall away from 
Christ ; never, never to betray him. Oh ! keep 
us from all covetous and worldly desires. 

O Lord Jesus, who art exalted to be a Prince and 
a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of 
sins ! we do repent of our sins before thee, and hum- 
bly beseech thee to receive us, according to thy 
promise that him that cometh unto thee thou wilt 
in no wise cast out. Give unto us, Lord ! that 
sense of thy presence which shall preserve us 
from sin ; that strength of faith which shall over- 
come evil ; that peace which the world cannot 
give nor take away. 

We bring thee thanks for the mercies of the 



night, and supplicate thy grace for our friends and 
neighbors, for the absent dear to us, for thy Church, 
for this family, yea, Lord, for the whole family of 
mankind, — the world which thou hast died to 
save. Oh ! raise up a faithful ministry, and keep 
thy servants pure. 

We beseech thee, Lord ! to instruct us in our 
duty, and help us to perforin it ; to give us a 
tender conscience and an earnest spirit ; to uphold 
us in the slippery ways of the world, and give us 
sterling integrity of heart; to save us from the 
enmity of men, from the malice of Satan, and 
from our own faults and follies ; to support us in 
the hour of death ; and finally to receive us to thy 
presence in the world of endless life. And to the 
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be glory 
forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



137 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Psalm ex. — 1. The Lord said unto my Lord, 
Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine ene- 
mies thy footstool. 

2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength 
out of Zion : rule thou in the midst of thine ene- 
mies. 

3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of 
thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the 
womb of the morning : thou hast the dew of thy 
youth. 

4. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, 
Thou art a priest forever after the order of Mel- 
chizedek. 

5. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike 
through kings in the day of his wrath. 

6. He shall judge among the heathen ; he shall 
fill the places with the dead bodies ; he shall wound 
the heads over many countries. 

7. He shall drink of the brook in the way: 
therefore shall he lift up the head. 



Revelation i. — 4. John to the seven churches 
which are in Asia : Grace be unto you, and peace, 
from him which is, and which was, and which is 
to come ; and from the seven spirits which are be- 
fore his throne ; 

5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful 
Witness, and the first-begotten of the dead, and 
the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him 
that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his 
own blood, 

6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God 
and his Father ; to him be glory and dominion for 
ever and ever. Amen. 

7. Behold, he cometh with clouds ; and every 
eye shall see him, and they also which pierced 
him : and all kindreds of the earth shall wail be- 
cause of him. Even so, Amen. 

8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and 
the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which 
was, and which is to come, the Almighty. 



This psalm has the rhythm and tone of a triumphal mai - ch. 
In words of majestic beauty and of sustained fervor, it cele- 
brates the kingdom, the priesthood, the conquests, and the 
exaltation of Christ. It is the magnificent panorama of the 
Revelation by John given in miniature, with every principal 
scene suggested by some leading feature. David, in spirit fore- 
seeing the glory of Christ, calls him his Lord, and hears the 
voice of Jehovah inviting the Messiah to share his throne. 
As an Oriental conqueror used the necks of captives for his 
footstool, the absolute triumph of Christ is represented by his 
putting all enemies under his feet. He shall tread upon 
death, and rise victorious from the grave. 

But the Church shall be the seat of his gracious power. 
Gladly owning this redeeming King, his people shall follow his 
standard with willing hearts : their ranks shall be recruited 



from rising generations, till his hosts, brilliant as the dew in the 
beauty of holiness, shall also be innumerable as the drops that 
burst into splendor with the coining of the dawn. More copious 
even than these liquid jewels from the womb of the morning 
shall be the myriads of new-born souls bright with the dew 
of their consecration. This King shall unite in himself also 
the priestly functions, of no human order or pedigree, but 
as the spiritual antetype of that royal priest, the king of 
peace, who blessed Abraham, and received his homage. All 
kings shall bow or bend to his authority ; all nations shall 
be gathered before him in judgment. If at times his triumph 
seems to be checked, he but pauses, as it were, to refresh him- 
self by the way, and again lifts up his head. How blessed 
and glorious it is to follow such a King ! How sad and 
ruinous to be found among his enemies ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 86, 137, 159. 



O Almighty Father, Lord of heaven and earth, 
who on the first day didst create the light, and 
hast raised us up to praise and adore thee ! make 
us to walk as children of light, that we may have 
no fellowship with the unfruitful works of dark- 
ness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Lord, most gracious Saviour, who on this day 
didst rise again from the dead ! raise up our souls 
unto newness of life, granting us repentance from 
dead works, and planting us in the likeness of thy 
resurrection. 

O thou blessed Spirit, Lord and Giver of life, who 
on this day didst come down to sanctify and to 
teach, to guide and to comfort, thine elect ! lead us, 
we beseech thee, into all truth, and fill our hearts 
with thy manifold gifts of grace. 

O Lord ! we beseech thee so to purify our hearts 
this day, that we may worship thee acceptably, 
with reverence and godly fear. Incline us to re- 
ceive thy Word into honest and good hearts, and to 
bring forth fruit with patience ; that we may at 
last inherit everlasting life, through the mediation 



of our great High Priest, who has passed into the 
heavens, and who liveth evermore. 

Thou Lord of the evening and morning, we bless 
thee for thy love which shines upon us in the 
motning light. As thy goodness hath preserved 
us in the night, may thy grace attend and keep us 
this day ! As we shall study thee in thy works 
and Word, fill our minds with thy truth, and our 
hearts with thy love. Grant us thy peace. Teach 
the children thy grace in the gospel of thy Son, 
that they may consecrate to thee the dew of their 
youth. 

Let thy special blessing, Lord ! rest on all our 
relations, friends, and neighbors : and so quicken 
us by thy grace, that with willing hearts we may 
serve and please thee ; that having washed our 
robes, and made them white in the blood of the 
Lamb, we may dwell with thee forevermore. Oh ! 
hasten the final coming and glory of Christ our 
Saviour; to whom, with the Father and the Holy 
Ghost, be all praise and thanksgiving forever. 
Amen. 



138 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Hebrews vii. — 17. For he testifieth, Thou art 
a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 

18. For there is verily a disannulling of the 
commandment going before, for the weakness and 
unprofitableness thereof. 

19. For the law made nothing perfect ; but the 
bringing-in of a better hope did ; by the which we 
draw nigh unto God. 

20. And inasmuch as not without an oath he 
was made priest ; 

21. (For those priests were made without an 
oath ; but this with an oath, by him that said unto 
him, The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou 
art a priest forever after the order of Melchize- 
dek ;) 

22. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a 
better testament. 

23. And they truly were many priests, because 



they were not suffered to continue by reason of 
death ; 

24. But this man, because he continueth ever, 
hath an unchangeable priesthood. 

25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to 
the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing 
he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 

26. For such an high priest became us, who is 
holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, 
and made higher than the heavens ; 

27. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, 
to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then 
for the people's ; for this he did once, when he 
offered up himself. 

28. For the law maketh men high priests which 
have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which 
was since the law, maketh the Son, who is conse- 
crated forevermore. 



As Abraham was returning from the rescue of Lot, a ven- 
erable man, who was at once the king of Salem and the priest 
of the most high God, met him, and blessed him in the name 
of the Lord. Touched with the dignity of his character and 
office, Abraham bowed before him, and paid him tithes of all 
the spoils of victory. Thus, for one instant of that far-off his- 
tory, Melchizedek flits before us, and disappears. But that 
momentary vision was a prophecy of the priesthood of Christ 
in its royal pre-eminence and its unchanging virtue. No record 
is left of the family of Melchizedek, his birth, his kindred, his 
death : he stands before us in the grandeur of his character 
and office, and in his immediate relations with the Most High, 
— king of righteousness, king of peace, without father, without 
mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, 
nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God. After 



almost two thousand years, this typical character re-appears 
in perfection in the person of Christ, made a priest, not accord- 
ing to a changeable human law, but by the power of an end- 
less life ; consecrated by the word of Jehovah forevermore. 

All the meaning of the sacrifices was summed up in his 
death : no more offering for sin is needed ; no other could be 
made. The perfection of his own nature attaches also to his 
work of redemption. But, though the atonement was finished 
upon the cross, the other function of the priesthood, that of 
intercession, is in constant exercise by Jesus, seeing he ever 
liveth. What encouragement to prayer, what assurance of 
sympathy and help, what confidence of salvation, are given in 
the fact, that He who so loved us that he came to die for us, 
lives, with all his human tenderness unchanged, to intercede 
for us, to succor and to save us ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 28, -86, 179. 



Merciful Father, we draw nigh to thy throne of 
grace through Jesus, our great High Priest. For 
his sake may we obtain mercy, and find grace to 
help according to our need ! 

O Thou who art the Way ! we beseech thee to 
lead us ; Thou who art the Truth ! we beseech 
thee to teach us ; Thou who art the Life ! we 
beseech thee to preserve us unto the life everlasting. 
We thank thee, God ! that in Christ we may know 
thee as our Father, reconciling us unto thyself. 

Transform us from day to day, and from week 
to week, more into the image of thy Son, that we 
may at last be presented faultless before the pres- 
ence of thy glory with exceeding joy. 

We praise thee for this sabbath and all its bless- 
ings, at home and in thy house. We pray for all 
who have worshipped with us this day. May 
grace, mercy, and peace be upon them, and upon 
the whole Israel of God ! Extend thy cause and 
kingdom everywhere. May the glorious gospel of 
the grace of God speedily triumph over all the pride 
and wisdom and will-worship and delusion of man ! 
Arise, God ! and plead thine own cause. 



Bless this family. O Thou who didst bring 
from the dead the Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd 
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting 
covenant ! do thou make us all perfect to do thy 
will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in 
thy sight. 

May our friends who are at a distance from us 
be protected and guarded by thy gracious provi- 
dence ! The Lord watch between them and us 
when we are absent one from another ! May their 
names also be written in the Lamb's book of life ! 
Teach us how to walk as pilgrims and strangers 
on the earth, — sojourners, as all our fathers were, — 
looking for that blessed hope, even the glorious 
appearing of the great God our Saviour. Oh ! 
bring us at last to our Father's house in ever- 
lasting peace. 

As the curtains of the night are now drawing 
around us, be pleased to grant us thy guardian 
care. Lying down in thy fear, may we awake in 
thy favor, fitted for all the calls and duties of a 
new day ! And all this we ask for the sake of Jesus 
Christ, our only Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



139 



MONDAY. 



Psalm cxix. — 57. Thou art my portion, 
Lord ! I have said that I would keep thy words. 

58. I entreated thy favor with my whole heart : 
he merciful unto me according to thy word. 

59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet 
unto thy testimonies. 

60. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy 
commandments. 

63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, 
and of them that keep thy precepts. 

65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, 
Lord ! according unto thy word. 

67. Before I was afflicted, I went astray; hut 
now have I kept thy word. 

71. It is good for me that I have heen afflicted, 
that I might learn thy statutes. 

72. The law of thy mouth is better unto me 
than thousands of gold and silver. 

73. Thy hands have made me and fashioned 
me : give me understanding, that I may learn thy 
commandments. 

74. They that fear thee will be glad when they 
see me ; because I have hoped in thy word. 

75. I know, Lord ! that thy judgments are 
right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted 
me. 

76. Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be 
for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy 
servant. 

77. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that 
I may live ; for thy law is my delight. 



This centurion was a Eoman officer in command of the 
garrison at Capernaum ; but, though a foreigner and a Gen- 
tile, he had rendered himself acceptable to the Jews by his con- 
ciliatory manners and by his respectful treatment of their re- 
ligion. Perhaps he was already a proselyte to the Jewish 
faith : he certainly had the spirit of a true believer. Not pre- 
suming to approach Jesus in person, he employed as his mes- 
sengers some of the more prominent Jews, who willingly used 
their influence in his behalf; but, as Jesus approached the 
house, this Gentile, whose humility would not suffer him to ac- 
cept the privileges of an Israelite, manifested a faith greater 



Luke vii. — 1. Now, when he had ended all his 
sayings in the audience of the people, he entered 
into Capernaum. 

2. And a certain centurion's servant, who was 
dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 

3. And, when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto 
him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he 
would come and heal his servant. 

4. And, when they came to Jesus, they besought 
him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for 
whom he should do this ; 

5. For he loveth our nation, and he hath built 
us a synagogue. 

6. Then Jesus went with them. And, when he 
was now not far from the house, the centurion sent 
friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not 
thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest 
enter under my roof; 

7. Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy 
to come unto thee ; but say in a word, and my ser- 
vant shall be healed. 

8. For I also am a man set under authority, 
having under me soldiers : and I say unto one, Go, 
and he goeth ; and to another, Come, and he com- 
eth ; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 

9. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled 
at him, and turned him about, and said unto the 
people that followed him, I say unto you, I have 
not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 

10. And they that were sent, returning to the 
house, found the servant whole that had been sick. 



than that of Israel. "I know how to obey, being myself 
under authority ; and, in turn, know how others obey, having 
soldiers under me : if then I, in my subordinate station of com- 
mand, am obeyed, how much more thou, who art over all, and 
whom diseases serve as their master ! " And Jesus confirmed 
the centurion's faith : his word healed the sick man whom he 
did not even see. So is Jesus ever quick to heal our sorrows, 
when, with a humble, unquestioning faith, we cast them wholly 
upon him, put ourselves under his authority, and accept his will. 
Our faith often fails us because it lacks the quality of obedience. 
We are more ready to urge our wishes than to do Christ's will. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Lord, our heavenly Father ! we have 



nothing 
to bring to thee but our wants, and such poor re- 
turn of love and gratitude and praise as these 
hearts can render for thy goodness. As thou dost 
cause our lives to overflow with thy mercies, so do 
thou fill our hearts to overflowing with thy Spirit, 
that we may thank thee and praise thee as we 
ought. The morning calls us again to praise thee 
for thy loving-kindness in the night-season ; and 
every day renews the tokens of thy bounty. Every 
good gift cometh clown from thee, the Father of 
lights ; and though we are so changeful in our love, 
so inconstant in our service, with thee there is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind us 



Prayer. [Nos. 121, 160, 184. 

to thyself, O our Father ! by the mighty attraction 
of thy love. May the love of Christ, who died 
for us that we might live, constrain us to live ever 
unto thee. 

We pray, Lord ! that multitudes may be 
saved ; that thy Church may increase ; that mis- 
sions may prosper ; that thy Word may be given to 
all people, and the knowledge of the Lord may fill 
the earth as the waters fill the sea. We thank thee 
for our home, and pray thee to bless us with all 
things that we need as a family. Bless the absent 
who are dear to us ; and bring them together with 
us, we beseech thee, unto thy heavenly kingdom ; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



140 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



2 Kings iv. — 18. And, when the child was 
grown, it fell, on a day, that lie went out to his 
father to the reapers. 

19. And he said unto his father, My head, my 
head ! And he said to a lad, Carry him to his 
mother. 

20. And when he had taken him, and brought 
him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, 
and then died. 

21. And she went up, and laid him on the bed 
of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, 
and went out. 

32. And, when Elisha was come into the house, 
behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his 
bed. 

33. He went ia therefore, and shut the door 
upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. 

34. And he went up, and lay upon the child, 
and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes 
upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands : and 
he stretched himself upon the child ; and the flesh 
of the child waxed warm. 

35. Then he returned, and walked in the house 
to and fro, and went up, and stretched himself 
upon him ; and the child sneezed seven times, and 
the child opened his eyes. 

36. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this 



Nain was a few hours distant from Capernaum, near 
Mount Tabor. The tombs of the Jews were commonly out- 
side their cities ; and this funeral processsion had just reached 
the place of burial as Jesus drew nigh. The scene was one of 
most tender sorrow, — a widow following to the grave her 
only son, her companion, her support, her hope, her all. Jesus, 
who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, and who loved 
to make our human sympathies the channel of his divine 
power and grace, touched with compasion for this broken- 
hearted stranger, approached her with words of comfort. He 
identified himself with her grief, and then brought her deliv- 
erance. In the eloquent words of Massillon, " Elisha raised 
the dead, it is true ; but he was obliged to stretch himself 
many times upon the body of the child : he prayed, walked to 
and fro, was intensely agitated. It was evident that he invoked 
a power outside of himself; that he would recall from the 



Shunamite. So he called her. And, when she 
was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 

37. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and 
bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, 
and went out. 

Luke vii. — 11. And it came to pass the day 
after, that he went into a city called Nain ; and 
many of his disciples went with him, and much 
people. 

12. Now, when he came nigh to the gate of the 
city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the 
only son of his mother, and she was a widow ; and 
much people of the city was with her. 

13. And, when the Lord saw her, he had com- 
passion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 

14. And he came and touched the bier ; and 
they that bare him stood still. And he said, 
Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 

15. And he that was dead sat up, and began to 
speak ; and he delivered him to his mother. 

16. And there came a fear on all : and they 
glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen 
up among us ; and, That God hath visited his 
people. 

17. And this rumor of him went forth through- 
out all Judaea, and throughout all the region round 
about. 



dominion of death a soul that was not subject to his voice ; 
that he was not in himself the master of death and of life. 
Jesus Christ raised the dead as he performed the most com- 
mon actions : he spoke as a master to those who were sleeping 
the eternal sleep. One feels that he was Lord of the dead as of 
the living ; never more tranquil than when he wrought the 
mightiest works." This miracle of the resurrection he does 
not now repeat ; but he still meets us at the grave, the sym- 
pathizing Saviour, the Resurrection and the Life. To the 
heart that yearns to receive its dead to life again he gives a 
consolation greater than the miracle. Though the cry of 
nature be not heard, faith wins the answer of peace. 

It may not be : one deed of power 

Sufficed to give the ages faith. 

Hear what My living gospel saith, 
And trust Me in the darksome hour. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 106, 158, 167. 



Thou art the King of glory, Christ ! Thou 
art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou 
hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst 
open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou 
sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the 
Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be 
our Judge. We therefore pray thee help thy ser- 
vants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious 
blood: make them to be numbered with thy 
saints in glory everlasting. Oh, may thy wonders 
among the dead cause us to fear thy name, and to 
hope in thy mercy ! We believe in thee, O Lord 
Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life ! 

Thou who hast brought us again from sleep 



to behold the light of a new day ! help us so to con- 
fide in thee, to keep thee ever so near and so pre- 
cious to our thought, that we shall live above the 
fear of death, and look forward with joy to our 
final rest with thee. Grant us grace to bear all 
trials, resist all temptations, fulfil all duties, in the 
hope of thine appearing. As children of the light, 
may we shun all evil, and show forth thy praise ! 
Comfort all in sorrow. Be the God of the widow 
and the fatherless. May this household, and all 
dear to us, be joined to the family of the saints 
on earth, and finally to the company of the re- 
deemed in heaven, through Him who died for 
us ! — to whom be glory forever. Amen. 



.J 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



141 



WEDNESDAY. 



Luke vii. — 36. And one of the Pharisees de- 
sired him that he would eat with him. And he 
went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to 
meat. 

37. And behold, a woman in the city, which was 
a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in 
the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster-box of 
ointment, 

38. And stood at his feet behind him, weeping; 
and began to wash his feet with tears, and did 
wipe them with the hairs of her head ; and kissed 
his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 

39. jSTow, when the Pharisee which had bidden 
him saw it, he spake within himself, sa}'ing, This 
man, if he were a prophet, would hare known who 
and what manner of woman this is that toucheth 
him ; for she is a sinner. 

40. And Jesus, answering, said unto him, Simon, 
I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, 
Master, say on. 

41. There was a certain creditor, which had two 
debtors : the one owed five hundred pence, and the 
other fifty. 

42. And, when they had nothing to pay, he 



frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, 
which of them will love him most? 

43. Simon answered and said, I suppose that he 
to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, 
Thou hast rightly judged. 

44. And he turned to the woman, and said unto 
Simon, Seest thou this woman ? I entered into 
thine house ; thou gavest me no water for my feet : 
but she bath washed my feet with tears, and wiped 
them with the hairs of her head. 

45. Thou gavest me no kiss ; but this woman, 
since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss 
my feet. 

46. Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint ; but 
this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 

47. "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which 
are many, are forgiven ; for she loved much : but 
to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 

48. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 

49. And they that sat at meat with him began 
to say within themselves, Who is this that for- 
giveth sins also? 

50. And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath 
saved thee : go in peace. 



"A sinner;" i.e., a notorious sinner; one who had led a 
life of open immorality. Her heart had been touched by the 
preaching of Jesus ; and, as his disciples and others followed 
him into the house, she probably slipped in with the com- 
pany unnoticed. According to custom, Jesus would recline 
at the table on a couch, with his feet behind him. Hence the 
woman could have anointed his feet without interrupting the 
meal, or in any way interfering with Jesus or with other guests ; 
though her weeping must have attracted their attention. In 
the view of the Pharisee, the touch of such a person was a cere- 
monial defilement ; but, as he was mentally judging his guest 
to be lacking in the spiritual insight of a prophet, Jesus 
poured upon Ms heart the searching light of omniscience, 



and revealed his inmost thoughts. This outcast woman had 
come as a penitent ; and, as such, Christ had pardon, grace, 
and encouragement for her. She showed the sinceritv of her 
repentance by the humble, earnest, self-sacrificing spirit of her 
trust and devotion. She bought an offering costly and fra- 
grant ; she kissed his feet in token of reverence ; and her 
tears flowed so fast, that she must needs wipe them with her 
hair. Absorbed in what she was doing, she took no thought 
of those around her, and did not heed their cavils. 

The incident is for our example and our eneouragment. The 
chief of sinners may come to Christ, and welcome. For peni- 
tence his pardon is ever ready ; for the love of a grateful devo- 
tion he has a love that takes away sin, and gives his own peace. 



Appropriate Htmns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 59, 117. 



May thy good Spirit, Lord ! we pray thee, 
write in our hearts the things that we have heard 
out of thy Holy Scriptures, that we may this day 
walk according to thy word, doing thy will, and 
showing forth thy praise ! We confess our sin 
and folly, our carnal desires, our worldly spirit ; 
and we entreat thee for Christ's sake to forgive the 
errors and iniquities of our past lives, and hence- 
forth to lead us in the way everlasting. Thou 
hast not dealt with us according to our sins, but 
hast been patient and long-suffering, and abundant 
in goodness and mercy. Oh, may thy great love 
toward us in Christ our Saviour bind us to thee in 
grateful and loving devotion ! May we ever be 
ready to testify for Christ, and to consecrate to him 
the best that we have ! May we love supremely 
the things that thou lovest ; love and practise 
whatsoever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and 
of good report ; love the Church of our Lord Jesus 



Christ, which he hath redeemed with his own 
precious blood; love our fellow-men, and do them 
good as thou givest us opportunity ; have compas- 
sion upon the sinful and the erring ; in all things 
living, not to ourselves, but to Him who loved us, 
and died for us, and rose again ! And do thou, 
Lord ! hasten the blessed day when thy kingdom 
shall come, and thy will be done in earth as it is 
in heaven. 

With thanksgivings for the mercies of the past 
night and of the opening day, for shelter and re- 
pose, for food and raiment, for health and home ; 
with supplications for thy favor and guidance in all 
that is before us, and for the blessings of thy prov- 
idence and grace upon all dear to us, — we ask and 
offer all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ ; for whom we ever bless thee ; to whom, 
with thee, Pather ! and the Holy Ghost, be praise 
and glory evermore. Amen. 



^Wl 



142 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Matthew xi. — 1. And it came to pass, when 
Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve 
disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach 
in their cities. 

2. Now, when John had heard in the prison the 
works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 

3. And said unto him, Art thou he that should 
come ? or do we look for another ? 

4. Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and 
show John again those things which ye do hear 
and see : 

5. The hlind receive their sight, and the lame 
walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, 
the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gos- 
pel preached to them. 

6. And blessed is he whosoever shall not be of- 
fended in me. 

7. And, as they departed, Jesus began to say 
unto the multitudes concerning John, What went 
ye out into the wilderness to see ? A reed shaken 
with the wind ? 

8. But what went ye out for to see ? A man 
clothed in soft raiment ? Behold, they that wear 
soft clothing are in kings' houses. 

9. But what went ye out for to see ? A prophet ? 
yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 

10. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, 



I send my messenger before thy face, which shall 
prepare thy way before thee. 

11. Verily, I say unto you, Among them that 
are born of women, there hath not risen a greater 
than John the Baptist : notwithstanding, he that 
is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than 
he. 

12. And, from the days of John the Baptist 
until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, 
and the violent take it by force. 

13. For all the prophets and the law prophesied 
until John. 

14. And, if ye will receive it, this is Elias which 
was for to come. 

15. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

16. But whereunto shall I liken this generation ? 
It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and 
calling unto their fellows, 

17. And saying, We have piped unto you, and 
ye have not danced ; we have mourned unto you, 
and ye have not lamented. 

18. For John came neither eating nor drinking ; 
and they say, He hath a devil. 

19. The Son of man came eating and drinking; 
and they say, Behold, a man gluttonous, and a 
wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. 
But Wisdom is justified of her children. 



John, who had been so bold in proclaiming' Jesus as the 
Messiah, appears to have fallen under a cloud. Shut up in 
prison, exposed to a cruel death, he fell to wondering why- 
Jesus did not proclaim himself in his royal power, and sent 
his disciples to beg some positive assurance of his Messiahship. 
Jesus pointed to his deeds of power and mercy ; but above 
these physical wonders he placed the simple fact that he 
preached his gospel to the poor. Then, taking John as a text, 
he reproved his hearers for false standards of character. He 
refused to conform to popular notions, or to minister to popu- 
lar prejudices, either in his own manner of life or in the con- 
stitution of his kingdom. His gospel was not to be a system 
of asceticism, nor of any kind of external uniformity. It 



would take men as it found them, and enter into the daily life. 
The kingdom of heaven was more than meat and drink, more 
than names or rules : men must take hold of it from within, 
with true earnestness of spirit, with energy of faith, — must 
break away from the world, not by going into the desert, but 
by breaking off from sin. The outer life must be governed 
by the inner spirit of wisdom, truth, and love. In outward 
affairs, questions of conformity or nonconformity, of toleration 
or dissent, change from generation to generation. The Chris- 
tian should not bind himself by tradition or custom in things 
not essential. The true Christian spirit will not compromise 
with sin, nor court the world ; yet it is full of mercy and of 
good fruits. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 9, 121, 183. 



Father of lights, thou hast dispersed the dark- 
ness of another night, and permitted the sun once 
more to arise upon us. thou Sun of righteous- 
ness ! do thou disperse the darkness of sin ; cause 
the scales to fall from our eyes, that we may receive 
sight ; shine on us with the brightness of thy 
rising ; let us enjoy this day the blessedness of 
peace with God. 

Lord Jesus, we commit ourselves anew to thy 
keeping. In all the concerns of life, teach us what 
thou wilt have us to do. May it be our sovereign 
motive so to walk as to please thee! May we 
be governed by thy will, and not by our own will 
nor by the will of our fellow-men ! May we dif- 
fuse around us the silent influence of a heavenly 
life ! May we deal tenderly with others, remem- 
bering the tenderness of Him who would not 



break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking 
flax, and whose dying words were words of for- 
giveness. 

We pray for all the sick, the infirm, the af- 
flicted, the sorrowing. thou God of all con- 
solation ! be a father to the fatherless, a husband 
to the widow, the stranger's shield, and the 
orphan's stay. Enable thy suffering peopl e to rest 
in thy love. Bless our beloved friends : if there 
be any among them who are still strangers to thee, 
make them to know thee in Christ. Preserve us 
as a household from all danger and sin ; hide us in 
the hollow of thy hand ; and may death, when it 
shall come, find us still doing that which thou hast 
given us to do, and watching for our Lord ! And 
unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be 
praise forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



143 



FRIDAY. 



Jonah iii. — 3. So Jonah arose, and went unto 
Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. 
Now, Nineveh was an exceeding great city of 
three days' journey. 

4. And Jonah began to enter into the city a 
day's journey ; and he cried, and said, Yet forty 
days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 

5. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and 
proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the 
greatest of them even to the least of them. 

6. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, 
and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe 
from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat 
in ashes. 

7. And he caused it to be proclaimed and pub- 
lished through Nineveh by the decree of the king 
and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, 
herd nor flock, taste any thing ; let them not feed, 
nor drink water : 

8. But let man and beast be covered with sack- 
cloth, and cry mightily unto God ; yea, let them 
turn every one from his evil way, and from the 
violence that is in their hands. 

9. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and 
turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not ? 

10. And God saw their works, that they turned 
from their evil way : aud God repented of the evil 
that he had said that he would do unto them ; and 
he did it not. 

Matthew xi. — 20. Then began he to upbraid 
the cities wherein most of his mighty works were 
done, because they repented not. 

Men sometimes say, " If we had lived in the time of Christ, 
we should have believed;" or, "If we could witness a miracle, 
we should now believe." Yet multitudes who saw the mir- 
acles of Christ were so blinded by prejudice, by passion, or by 
sin, that they did not receive him ; and, if miracles were re- 
peated to meet such demands, their frequency would so impair 
the impression of the supernatural, that they would come to 
be regarded as common events. The nature of the truths 
contained in the gospel and their moral effects are the abid- 
ing evidence of their divine origin ; and this evidence addresses 
itself to a humble, sincere mind, to a childlike state of feel- 
ing. The mysteries of Providence, which lie beyond the 
analysis of reason, may lie open to the higher vision of faith. 



21. Woe unto thee, Chorazin ! woe unto thee, 
Bethsaida ! for, if the mighty works which were 
done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. they 
would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 

22. But I say unto you, It shall be more toler- 
able for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment 
than for you. 

23. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted 
unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell ; for, if 
the mighty works which have been done in thee 
had been done in Sodom, it would have remained 
until this day. 

24. But I say unto you, That it shall be more 
tolerable for the land of Sodom, in the day of judg- 
ment, than for thee. 

25. At that time Jesus answered and said, I 
thank thee, Bather, Lord of heaven and earth ! 
because thou hast hid these things from the wise 
and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes : 

26. Even so, Father ; for so it seemed good in 
thy sight. 

27. All things are delivered unto me of my 
Father : and no man knoweth the Son but the 
Father ; neither knoweth any man the Father 
save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will 
reveal him. 

28. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are 
heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 

29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me : 
for I am meek, and lowly in heart ; and ye shall find 
rest unto your souls. 

30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

I A meek and lowly mind will rest in the word of Christ, in 

the wisdom and love of the Father, and cannot be disquieted 

by that which for the present baffles the understanding. The 

true rest comes, not from outward circumstances, nor from 

the decision of vexed problems, but is within the soul, — in its 

. moral convictions, in its spiritual affections, in its trust and 

i hope ; and, when these are fixed upon God, no disturbance of 

! affairs, no perplexities of providence, no mysteries of faith, 

j can really disquiet the mind. In such a frame, Christ be- 

I comes manifested to the consciousness as the embodiment of 

> divine truth, love, and grace ; and so the Father is revealed in 

I the Son. With the cumulative evidence of the gospel in its 

I effects, how great must be our condemnation if we reject it ! 



Appsopriatb Hymns,] Prayer. [Nos. 44, 59, 103, 134. 

Thou, Lord, art the God of the evening and the I May thy blessing rest upon this household, and 
morning, and every day renews the testimony of thy i all that pertain to it ; upon the families of all who 
tender mercies which are over all thy works. We are allied to any of us ; upon the community in 
bless thee for thy mercy unto us in the night-sea- I which we dwell ; upon our country ; upon all kin- 
son ; for the refreshment of sleep ; for the health dreds and peoples of the earth, the creatures of 
and comfort with which we enter upon another ' thy power, the children of thy love ! Bring all 
day. Bemembering that life is thy gift, may we ! men to repentance, and to the acknowledgment of 



spend it in thy service and to thy glory ! We pray 

thee to preserve us from evil, and keep us from sin. 

Oh ! save us from unbelief, and hardness of heart. 

May we obey the word of the Lord Jesus, and i forever ; and let the whole earth be filled with thy 

trust in his grace ! I glory. Amen. 



the truth. Make perfect, we beseech thee, the 
new creation which thou hast begun in Christ 
Jesus our Lord : and blessed be thy glorious name 



144 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Hebrews iii. — 1. Wherefore, holy brethren, 
partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the 
Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ 
Jesus ; 

2. Who was faithful to him that appointed him, 
as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 

3. For this man was counted worthy of more 
glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath 
buikled the house hath more honor than the 
house. 

4. For every house is huilded by some man ; but 
he that built all things is God. 

5. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, 
as a servant, for a testimony of those things which 
were to be spoken after ; 

6. But Christ as a Son over his own house : 
whose house are we, if we hold fast the confi- 
dence, and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the 
end. 

7. Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To-day 
if ye will hear his voice, 

8. Harden not your hearts as in the provocation, 
in the day of temptation in the wilderness ; 

9. When your fathers ' tempted me, proved me, 
and saw my works forty years. 

10. Wherefore I was grieved with that genera- 



tion, and said, They do always err in their heart ; 
and they have not known my ways. 

11. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not en- 
ter into my rest. 

12. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of 
you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the 
living God. 

13. But exhort one another daily, while it is 
called To-day ; lest any of you be hardened through 
the deceitfulness of sin. 

14. For we are made partakers of Christ if we 
hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto 
the end ; 

15. While it is said, To-day if ye will hear his 
voice, harden not your hearts as in the provoca- 
tion. 

16. For some, when they had heard, did pro- 
voke : howbeit, not all that came out of Egypt by 
Moses. 

17. But with whom was he grieved forty years ? 
was it not with them that had sinned, whose car- 
casses fell in the wilderness ? 

18. And to whom sware he that they should not 
enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 

19. So we see that they could not enter in be- 
cause of unbelief. 



This is but an echo of our Lord's repeated warnings 
against unbelief. Faith is the link of union between our 
souls and God. It makes him real ; it gives us access to 
him through Christ as our High Priest ; it makes us " par- 
takers of Christ " in the confidence and rejoicing of hope ; 
it gives reality to heaven as the home which Christ's love has 
prepared for us. Hence, to falter in faith is to lose the con- 
ception of these realities, the power of these motives, the com- 
fort of these promises and hopes. The deceitful allurements 



of sin, which would betray us through that which is near, 
visible, sensual, can be resisted only by a faith that gives 
reality to higher things, and keeps God and the Saviour always 
near. Unbelief is the point of departure from God, the be- 
ginning of apostasy, the hardening of the heart. It is not 
enough to have believed, to have confessed Christ : by prayer 
and the word of God we must " hold the beginning of our 
confidence steadfast unto the end." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 50, 59, 109. 



God, who hast spared our lives, and brought 
us to the beginning of another day ! we lift up our 
hearts to thee. We thank thee for rest during 
the past night ; for life preserved, and strength re- 
newed; and for the many tokens of thy loving- 
kindness which surround us. May we ever have 
true gratitude for thy mercies, and never grieve 
thee by a hard and unthankful heart ! 

And now, O Lord! prepare us for the duties and 
trials which this day may bring. Whatever we 
have to do, may we do it willingly and heartily, as 
unto thee, and not as unto men ! Whatever may 
be our besetting sins, grant that we may know 
them, and watch and fight against them. Give us 
grace to take up, each one of us, our peculiar cross, 
whatever it may be ; to exercise constant self-de- 
nial ; and in all things to follow our Master, so 
that each of us may say, "Forme to live is Christ." 
Make us more like him in lowliness and meekness ; 
tender-hearted, forgiving one another; ready to 



bear each other's burdens, and so fulfil the law of 
Christ. Oh ! give to us a living faith, an earnest 
faith, a constant faith. 

Let not the world with its cares and vanities fill 
our hearts, and so make us forget the worth of our 
souls, the love of our Saviour, and the nearness 
of eternity. Whilst we are busy in the world, may 
our hearts rise above it ! 

Lord, watch over us, and all who are dear to us, 
this day. Defend our souls from the assaults of 
the Wicked One, and preserve our bodies in health 
and safety. May all thy wise and merciful inspira- 
tions bind us to thee, and fit us better for thy ser- 
vice ! May we walk in the light of thy countenance, 
and know the happiness of those who have the 
Lord for their God ! Finally, prepare us to depart 
and be with Christ. Hear us, heavenly Father, 
and when thou hearest forgive, for the sake of 
Jesus our Saviour, who with thee and the Holy 
Ghost reigneth evermore. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



145 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Give the king thy judg- 
thy righteousness unto the 



Psalm Ixxii. — 1. 

ments, God! and 
king's son. 

2. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, 
and thy poor with judgment. 

3. The mountains shall bring peace to the 
people, and the little hills, by righteous- 
ness. 

4. He shall judge the poor of the people, he 
shall save the children of the needy, and shall 
break in pieces the oppressor. 

5. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and 
moon endure, throughout all generations. 

6. He shall come down like rain upon the mown 
grass ; as showers that water the earth. 

7. In his days shall the righteous flourish ; 
and abundance of peace so long as the moon en- 
dureth. 

8. He shall have dominion also from sea to 
sea, and from the river unto the ends of the 
earth. 

9. They that dwell in the wilderness shall 
bow before him ; and his enemies shall lick the 
dust. 

10. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall 
bring presents ■ the kings of Sheba and Seba shall 
offer gifts. 



"What king is this whose reign is described in such globing 
measures, and for whose prosperity and glory all good things in 
earth and heaven are invoked ? The common heading to the 
psalm in our English Bibles makes it a prayer of David for 
Solomon ; but the heading in the Hebrew is, " A Prayer of 
Solomon." Since Solomon was the author of the psalm, of 
course it could not have referred to David ; and we can hardly 
believe him to have used such lofty language concerning him- 
self. Besides, much of the psalm is of the tenor of prophecy ; 
and, like Psalms ii., xvi., xxii., xlv., and others, this must be 
applied to Christ. And how beautifully, and at the same time 
how faithfully, does it picture the characteristics of the Re- 
deemer's kingdom, — peace, righteousness, justice, compassion, 



11. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him ; 
all nations shall serve him. 

12. For he shall deliver the needy when he 
crieth ; the poor also, and him that hath no 
helper. 

13. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall 
save the souls of the needy. 

14. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and 
violence ; and precious shall their blood be in his 
sight. 

15. And he shall live, and to him shall be 
given of the gold of Sheba : prayer also shall 
be made for him continually; and daily shall he 
be praised. 

16. There shall be a handful of corn in the 
earth upon the top of the mountains ; the fruit 
thereof shall shake like Lebanon : and they of the 
city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 

17. His name shall endure forever; his name 
shall be continued as long as the sun : and men 
shall be blessed in him ; all nations shall call him 
blessed. 

18. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, 
who only doeth wondrous things. 

19. And blessed be his glorious name forever ; 
and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. 
Amen, and amen. 



the relief of suffering, the redress of wrongs, the over- 
throw of evil ! Where the principles of Christ prevail in 
society and government, there is peace, plenty, prosperity; 
oppression is broken ; violence and deceit are banished ; the 
poor are cared for, the needy succored ; industry and commerce 
flourish ; the hills are clothed with com, the cities thrive as 
with the verdure of spring. Blessed be God that this king- 
dom of Christ is yet to prevail in all the earth ! " The most 
uncivilized, the most distant, and the most opulent nations shall 
pay their homage to him ; the barbarous inhabitants of the 
desert, the remote isles of the West, and the kings of rich Ara- 
bia (Sheba) and Ethiopia (Seba), shall lie prostrate in homage 
at his feet." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 6, 49, 75. 



Thine, Lord ! is the greatness, and the power, 
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; 
for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is 
thine : thine is the kingdom, Lord ! and thou art 
exalted as Head over all. We bless thee that thou 
hast given unto thy Son the kingdom in this 
world, and hast promised that the gates of hell 
shall not prevail against his Church ; and we be- 
seech thee, upon this thy holy day, so to bless thy 
truth and all the appointed means of grace that a 
great multitude of souls shall be born into the 
kingdom of Christ through the power of the 
Holy Ghost. Make thy Word a comfort and a 
joy unto all believers, and the power of God 
unto salvation to the world that lieth in wicked- 
ness. 



Lord Jesus ! rule thou in our hearts ; by thy 
redeeming grace take away our sins ; by thy sanc- 
tifying presence fill our souls with thy peace. 
May we do all things to thy glory, and show forth 
thy praise in our lives ! We humbly thank thee, 
Lord ! for the blessings of the past week ; for thy 
daily benefits to us, and to all dear to us. Bless 
this household, this day and always, with thy grace. 
May eveiy one of us before thee, and all who are 
united with us in family ties, be found within the 
kingdom of thy dear Son ! May we know the joy 
of a full consecration unto Him who hath redeemed 
us to God with his precious blood! and, having 
served him in his kingdom here, may we come to 
be partakers of his glory in the kingdom of his 
Father, for Christ's sake ! Amen. 



146 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Hebrews viii. — 1. Now, of the things which 
we have spoken, this is the sum : We have such an 
high priest, who is set on the right hand of the 
throne of the Majesty in the heavens ; 

2. A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true 
tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 

3. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts 
and sacrifices : wherefore it is of necessity that 
this man have somewhat also to offer. 

4. For, if he were on earth, he should not be a 
priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts 
according to the law ; 

5. Who serve unto the example and shadow of 
heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God 
when he was about to make the tabernacle : for, 
See (saith he) that thou make all things according 
to the pattern showed to thee in the mount. 

6. But now hath he obtained a more excellent 
ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a 
better covenant, which was established upon better 
promises. 

7. For if that first covenant had been faultless, 
then should no place have been sought for the 
second. 



8. For, finding fault with them, he saith, Behold 
the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a 
new covenant with the house of Israel and with 
the house of Judah : 

9. Not according to the covenant that I made 
with their fathers, in the day when I took them by 
the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt ; 
because they continued not in my covenant, and I 
regarded them not, saith the Lord. 

10. For this is the covenant that I will make 
with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the 
Lord : I will put my laws into their mind, and 
write them in their hearts ; and I will be to them 
a God, and they shall be to me a people : 

11. And they shall not teach every man his 
neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know 
the Lord ; for all shall know me, from the least to 
the greatest. 

12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteous- 
ness, and their sins and their iniquities will I re- 
member no more. 

13. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath 
made the first old. Now, that which decayeth and 
waxeth old is ready to vanish away. 



The elaborate system of worship established by Moses was 
never meant to be an end in itself. Its offerings and sacri- 
fices, its prayers and songs, its priestly mediations and abso- 
lutions, assumed an inner spirit of penitence, faith, thanksgiv- 
ing, love, devotion. The ritual was an appropriate expres- 
sion in outward signs of the emotions of the heart in view of 
its sins and sorrows, and of the goodness and mercy of the 
Lord. It was also a help to the understanding of promises to 
come, and to faith in their fulfilment. In believing hearts it 
nursed the expectation of the Messiah, and set forth the great 
doctrine of atonement through the daily sacrifice, — a type of 
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This was 
the real import of the covenant that God made with Israel at 
Sinai. When, however, from being an exponent of feeling 



and an educator of faith, the Jews perverted their worship to 
an end in itself, and a meritorious act, both the prophets of 
the Lord and his providence taught them that the ritual could 
neither save them nor preserve itself. Yet the mercy of God 
prevailed, even over the abuse of mercy. There always was 
a spiritual Israel ; and it was promised, that, by the coming of 
Christ, the covenant of an inner spiritual life — of knowledge, 
obedience, grace, righteousness, salvation — should be renewed, 
enlarged, and made perpetual. Christ was not only a greater 
and more perfect priest than any other ; he superseded all 
others as priest in his own right, and priest forever : and 
therefore, to put a priesthood or ritual in his place is to usurp 
his sole prerogative, and to forfeit his atoning and saving 
grace. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 83, 119, 196. 



Our heavenly Father, who seekest those who 
worship thee in spirit and in truth, grant us grace 
to serve thee with all the heart. May the worship 
in which we have engaged this day minister to our 
sanctification, and our instruction in righteousness ! 

We pray thee, heavenly Father ! to plant thy 
fear and thy love in all our hearts. Teach us to 
remember that thou art ever near us; and draw us 
closer to thyself. Make us consistent followers of 
our blessed Lord and Master. Give us a spirit of 
watchfulness and prayer. Forgive our vain and 
foolish thoughts, our idle and unprofitable words, 
our unkind and hasty tempers, our wasted time 
and misused talents. 

May we lie down this night at peace with thee ! 
and casting all care upon the Lord, who careth for 
us, may we rest under the shadow of thy wings ! 
We bless thee that by faith we may rise above all 
earthly forms and helps, and come directly to thee. 



We humbly beseech thee to own this family 
in the covenant of thy grace. May each mem- 
ber of it be a member of the true family of 
Christ ! 

We would entreat thy blessing on behalf of all 
whom we love. If any of them are still far from 
thee, do thou in thy great mercy change their 
hearts, and bring them home to thy fold. 

Look favorably upon our land. Prosper us as a 
nation. Let true religion flourish amongst us. 
Let thy Word have free course and be glorified in 
the midst of us ; and from us may thy gospel go 
forth into other lands, and may all the ends of the 
earth acknowledge the Lord ! 

Accept, God ! these our imperfect supplications, 
and do for us far above our desires and our deserv- 
ings. Guide us evermore with thy counsel, and 
afterward receive us to thy glory, for the sake of 
Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



147 



MONDAY. 



Hebrews ix. — 1. Then verily the first cove- 
nant had also ordinances of divine service, and a 
worldly sanctuary. 

2. For there was a tabernacle made ; the first 
wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and 
the show-bread ; which is called the Sanctuary. 

3. And, after the second veil, the tabernacle 
which is called the Holiest of all ; 

4. Which had the golden censer, and the ark of 
the covenant overlaid round about with gold, 
wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and 
Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the 
covenant ; 

5. And over it the cherubims of glory shadow- 
ing the mercy-seat ; of which we cannot now 
speak particularly. 

6. Now, when these things were thus ordained, 
the priests went always into the first tabernacle, 
accomplishing the service of God : 

7. But into the second went the high priest 
alone once every year, not without blood, which he 
offered for himself, and for the errors of the people ; 

8. The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the 
way into the holiest of all was not yet made mani- 



Nothing more beautiful could be devised than the material 
instruments and appliances of the Jewish worship ; nothing 
more expressive than the symbolism of that worship ; nothing 
more imposing and effective than the ritual through which 
the Israelite made his offerings and uttered his devotions. 
And yet all this was empty, vain, worthless, without the con- 
secration of the heart to God and the living exercise of faith. 
Indeed, used as a mere form, it became repugnant to God as 
a worship. At length it was utterly done away in Christ ; 



fest while as the first tabernacle was yet stand- 
ing : 

9. Which was a figure for the time then present, 
in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that 
could not make him that did the service perfect, as 
pertaining to the conscience ; 

10. Which stood only in meats and drinks, and 
divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on 
them until the time of reformation. 

11. But Christ being come an high priest of 
good things to come, by a greater and more perfect 
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, 
not of this building ; 

12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, 
but by his own blood, he entered in once into the 
holy place, having obtained eternal redemption 
for us. 

13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and 
the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanc- 
tifieth to the purifying of the flesh ; 

14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, 
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself with- 
out spot to God, purge your conscience from dead 
works to serve the living God ! 



and hence to revive, under other names and forms, the ritual- 
istic and the sacrificial as of the essence of worship, is to dis- 
honor the perfect sacrifice and the completed work of Christ. 
The substance of all religion and of all worship is to have 
the inmost consciousness purified from all self-righteousness 
and all dependence upon forms, and to be in direct relations 
of faith and love with God as the living Saviour, the recon- 
ciled Father. So shall we worship him in spirit and in 
truth. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 2, 12, 95. 



Our Father in heaven, we come to thee with 
wants which thou knowest far better than we, and 
for blessings which thou art more ready to give 
than we to ask. But thou hast bidden to pray ; 
and we love to come, saying, " Our Father." Oh, 
may we have the spirit of little children, — hum- 
ble, teachable, trustful, obedient, — and show our 
love and gratitude in lives of devotion ! Thou 
hast kept us in the watches of the night from 
every trouble, sorrow, and alarm ; thou hast given 
us refreshing sleep. And now we bless thee for 
the day, for life and health, for food and raiment, 
for home and friends, for means of education and 
of enjoyment, for means of occupation and of sup- 
port, for means of improvement in the knowledge 
of thyself from thy works and thy Word, and for 
opportunities of doing good to others. Oh ! grant 
us grace that we may use to thy glory the lives 
which thou didst give, and which thy mercy doth 
continually spare. 

We acknowledge, Lord! our unworthiness 
and our sinfulness, and beseech thee to pardon our 



transgressions and heal our infirmities. Help us 
this day to live aright. In the business of life 
may we be diligent, faithful, true ! and do thou, 
Lord, prosper the labor of our hands. In our in- 
tercourse with others, may we manifest the gentle- 
ness, the sincerity, the charity, of the gospel of 
Christ ! May we be patient under trials, meek 
under injuries, firm against temptation, bold for 
the truth, zealous for thy cause ! May we be kind 
to the poor, helpful to the suffering, gentle toward 
all men ! [Give unto these children, Lord ! 
grace to serve thee in the morning of life, and in 
their thoughts and words, their studies and their 
play, always to please their Father in heaven.] 
Bemember with thy mercy all our friends ; visit 
with thy grace the homes of all who are dear to 
us. Build up, Lord ! thy Church ; prosper thy 
kingdom in our land, and throughout the world. 
Ever guide, keep, and bless us. Bring us to the 
close of the day in peace, and to the close of life 
in a hope full of immortality, through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



148 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Hebrews ix. — 15. And for this cause he 
[Christ] is the mediator of the new testament, that 
by means of death, for the redemption of the trans- 
gressions that were under the first testament, they 
which are called might receive the promise of eter- 
nal inheritance. 

16. For where a testament is, there must also of 
necessity be the death of the testator. 

17. For a testament is of force after men are 
dead; otherwise it is of no strength at all while 
the testator liveth. 

18. Whereupon neither the first testament was 
dedicated without blood. 

19. For, when Moses had spoken every precept 
to all the people according to the law, he took the 
blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scar- 
let wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book 
and all the people, 

20. Saying, This is the blood of the testament 
which God hath enjoined unto you. 

21. Moreover, he sprinkled likewise with blood 
both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the min- 
istry. 



22. And almost all thjngs are by the law purged 
with blood ; and without shedding of blood is no 
remission. 

23. It ivas therefore necessary that the patterns 
of things in the heavens should be purified with 
these, but the heavenly things themselves with 
better sacrifices than these. 

24. For Christ is not entered into the holy 
places made with hands, which are the figures of 
the true ; but into heaven itself, now to appear in 
the presence of God for us : 

25. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, 
as the high priest entereth into the holy place every 
year with blood of others ; 

26. For then must he often have suffered since 
the foundation of the world : but now once in the 
end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin 
by the sacrifice of himself. 

27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, 
but after this the judgment : 

28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins 
of many ; and unto them that look for him shall he 
appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 



There is but one atonement, but one probation, but one 
Saviour, but one judgment ; and our personal relations to the 
redemption and salvation wrought by Christ must be decided 
by our action in this present life. The sin-offerings under the 
old covenant were symbols and prophecies of the atonement 
of Christ, which was more emphatically personated by the 
high priest, when once a year, with great solemnity, he en- 
tered into the holy place. That first covenant was ratified 
with blood ; and, since the grace promised was to be the in- 
heritance of believers, the covenant is likened to a testament 
which is made availing by the death of the testator. When 
our Lord was about to offer himself for our redemption, he 



took the cup as a symbol of his blood, and said, " This is 
my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for 
the remission of sins." His death gave force to that new 
covenant : that death avails for the salvation of every sinner 
who will believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. But, in the na- 
ture of things, there can be no other atonement ; and, if men 
reject this, they must remain in condemnation : then shall 
death come as the beginning of penalty ; after death, the judg- 
ment. In vain shall they who reject Christ here look for 
another probation hereafter ; for, when Christ shall appear 
the second time, this will not be to bear sin, but to save all 
who have believed, and to usher in the judgment. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 4, 20, 126. 



God, who hast redeemed us by the precious 
blood of thy Son ! help us, we beseech thee, to live 
only and in every thing unto Him that loved us 
and died for us. We confess and renounce all our 
sins. Oh, may we hate that which crucified the 
Son of God ! and, keeping ever in view the day of 
his appearing, may we live soberly, righteously, 
and godly in this present evil world ! We bless 
thee for the glory which is promised to his saints at 
that appearing. Oh, may we then be found in him ! 

God, who hast prepared for those who love 
thee such good things as pass man's understand- 
ing! pour into our hearts such love toward thee, 
that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain 
thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. May we believe 
all that thou hast spoken, and set our affections 
upon things above ! 

We thank thee, Lord ! for the precious com- 
fort that remains to us concerning dear friends 
who have departed in the faith ; that to them 



heaven is even now a reality; that they have no 
more want, nor sorrow, nor care, nor sin. Oh, 
may heaven be a reality to our faith ! and may the 
hope of it, yea, the assurance of it, as our home, 
lift us above all the temptations and trials of this 
present world ! Give to us strength for labors, 
courage for conflicts, patience under afflictions, 
fidelity to duty, and faith that shall endure to the 
end, and shall make us more than conquerors over 
death. 

We praise thee, Lord ! for the blessings of the 
present time ; for another night of rest ; for another 
morning of mercy and hope. Oh, may we this 
day love thee more, know thee more, serve thee 
better, than ever before ! In all that is given us 
to do, may we glorify thy name ! in all that we are 
called to bear, may we accept thy holy will ! So 
may we daily live to thee ; and, when the things 
of earth shall pass away, make us to be numbered 
with thy saints in glory everlasting, through Jesus 
Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



149 



WEDNESDAY. 



Hebrews X. — 1. For the law, having a shadow 
of good things to come, and not the very image 
of the things, can never, with those sacrifices which 
they offered year by year continually, make the 
comers thereunto perfect. 

2. For then would they not have ceased to be 
offered ? because that the worshippers once purged 
should have had no more conscience of sins. 

3. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance 
again made of sins every year. 

4. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls 
and of goats should take away sins. 

5. Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, 
he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, 
but a body hast thou prepared me : 

6. In burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou 
hast had no pleasure. 

7. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the 
book it is written of me) to do thy will, God ! 

8. Above, when he said, Sacrifice and offering 
and burnt-offerings and offering for sin thou 
wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein, 
which are offered by the law ; 

9. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, 



Had God no pleasure in sacrifices and offerings which he 
had prescribed, and the neglect of which was regarded as a 
disrespect to himself? Was the blood of bulls and of goats 
absolutely without effect as to the sins for the remission of 
which it was appointed ? The words of the apostle should 
not be pressed to this extreme of contradiction. According 
to Lev. xxii. 11, the blood of the altar was "an atonement 
for the soul." The Mosaic law was at once a civil, a cere- 
monial, and a moral code ; and infractions of the civil or the 
ceremonial law, which did not involve serious moral transgres- 
sion, were compensated by the prescribed sacrifice or offering. 
But, in respect to transgressions of the moral law, the blood 
of the victim could not be the instrument of a true propitia- 



God ! He taketh away the first, that he may es- 
tablish the second. 

10. By the which will we are sanctified through 
the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for ail. 

11. And every priest standeth daily ministering 
and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which 
can never take away sins : 

12. But this man, after he had offered one sacri- 
fice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand 
of God ; 

13. From henceforth expecting till his enemies 
be made his footstool. 

14. For by one offering he hath perfected for- 
ever them that are sanctified. 

15. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to 
us ; for after that he had said before, 

16. This is the covenant that I will make with 
them after those days, saith the Lord : 1 will put 
my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will 
I write them ; 

17. And their sins and iniquities will I remember 
no more. 

18. Now, where remission of these is, there is 
no more offering for sin. 



tion : it could only express the humiliation, penitence, and 
self-condemnation of the offerer, and set forth the divine pro- 
vision of an atonement as indispensable to salvation. The 
very repetition of the sacrifices proved that they could not 
operate to wipe out sin and its penalty. But the blood of 
Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin, — from sin in heart as well 
as in life ; and this offering, therefore, was made once for all, 
and avails always. The atonement of Christ was complete 
and final. Nothing can be added to its worth, and nothing 
shall hinder its final triumph over sin and death. The remis- 
sion of sins is followed by the sanctification of the believer ; 
and his redemption here shall issue in his perfection here- 
after. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 16, 42. 



Gracious God and Father in Christ Jesus, we 
lift up our hearts to thee this morning in the love 
and confidence of children. We acknowledge thy 
mercy, which hath surrounded our persons and our 
habitation through the night, and hath made the 
incoming of the morning to rejoice over us. As 
a family, we bring to thee our morning sacrifice of 
prayer and praise. Oh ! fill our home with thy 
peace ; fill our hearts with thy love. 

Especially do we bless thee for the revelation of 
thy redeeming love through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
We praise thee that he loved the Church, and gave 
himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse 
it with the washing of water by the Word ; that he 
might present it to himself a glorious Church, not 
having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but 
that it should be holy and without blemish. May 
his atoning sacrifice take away our sin, and his 
perfect righteousness be our shield ! And, oh, 



may his Spirit write thy laws in our hearts, and 
incline us to keep thy commandments always ! 

We pray that He who has so freely loved us, 
and who has done so much for us, would make us 
still his care, keeping us from all evil in this pres- 
ent world, and finally taking lis to himself. 

We adore thee, our blessed Bedeemer ! for thy 
teaching and example, for thy sacrifice and medi- 
ation. Hasten the day when those who have not 
heard thy name, nor seen thy glory, shall know the 
truth, and be delivered from the bondage of sin. 
Soon may all nations hear of Him in whom are hid 
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! Soon 
may Jesus our Lord see of the travail of his soul, 
and be satisfied ! Then shall the earth yield her 
increase ; and God, even our own God, shall bless 
us : God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth 
shall fear him. Hear these our petitions, gracious 
Father, in the name of our Kedeemer. Amen. 



150 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Hebrews X. — 19. Having therefore, brethren, 
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of 
Jesus, 

20. By a new and living way, which he hath 
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, 
his flesh ; 

21. And having a high priest over the house of 
God; 

22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full 
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled 
from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed 
with pure water. 

23. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith 
without wavering ; for he is faithful that promised : 

24. And let us consider one another, to provoke 
unto love and to good works : 

25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves 
together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting 
one another ; and so much the more, as ye see the 
day approaching. 

26. For, if we sin wilfully after that we have re- 
ceived the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth 
no more sacrifice for sins, 

27. But a certain fearful looking-for of judg- 
ment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the 
adversaries. 



28. He that despised Moses' law died without 
mercy under two or three witnesses : 

29. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, 
shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden un- 
der foot the Son of God, and hath counted the 
blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, 
an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the 
Spirit of grace ? 

30. For we know him that hath said, Vengeance 
belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. 
And again : The Lord shall judge his people. 

31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of 
the living God. 

35. Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, 
which hath great recompense of reward. 

36. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye 
have done the will of God, ye might receive the 
promise. 

37. For yet a little while, and he that shall come 
will come, and will not tarry. 

38. Now, the just shall live by faith ; but, if any 
man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in 
him. 

39. But we are not of them who draw back unto 
perdition, but of them that believe to the saving 
of the soul. 



To enter into the holy place of the temple was death to 
any but the high priest ; was death even to him, except in 
the time and the manner appointed by the law. Only once 
a year — on the great day of atonement — was the high priest 
permitted to pass within the veil, and stand before the mercy- 
seat, which was upon the ark. And for this most sacred 
service he must first wash himself in pure water, then clothe 
himself in holy linen ; and then kill a bullock for a sin-offer- 
ing, and sprinkle its blood upon the mercy-seat. Awe, dis- 
tance, mystery, pertained to that portion of the temple which 
represented the more immediate presence of God. Freedom, 



nearness, confidence in access to God as our Father, repre- 
sent the privilege of the believer in Christ ; but this only on 
condition that we come putting away sin from heart and life, 
and trusting in the blood of the Son of God. 

The boldness is not presumption, but trust ; the assurance 
is not of merit, but of faith. This sense of nearness to God 
should cause us the more deeply to abhor sin, the more ear- 
nestly to purge our conscience of evil, the more devoutly to 
revere the holiness which we are permitted to behold, unveiled, 
in the face of Jesus Christ his Son. Above all should it hold 
us steadfast in devotion to duty and in faith under trial. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 12, 40, 73. 



God ! thou dost invite us to draw near to thee 
as our Father : and we come to thee in our need ; 
for thou alone art able to succor us : we come to 
thee in our weakness ; for thou alone canst give 
us strength : we come to thee in our sins ; for 
thou alone canst pardon, heal, and save us. Have 
mercy upon us, Lord ! for the sake of thy Son, 
our Saviour Jesus Christ ; and suffer us never to 
fall away from thee. 

Thou didst create us to be blessed in each other 
and in thyself, to dwell in love, and so to dwell in 
God : oh ! create us anew in Christ Jesus our Lord, 
and make us holy as thou art holy, that we may 
be filled with thy love. We bless thee for thy 
watchful providence over us in our persons, in our 
family, in our home, in all that pertains to our 
well-being ; and we beseech thee grant unto us, 
this day, health and prosperity, and preserve us 
from all harm and danger. Keep us from all 



impatience and anger, from envy and jealousy, 
from every evil lust. Keep our hearts from the 
thought of evil, and our lips from speaking guile ; 
keep our feet from falling, our eyes from tears, 
our souls from death. Grant us grace to be 
faithful in all the offices and relations of life. 
May we study to be helpful to each other, be 
patient of each other's infirmities, and rejoice in 
each other's prosperity ! Let no selfishness dis- 
turb our peace. [May parents and children, 
brothers and sisters, all be joined together in the 
household of faith !] And may the love that 
blesses our earthly home interpret to us the love 
of our Father in heaven, and draw us toward the 
better home ! We make supplication for all men ; 
beseeching thee, the Father of all, to dispense unto 
all thy mercies according to their several conditions 
and necessities, and to show forth thy salvation in 
all the earth, through Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



151 



FRIDAY. 



James v. — 1. Go to now, ye rich men ; weep 
and howl for your miseries that shall come upon 
you. 

2. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments 
are moth-eaten. 

3. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the 
rust of them shall be a witness against you, and 
shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have 
heaped treasure together for the last days. 

4. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have 
reaped down your fields, which is of you kept 
back by fraud, crieth ; and the cries of them which 
have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord 
of sabaoth. 

5. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and 
been wanton ; ye have nourished your hearts, as in 
a day of slaughter. 

6. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and 
he doth not resist you. 

7. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the 
coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman 
waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and 
hath long patience for it, until he receive the early 
and latter rain. 

8. Be ye also patient ; stablish your hearts : for 
the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 

9. Grudge not one against another, brethren, 
lest ye be condemned : behold, the Judge standeth 
before the door. 



10. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have 
spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of 
suffering affliction and of patience. 

11. Behold, we count them happy which endure. 

13. Is any among you afflicted ? let him pray. 
Is any merry ? let him sing psalms. 

14. Is any sick among you ? let him call for 
the elders of the church ; and let them pray over 
him, anointing him with oil in the name of the 
Lord : 

15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, 
and the Lord shall raise him up ; and, if he have 
committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 

16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray 
one for another, that ye may be healed. The 
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth 
much. 

17. Elias was a man subject to like passions as 
we are ; and he prayed earnestly that it might not 
rain : and it rained not on the earth by the space 
of three years and six months. 

18. And he prayed again ; and the heaven gave 
rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 

19. Brethren, if any of you do err from the 
truth, and one convert him ; 

20. Let him know that he which converteth 
the sinner from the error of his way shall save 
a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of 
sins. 



This is not the cry of the Communist for the abolition of 
property ; not the declaration of a fanatical reformer against 
the existing order of society: it is the sentence of justice 
upon men who have abused their trust, and have consumed 
upon their pride and their lusts what God had given them 
as stewards for the good of society. Not upon rich men as 
such, but upon such as have gained their riches by fraud, or 
are using their riches for purposes of tyranny and of lux- 



ury, is this terrible woe denounced. And this it is that makes 
it terrible. All the world shall see the justice of their sen- 
tence ; and they themselves must own it to be right. Hence 
the people of God should not envy those who have such a 
trust with such a risk ; much less should they fear them. In 
due time, faith in God — a faith sustained and evidenced by 
effectual prayer — shall bring to the righteous greater and 
more enduring riches than all that this world can bestow. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 58, 82, 146. 



Lord! make clean our hearts before thee. 
Baptize us with thine own Spirit, that, being re- 
newed in the spirit and temper of our minds, we 
may exhibit in our daily walk all the virtues and 
graces of the Christian life. 

We render thanks to thee for thy loving care in 
the night-season. We thank thee that health and 
home and friends and country are preserved to us. 
We thank thee for all thy goodness to us as a 
family. We would trust in the Lord at all times ; 
and we pray thee, our Saviour! to abide with us 
ever. 

Lord ! we beseech thee to visit us this day 
with thy loving-kindness. Give us grace to dis- 
charge faithfully our duties to thee and to each 
other. May we remember, that, as stewards, we 
must give account of our talents, our property, and 
the use of all thy gifts ! May we be kind and 



courteous unto all men, honest in our dealings, 
truthful in our words, guileless in our thoughts ! 
Strengthen us to bear with patience whatever trials 
or sufferings may be in store for us, preserve us 
from the sins which do most easily beset us, and 
enable us to walk worthy of our Christian calling, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Lord Jesus ! we long for thy coming in power 
and glory among the nations. May thy Church 
arise, and make straight the way of the Lord ! 

almighty and most merciful Father ! we com- 
mend to thee ourselves and all that belong to us, 
all who pray for us, and all who have at any time 
asked our prayers for them. Have pity upon the 
poor, the sick, the dying, and the sorrowing. Incline 
thine ear to us, and hear us, we beseech thee, and 
order all our ways, this and every day, according to 
thy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



152 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



I Timothy vi. — 6. Godliness with contentment 
is great gain. 

7. For we brought nothing into this world, and 
it is certain we can carry nothing out. 

8. And, having food and raiment, let us be there- 
with content. 

9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation 
and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, 
which drown men in destruction and perdition. 

10. For the love of money is the root of all evil ; 
which while some coveted after, they have erred 
from the faith, and pierced themselves through with 
many sorrows. 

11. But thou, man of God ! flee these things ; 
and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, 
patience, meekness. 

12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on 
eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast 
professed a good profession before many witnesses. 

13. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who 
quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who 
before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, 

14. That thou keep this commandment without 



To be rich is a grave responsibility ; to desire to be rich is 
a great temptation ; to resolve to be rich is a fearful peril. 
None are ever accused or denounced in the gospel simply for 
having riches ; but such are warned against making riches 
their trust. The history of mercantile communities, of rail- 
way investments, of stock speculations, show that nothing is 
more uncertain or delusive than what men fancy to be pros- 
perity ; and the history of the Church shows that nothing is 
more likely to draw away the heart from God than the posses- 
sion of great wealth. Hence the rich are admonished to culti- 
vate the sense of dependence upon God, and to save themselves 
from corruption and apostasy by giving freely to all good 
causes. The desire of riches should never be suffered to take 



spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord 
Jesus Christ ; 

15. Which in his times he shall show, who is 
the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, 
and Lord of lords ; 

16. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the 
light which no man can approach unto ; whom no 
man hath seen, nor can see ; to whom be honor and 
power everlasting. Amen. 

17. Charge them that are rich in this world that 
they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain 
riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly 
all things to enjoy ; 

18. That they do good, that they be rich in good 
works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate ; 

19. Laying up in store for themselves a good 
foundation against the time to come, that they may 
lay hold on eternal life. 

20. Timothy ! keep that which is committed 
to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, 
and oppositions of science falsely so called; 

21. Which some professing, have erred concern- 
ing the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. 



possession of the heart, for this corroding passion is the root 
of all evil; while the purpose to be rich, as the one aim of life, 
is almost certain to lure one on to the destruction of his soul. 
No sin is more dangerous than covetousness ; none more 
damning. The offset to this perilous temptation is faith. A 
faith that measures this life by the next ; a faith that believes 
in God as the rewarder of them that seek him ; a faith that 
puts righteousness above mammon ; a faith that sees Christ 
upon his throne, and feels assured of immortality at his ap- 
pearing, — can rest content with the bare means of living, and 
of serving him. When earthly possessions vanish, this con- 
tented piety realizes the greatness of its gain. The confession 
of Christ is the way to a crown of glory. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 30, 153, 184. 



We come to thee this morning, heavenly Father, 
with hearts full of thankfulness for the mercies of 
the night. We have rested in safety and in peace 
under the shadow of thy wing. Thou hast kept us 
quiet from the fear of evil : nor sickness, nor death, 
nor tempest, nor fire, nor any calamity, hath over- 
taken us or our dwelling. How sure are the mercies 
of thy covenant, Lord ! All thy promises in Christ 
Jesus are Yea and Amen. Fulfil unto us, we be- 
seech thee, these thy mercies and promises, and 
cause that this day we may rejoice in thy salvation. 

Bless to us thy Word which we have now read. 
Oh ! sanctify us by thy truth ; and, while we re- 
ceive its instruction and comfort in our hearts, 
may we carry out its precepts in our lives, and 
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
things ! May we be just and true, loving and kind, 
gentle, forbearing, and forgiving, and so shine as 
lights in the world, holding forth the Word of life ! 
May every day witness some new victory over evil 



desires and passions within us, and over the evil 
that is in the world ! By feeding upon thy Word, 
the bread of heaven, may we grow up into Him 
who is our Life and Head, even Christ ! [Oh ! may 
these children grow in grace as they grow in years 
and in knowledge ! May they shun evil compan- 
ions and evil ways, and walk in the way of thy 
commandments !] Keep all dear to us even as the 
apple of thine eye. Bless our neighbors, and send 
thy Spirit upon this whole community. Bless our 
rulers, and the schools and churches in our land. 
May all who rule, and all who teach, be led and 
taught by thee ! Have pity upon the poor and the 
sorrowing; upon homes made desolate by famine, 
pestilence, or war. Stay thy judgments, Lord ! 
and send peace and salvation to all people. Mer- 
cifully forgive our sins, arid bring us unto the per- 
fection of knowledge, of holiness, and of blessed- 
ness, in Jesus Christ our Lord ; to whom be glory 
forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



153 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



John i. — 1. In the beginning was the Word, 
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

2. The same was in the beginning with God. 

3. All things were made by him ; and without 
him was not any thing made that was made. 

4. In him was life ; and the life was the light 
of men. 

5. And the light shineth in darkness ; and the 
darkness comprehended it not. 

6. There was a man sent from God, whose name 
was John. 

7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of 
the Light, that all men through him might believe. 

8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear 
witness of that Light. 

9. That was the true Light, which lighteth 
every man that cometh into the world. 

10. He was in the world, and the world was 
made by him, and the world knew him not. 

11. He came unto his own, and his own received 
him not. 



The grand central truth of the Bible is the incarnation of 
the Son of God for the salvation of the world. Jesus Christ 
came into the world through the union of the divine with the 
human. All the works and attributes of God are ascribed 
to him without qualification. He existed from eternity; he 
created all things ; he was God. He revealed the Father, not 
only by the truth that he declared, but by the life that was in 
himself. This life, manifesting itself through his works and 
his spirit, was a new light, capable of imparting to every man 
the quickening power of a new and endless life. In his own 
person Chi-ist exhibited the perfect holiness which the law of 
God requires, and he reiterated that law in all its length and 



12. But as many as received him, to them gave 
he power to become the sons of God, even to them 
that believe on his name ; 

13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the 
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of 
God. 

14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt 
among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as 
of the only-begotten of the Father), full of grace 
and truth. 

15. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, 
This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh 
after me is preferred before me ; for he was be- 
fore me. 

16. And of his fulness have all we received, and 
grace for grace. 

17. For the law was given by Moses ; but grace 
and truth came by Jesus Christ. 

18. No man hath seen God at any time : the 
only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the 
Father, he hath declared him. 



breadth : but, at the same time, he manifested the grace of 
God in the forgiveness of sins ; and to all who now come to 
him in humble faith he gives the privilege of the sons of 
God. This grace, like life itself, is a principle of growth : 
the more we have, the more we shall receive, — " grace for 
grace," grace upon grace, one measure drawing after it an- 
other, until we shall be filled with all the fulness of God. A 
divine dignity was stamped upon our humanity by the incar- 
nation of Christ ; but the blessing and the glory that he 
brought will come to us personally only as we receive his 
grace by believing on his name. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 13, 103, 107. 



Almighty God, who, after the creation of the 
world, didst rest from all thy works, and sanctify 
a day of rest for thy creatures, grant to us, we 
beseech thee, that, putting away from us all earthly 
cares and anxieties, we may worthily approach the 
services of thy sanctuary. But grant also, that, 
being under grace and under law to Christ, we 
may be enabled to hallow all our days by living in 
thy constant fear and love, and may, in thy peace, 
enjoy a perpetual sabbath of the soul, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 

What can we render to thee, Lord ! for all 
that thou hast bestowed upon us ? Accept, we be- 
seech thee, our thanks for protection and preserva- 
tion, and for all the mercies of this present life ; 
but, above all, for salvation by thy Son, and sancti- 
fication by thy Spirit. We adore and glorify thee, 
and offer to thee the voice of thanksgiving ; and 
we beseech thee that thou wilt keep us in the 
way of truth and holiness, pardoning our offences, 
blotting out all our sins, and leading us to eternal 
life, to the glory and honor of thy name, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 



We beseech thee to bless thy Church universal 
with the presence of the Holy Ghost. May she 
worship thee in the beauty of holiness ! Bless all 
family-teaching, all Sunday schools, all mission- 
labors, this day ; and advance far and wide the 
kingdom of thy Son. May the sabbath of millen- 
nial glory soon dawn upon the earth ! 

To thee, Almighty God ! we commend our 
spirits, souls, and bodies, all we are, and all we 
have. Direct and order all our thoughts, words, 
and works, according to thy good pleasure, to the 
praise of thy holy name, and conform them to the 
perfect rule of the most holy life of thy blessed 
Son. And, together with ourselves, we commend 
into thy hands, Lord God! all our relations, 
friends, and benefactors ; all sick, destitute, and 
afflicted persons; and all who are drawing near 
unto death. We pray for mercy upon all who are 
tempted, all who are fallen ; and grant that we 
may all find mercy and favor at thy hands, in turn- 
ing us from our iniquities, and supplying all our 
wants, through the merits of thy dear Son, our only 
Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. 



154 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Isaiah iv. — 2. In that day shall the branch of 
the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit 
of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them 
that are escaped of Israel. 

3. And it shall come to pass, that he that is 
left in Zion, and he that remain eth in Jerusalem, 
shall be called holy, even every one that is written 
among the living in Jerusalem : 

4. When the Lord shall have washed away the 
filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have 
purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst 
thereof by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit 
of burning. 

5. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling- 
place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a 
cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a 
naming fire by night; for upon all the glory shall 
be a defence. 

6. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow 
in the day-time from the heat, and for a place of 
refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. 

Isaiah xxxii. — 1. Behold, a King shall reign 
in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. 



2. And a man shall be as a hiding-place from 
the wind, and a covert from the tempest ; as rivers 
of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great 
rock in a weary land. 

14. Because the palaces shall be forsaken ; the 
multitude of the city shall be left ; the forts and 
towers shall be for dens forever, a joy of wild asses, 
a pasture of flocks ; 

15. Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on 
high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the 
fruitful field be counted for a forest. 

16. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, 
and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. 

17. And the work of righteousness shall be 
peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness 
and assurance forever. 

18. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable 
habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet 
resting-places, 

19. When it shall hail, coming down on the for- 
est ; and the city shall be low in a low place. 

20. Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters ; that 
send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass. 



In these words, so full of encouragement and hope, the 
prophet seems again to point to the coming of Christ, — the 
theme which was the undertone of his entire prophecy. Al- 
though he may have had a primary reference to the good king 
Hezekiah, in whose reign justice, peace, and the reviving of 
pure religion, succeeded the oppression, turbulence, and idolatry 
of the reign of Ahaz, yet the full glory of the restoration 
here depicted could be realized only under the spiritual king- 
dom of the Messiah. 

How perfect the sense of rest, security, and refreshment, 
indicated in these promises ! The images are all borrowed 
from the climate of Palestine, where the traveller may be sud- 
denly overtaken by a scorching wind or a violent tempest, or 
find himself under the blaze of noon, remote from water or 
shade. How welcome the sight of a shelter, the sound of a 
gurgling brook, even the shadow of a rock in which one may 
rest till the heat is over ! Once in the desert, I was overtaken 



by the fierce and stifling Kamsin. The camels, snuffing it 
afar, were fain to avert their heads, and lie down and groan 
with fear. We veiled our faces to protect eyes and lungs ; 
but the whirlwind of fine heated sand penetrated every cover- 
ing. Our guide urged us on for an hour against this terrible 
tempest, till we came to a rude hut of stone. There we spent 
an afternoon and night of darkness ; and in the morning we 
dug out a path as through snowdrifts. But, oh, how welcome 
that covert from storm and heat ! Christ is that covert of de- 
fence, that fountain of refreshment, that rock of shelter and 
shade. In him we find refuge from calamity, solace for grief 
and loss, supply for inward want, rest from care. And, while 
he gives to us personally this spiritual rest and comfort, the 
working of his principles tends to a condition of outward 
peace and safety. Therefore should we sow in hope, and wait 
for his blessed appearing. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 10, 26, 194. 



Receive, we pray thee, heavenly Father ! our 
evening thanksgiving for thy mercies day by day 
renewed to us. Especially do we thank thee for 
the sacred privileges of this sabbath, and pray that 
these may be blessed to each of us personally for 
our spiritual good. Give us grace to improve 
them to thy glory, the advancement of thy gospel, 
and, as much as in us lieth, to the good of all man- 
kind. Give us such a sense of thy great mercy as 
may lead us to a true thankfulness ; such as shall 
appear in our lives by a humble, holy, and obedient 
walking before thee all our days; through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. 

Thou who acceptest the intercessions which 
thy servants offer up in thy Son's name ! have pity, 
we beseech thee, on all sorts and conditions of men. 
Send forth, we pray thee, laborers fitted to gather 



in thy harvest. Have mercy on all who are in 
error or in sin. Bless our rulers, and endue them 
plenteously with wisdom. Visit with thy love all 
those whom thou hast given to be near and dear 
to us; and hear us, Almighty God ! for the sake 
of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Into thy hands we commit ourselves, blessed 
Lord, this night and forever. Be thou our hiding- 
place from all fear, our rest from all care, our de- 
fence from all danger. Give unto us that inward 
rest which no outward perils can disturb. As the 
night gathers about us, thou Sun of righteous- 
ness ! keep us from utter darkness ; and let us so 
sleep in peace, that we may be ever ready to arise 
and meet thee in thy glory, who, with the Father 
and the Holy Ghost, livest, one God, world without 
end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



155 



MONDAY. 



Matthew xii. — 22. Then was brought unto him 
one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb ; and he 
healed him, insomuch that the blind- and dumb 
both spake and saw. 

23. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is 
not this the son of David ? 

24. But, when the Pharisees heard it, they said, 
This fellow doth not cast out devils but by Beelze- 
bub, the prince of the devils. 

25. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said 
unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself 
is brought to desolation ; and every city or house 
divided against itself shall not stand. 

26. And, if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided 
against himself : how shall then his kingdom 
stand ? 

27. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by 
whom do your children cast them out ? therefore 
they shall be your judges. 

28. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, 
then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 

29. Or else how can one enter into a strong 
man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first 
bind the strong man ? and then he will spoil his 
house. 



30. He that is not with me is against me ; and 
he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 

Revelation xii. — 7. And there was war in 
heaven : Michael and his angels fought against 
the dragon ; and the dragon fought and his 
angels, 

8. And prevailed not; neither was their place 
found any more in heaven. 

9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old 
serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which de- 
ceiveth the whole world : he was cast out iuto the 
earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 

10. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 
Now is come salvation and strength, and the king- 
dom of our God, and the power of his Christ ; for 
the accuser of our brethren is cast down which ac- 
cused them before our God day and night. 

11. And they overcame him by the blood of the 
Lamb, and by the word of their testimony ; and 
they loved not their lives unto the death. 

12. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that 
dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth 
and of the sea ! for the devil is come down unto 
you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that 
he hath but a short time. 



Jesus distinctly recognized the existence of Safan, and a 
kingdom of evil spirits marshalled under Satan for the de- 
struction of mankind. The war which began in heaven has 
been transferred to this world, and waxes fiercer as the end 
draws near. Christ came to destroy the power and the works 
of the Devil ; and while, by his teaching, his atonement, and 
his Spirit, he sought to deliver men personally from the domin- 
ion of Satan, he also maintained, in the region of spiritual 
forces, a direct conflict with the powers of darkness. The 
fact that he cast out devils was proof that the Spirit of God 
wrought in him, and that the kingdom of God was mightier 
than the kingdom of Satan. Every man must choose between 



these kingdoms, between evil and good, between darkness and 
light, between Satan and God. " There is and can be in the 
world no middle party : they who are not with Christ, who do 
not gather with him, are against him and his work, and, as 
far as in them lies, are undoing it." The mightiest spiritual 
forces are struggling for the possession of the soul of man : 
on the one hand, Satan, the tempter of our first parents, the 
" father of lies," with his subtle devices of temptation ; and, 
on the other, the Holy Spirit of light, truth, and love, with 
his influences of grace. No one can be passive in this conflict 
of spiritual powers ; and as one chooses his alliance here will 
be his state and portion in the hereafter. 



Appropriate Hymns,] Prayer 

Lord! we draw near into thy holy presence in 
the name of Him whom thou hearest always. We 
come casting ourselves on the infinite fulness of 
our adorable Redeemer. Of that fulness may we 
all receive, even grace for grace ! Let us walk as 
thy children, in conformity to thy blessed mind 
and will, laying aside every weight, and running 
with patience the race that is set before us. May 
it be our constant desire to know what the will of 
the Lord is ! and, knowing that will, may we have 
strength given us to obey it ! Lord ! may we 
serve thee with an undivided heart ! May Satan 
have no more power over us ! We bless thee for 
the assurance that the powers of darkness shall be 
vanquished by the sword of thy Spirit, the word of 
truth. May we have strength to overcome all 
evil! 

We bless thee, Lord ! for the mercies of the 
past night, and implore thy presence with us this 



[Nos. 36, 64, 136. 

day. God of Bethel, dwell in this household; 
make every member of it thine. Those that are 
absent, Lord, be near them; those that are in dis- 
tress, Lord, comfort them ; those that know thee 
not, Lord, bring them to thyself. What thanks 
do we owe thee for our allotment in life ! — our birth 
and education, our home and friends, our privileges 
and opportunities. Lord, we would return thee all 
that we have received. May thy Word be in our 
hearts, to inspire faith and zeal ; and upon our lips, 
to show forth thy praise ! Prosper thy Church every- 
where. Eaise up preachers who shall go into all the 
earth with the gospel of peace. Let Satan's king- 
dom be destroyed, the kingdom of grace advanced, 
the kingdom of glory hastened. Save thy people ; 
bless thine inheritance ; feed them also, and lift 
them up forever. Give to each of us, this day, thy 
gracious benediction ; finally give unto us the full 
fruition of thyself, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 



156 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Matthew xii. — 31. Wherefore I say unto you, 
All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven 
unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy 
Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 

32. And whosoever speaketh a word against the 
Son of man, it shall be forgiven him ; but whoso- 
ever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not 
be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in 
the world to come. 

33. Either make the tree good, and his fruit 
good ; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit 
corrupt : for the tree is known by his fruit. 

34. generation of vipers ! how can ye, being 
evil, speak good things ? for out of the abundance 
of the heart the mouth speaketh. 

35. A good man, out of the good treasure of the 
heart, bringeth forth good things ; and an evil 
man, out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil 
things. 

36. But I say unto you, That every idle word 
that men shall speak, they shall give account there- 
of in the day of judgment. 

37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, 
and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 

Isaiah i. — 11. To what purpose is the multi- 
tude of your sacrifices unto me ? saith the Lord : I 



am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat 
of fed beasts ; and I delight not in the blood of 
bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. 

12. When ye come to appear before me, who 
hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts ? 

13. Bring no more vain oblations ; incense is 
an abomination unto me ; the new moons and sab- 
baths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away 
with : it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 

14. Your new moons and your appointed feasts 
my soul hateth : they are a trouble unto me ; I am 
weary to bear them. 

15. And, when ye spread forth your hands, I will 
hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make 
many prayers, I will not hear : your hands are full 
of blood. 

16. Wash ye, make you clean ; put away the evil 
of your doings from before mine eyes ; cease to do 
evil; 

17. Learn to do well ; seek judgment, relieve 
the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the 
widow. 

18. Come now, and let us reason together, saith 
the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they 
shall be as white as snow; though they be red like 
crimson, they shall be as wool. 



The " sin against the Holy Ghost " has been the occasion, 
to sensicive consciences, of a solicitude which the expression 
does not call for. The despair and anguish with which per- 
sons sometimes imagine themselves to have committed " the 
unpardonable sin " is itself evidence to the contrary ; this 
sensitiveness of conscience toward sin being a token of the 
Holy Spirit's presence. The Pharisees, being confounded by 
the miracles of Christ, malignantly imputed these to the 
power of Satan. This wilful resistance of the highest evi- 
dence of the presence of God and the work of his Spirit indi- 
cated a state of mind that nothing could change, — a hatred 
of good, a stubbornness in evil, a contumacious disregard of 
the advances of divine truth and love, which mark an affinity 



with the spirits of darkness. This deliberate and determined 
opposition to the manifestations of the Divine Spirit was the 
sin against the Holy Ghost, which Jesus here condemned, and 
which the Pharisees had aggravated to the pitch of blasphemy. 
It was this awful hypocrisy that led him to use such strong 
denunciation. He read their hearts ; he knew the malice that 
had prompted their taunts. A word, even lightly spoken, 
may be an index of the heart : an oath, a lie, a vulgar jest, 
reveals corruption within. Wherefore let us take heed to our 
ways, that we sin not with our tongues. It was such hypoc- 
risy that called forth the denunciations of Jehovah by the 
prophet Isaiah ; } r et these were attended with the fullest, 
freest offers of forgiveness to the penitent. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 21, 90, 95. 



God ! cast us not away from thy presence, and 
take not thy Holy Spirit from us. Create within 
us' clean hearts, and renew right spirits within us. 

Almighty God, who givest us all things richly 
to enjoy, we bless thee that thou hast made us 
capable of knowing thee as our Father, and of 
holding communion with thee through thy Son, 
our Saviour Jesus Christ. We come to thee with 
the opening day, giving thanks for light and 
life, for reason, for the affections that bless our 
home, for the bounties of thy providence, and the 
riches of thy grace. Acknowledging our unwor- 
thiness, we implore the forgiveness of our sins, and 
the gracious, comforting, sanctifying presence of 
thy Holy Spirit. Even as now we ask, do thou, 
O Lord ! send forth thy Spirit in our hearts, crying, 
Abba, Father, and witnessing that we are thine. 



Help us this day to walk before thee in lowliness 
of mind, and in all holy conversation. Give to us 
wisdom in our affairs, and success in our under- 
takings ; the spirit of good will toward our fellow- 
men, and an unworldly, unselfish mind in all 
things. May we keep our tongue from evil, and 
our lips from speaking guile, and rejoice in every 
opportunity of doing good to others ! May this 
home be sanctified by thy presence, and our hearts 
filled with thy love ! and may the homes to which 
our hearts go out in loving remembrance be like- 
wise the habitations of thy grace ! Lord ! save 
thy people, and bless thine heritage ; govern them, 
and lift them up forever. Fill all lands with thy 
glory, and all hearts with thy grace, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord ; who, with thee and the Holy 
Ghost, liveth and reigneth evermore. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



157 



WEDNESDAY. 



James iii. — 1. My brethren, be not many mas- 
ters, knowing that we shall receive the greater 
condemnation. 

2. For in many things we offend all. If any 
man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, 
and able, also, to bridle the whole body. 

3. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, 
that they may obey us ; and we turn about their 
whole body. 

4. Behold, also, the ships, which, though they be 
so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are 
they turned about with a very small helm whither- 
soever the governor listeth. 

5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and 
boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter 
a little fire kindleth ! 

6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity : 
so is the tongue among our members, that it de- 
fileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course 
of nature ; and it is set on fire of hell. 

7. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of 
serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and 
hath been tamed, of mankind: 

8. But the tongue can no man tame ; it is an 
unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father ; 



The term " masters " here means strictly teachers ; and the 
point of the exhortation is, that the office of teaching religion 
in a public assembly is one of such grave responsibility, that 
none should assume it rashly. Probably the spirit of contro- 
versy had already appeared in the Church ; and, since religious 
controversy is most fruitful in abuses of the tongue, the apos- 
tle enjoins upon Christians the duty of regulating this unruly 
member. How much of mischief in society, how much of un- 
happiness in the family, how much of alienation in the Church, 
comes from the abuse of the tongue ! How prone are we to 



and therewith curse we men, which are made after 
the similitude of God. 

10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing 
and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not 
so to be. 

11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same 
place sweet water and bitter ? 

12. Can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olive- 
berries ? either a vine, figs ? So can no fountain 
both yield salt water and fresh. 

13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowl- 
edge among you ? let him show out of a good con- 
versation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

14. But, if ye have bitter envying and strife in 
your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the 
truth. 

15. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but 
is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

16. For where envying and strife is, there is 
confusion and every evil work. 

17. But the wisdom that is from above is first 
pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be en- 
treated, full of mercy and good fruits, without par- 
tiality, and without hypocrisy. 

18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in 
peace of them that make peace. 



take up a scandal, or to circulate an injurious report ! — thus 
robbing a neighbor of what to him is more than money, or 
even than life itself. Or, if we have not a slanderous tongue, 
perhaps we have an ear for scandal, without which the scan- 
dal-mongers would soon rind their occupation gone. Curiosity 
and the love of gossip do infinite mischief in parishes and in 
neighborhoods. Be it ours to regulate our speech, our walk, 
our whole intercourse with men, by that divine wisdom which 
first purifies our hearts of all evil intent, and then distils from 
our lips in words of gentleness and peace. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 53, 78, 169. 



Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures 
to be written for our learning, grant that we may 
in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and in- 
wardly digest them, that, by patience and comfort 
of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold 
fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou 
hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. May 
we receive the truth in the love of it ! and, walking 
in its light, may we ourselves shine as lights in the 
world, holding forth the word of life ! Preserve us, 
we pray thee, from pride, prejudice, and unbelief; 
from a worldly and covetous spirit ; from self-right- 
eousness, and from uncbaritableness toward others ; 
from all false hopes, and from all unholy desires. 
Oh ! touch our lips with a live coal from thine 
altar, and sanctify our speech. Give unto us that 
wisdom from above which shall purify our hearts 
and minds, and shall make us gentle and consider- 
ate in dealing with our fellow-men. 



[We entreat thee, Lord ! so to feed the chil- 
dren of this household with the words of Jesus 
their Saviour, that they shall grow up in the nur- 
ture and admonition of the Lord. Cause them to 
shun the ways of sin, and to walk in the narrow 
way which leadeth unto life.] Be very gracious to 
our friends, our kindred, our neighbors ; and bring 
them all into thy kingdom. Oh ! let thy gospel 
go forth to enlighten and save the whole world. 

Heavenly Father, we thank thee for the daily 
gifts of thy providence ; for rest in the night ; for 
the light of the morning ; for health, comfort, and 
hope. Give unto us, we pray thee, that which 
thou seest to be good for us. Defend us, Lord ! 
from all evil ; be thou our rock, our refuge, our 
strong tower ; and, when heart and flesh shall fail 
us, be thou, God! the strength of our heart, and 
our portion forever, through Jesus Christ our Sa- 
viour. Amen. 



158 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THUESDAY. 



PhiHppians iv. — 1, Therefore, my brethren 
clearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, 
so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 

2. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, 
that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 

3. And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, 
help those women which labored with me in the 
gospel, with Clement also, and with other my 
fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of 
life. 

4. Rejoice in the Lord always ; and again I say, 
Rejoice. 

5. Let your moderation be known unto all men. 
The Lord is at hand. 

6. Be careful for nothing ; but in every thing 
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let 
your requests be made known unto God. 

7. And the peace of God, which passeth all 
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds 
through Christ Jesus. 

8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, 



whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things 
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever 
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good 
report ; if there be any virtue, and if there be any 
praise, think on these things. 

9. Those things which ye have both learned and 
received and heard, and seen in me, do ; and the 
God of peace shall be with you. 

10. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now 
at the last your care of me hath flourished again ; 
wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked oppor- 
tunity. 

11. Not that I speak in respect of want ; for I 
have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith 
to be content. 

12. I know both how to be abased, and I know 
how to abound: everywhere and in all things I 
am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, 
both to abound and to suffer need. 

13. I can do all things through Christ which 
strengtheneth me. 



What a beautiful picture is this of a perfect, and conse- 
quently a blessed life ! — a life in which the desire for worldly 
good is subordinated to the joy that is found in Christ ; in 
which envy, jealousy, resentment, are restrained by the 
thought that the Lord is at hand, who will remedy all injus- 
tice, and put away all evil ; a life so centred in God as its 
strength and portion, that it cannot be disturbed by fear, 
nor distracted by anxiety ; a life, which, in the inmost seat of 
thought and feeling, is guarded by the peace of God. To a 
mind kept in this sacred peace, a heart tilled with this holy joy, 
the outward conditions of life are relatively of small account. 
Such an one appreciates with thankfulness the good gifts of 
Providence and the ministries of human friendship ; yet, if 



need be, he can suffer the loss of these without repining, and 
be content in possessing Christ. The true seat of life, of sat- 
isfaction, of power, is in the spirit : and, when Christ satisfies 
the hunger of the soul, it is full ; when Christ energizes the 
will, it is strong; when Christ abides within the heart, it has 
everlasting life. But, though the life within is thus " hid with 
Christ in God," its presence is known by the outward tokens 
of truth, honor, rectitude, purity, benignity, nobleness : in a 
word, whatever imparts grace to character, and beauty to life, 
whatever mankind have agreed to honor as virtue or to praise 
as loveliness, springs from this indwelling virtue and grace of 
Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 4, 27, 45- 



Lord Jesus, the author and the finisher of our 
faith ! we give thee thanks for all thy servants 
departed in the faith, who, having witnessed a good 
confession, have entered into rest. Grant us grace, 
we beseech thee, to be faithful unto death, that 
we also may receive a crown of life. May we 
have such a sense of thy presence and glory as 
shall lift us above the love or the fear of this 
world ! 

Assist us by thy grace to do this day such 
things as are pleasing to thee. Strengthen us to 
resist and overcome any temptations to which we 
may be exposed. Preserve us from a worldly mind. 
O Lord! by the power of thy Holy Spirit, draw 
our desires and hopes and affections heavenward. 
Deliver us from anxiety about earthly things, from 
a discontented and unthankful spirit. 

Strengthen, Lord ! our faith in the promises of 
thy Word. Enable us to stay our minds on thee. 
Thou knowest our exceeding weakness, and the 
numberless dangers which every day surround us. 
Supply all our needs. Beat down every spiritual 



enemy under our feet. Let thy Word be our guide, 
and thy Holy Spirit our sanctifier and comforter. 
If it should please thee to visit us with affliction, 
oh ! make it work for our real and eternal good, and 
give us a patient and submissive spirit. Be thou 
our defender through all the trials of life, our hope 
in death, and our portion forever. 

We thank thee for thy loving-kindness in the 
night-season. Be pleased, Lord! to bless all who 
are near and dear to us. Lead all whom we love into 
the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Bless our 
neighbors. Look graciously upon this part of thy 
vineyard ; assist all who are laboring for the good 
of their fellow-creatures ; and grant that true god- 
liness may increase and abound among us. Help 
us to shine as lights in the world, and to com- 
mend the religion which we profess by the meek- 
ness and gentleness of our conduct, and by the 
holiness of our lives. Make us happy in our own 
souls, and useful to all around us. These mercies 
we ask for ourselves and others in the name of 
Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



159 



FRIDAY. 



Proverbs xxi. — 8. The way of man is froward 
and strange ; but as for the pure, his work is right. 

9. It is better to dwell in a corner of the house- 
top, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. 

10. The soul of the wicked desireth evd : his 
neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes. 

19. It is better to dwell in the wilderness than 
with a contentious and an angry woman. 

23. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue 
keepeth his soul from troubles. 

24. Proud and haughty scorner is his name who 
dealeth in proud wrath. 

Genesis xxi. — 9. And Sarah saw the son of 
Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne unto 
Abraham, mocking. 

10. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out 
this bond- woman and her son; for the son of this 
bond-woman shall not be heir with my son, even 
with Isaac. 

11. And the thing was very grievous in Abra- 
ham's sight because of his son. . 

12. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be 
grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and be- 
cause of thy bond-woman : in all that Sarah hath 
said unto thee, hearken unto her voice : for in 
Isaac shall thy seed be called. 

13. And also of the son of the bond-woman will 
I make a nation, because he is thy seed. 



" Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous ; but who is able 
to stand before envy ? " " jealousy is cruel as the grave : the 
coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement 
flame." This sad story of domestic strife is a picture of envy 
and jealousy, each kindling the other to a vehement flame. 
Ishmael was old enough to feel the slight that was put on him 
after the birth of Isaac, and no doubt was given to under- 
stand that this infant would supplant him in the household. 
Boy-like, he showed his envy and spite by mocking at the baby 
upon his " birthday-party," when Abraham " made a great 
feast " in honor of the weaning of Isaac, and Ishmael seemed 
of no account. Sarah, seeing this, was stirred with jealousy 
and anger, and demanded that Ishmael and his mother should 



14. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, 
and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it 
unto Hagar (putting it on her shoulder) and the 
child, and sent her away ; and she departed, and 
wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 

15. And the water was spent in the bottle, and 
she cast the child under one of the shrubs. 

16. And she went and sat her down over against 
him, a good way off, as it were a bow-shot ; for she 
said, Let me not see the death of the child. And 
she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, 
and wept. 

17. And God heard the voice of the lad ; and 
the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, 
and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar ? Fear 
not ; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where 
he is. 

18. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine 
hand ; for I will make him a great nation. 

19. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a 
well of water ; and she went and filled the bottle 
with water, and gave the lad drink. 

20. And God was with the lad ; and he grew, 
and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an 
archer. 

21. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran ; 
and his mother took him a wife out of the land of 
Egypt. 



be turned away. Abraham, who had a tender and noble 
heart, could not consent to such meanness and injustice. Yet 
something must be done for the peace of the family ; and 
when God revealed to him, that, though Isaac should be the 
preferred seed, Ishmael also should be the founder of a people, 
he consented to the separation. What a picture of a mother's 
anguish is this, of Hagar weeping and wailing, with averted 
eyes, for her dying boy ! and how tender the grace of God, 
that came to her relief in her dire extremity ! Ah ! if we but 
trust in him, no injustice of man can separate us from his 
love ; no neglect nor cruelty of the world put us beyond the 
reach of his compassion and his help. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 53, 63. 



thou meek and holy Jesus ! help us to heal 
the plague of our own hearts. Preserve us from 
anger, from strife and vainglorying. Enable us to 
live in peace with all men. 6 Thou who art the 
Prince of peace ! keep us from envy, malice, and 
all uncharitableness. Give us unselfish hearts. 
Make us kind to all around us. May we bear one 
another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ ! 
Saviour ! may we in all things follow thy blessed 
example, and grow daily more like unto thee ! 
May thy gospel be made known to all men ! May 
the erring be reclaimed ; the ignorant be enlight- 
ened; the sick, the dying, and the sorrowing be 
comforted ! Oh, may thy grace pardon and renew 
the guilty, succor the perishing, save the lost ! 



Most merciful God, we thank thee for rest and 
safety in the night-season, and for the health and 
comfort with which we begin the day. Grant us 
wisdom in our affairs, success in our labors, pros- 
perity in all lawful undertakings, the conscious 
guidance of thy providence, and, above all, the 
experience of thy grace. May this family be ever 
in thy holy keeping ! And now, heavenly 
Father ! we pray thee to accept this our morning 
sacrifice of prayer and praise; and as thou hast 
promised, that, when two or three are gathered to- 
gether in thy name, thou wilt grant their requests, 
fulfil now, Lord ! the desires and petitions of thy 
servants, and keep us this day and always in thy 
love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



160 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Galatians iv. — 1. Now I say, That the heir, as 
long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a ser- 
vant, though he be lord of all, 

2. But is under tutors and governors until the 
time appointed of the father. 

3. Even so we, when we were children, were in 
bondage under the elements of the world ; 

4. But, when the fulness of the time was come, 
God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made 
under the law, 

5. To redeem them that were under the law, 
that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

6. And, because ye are sons, God hath sent forth 
the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, 
Father ! 

7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a 
son ; and if a son, then an heir of God, through 
Christ. 

8. Howbeit, then, when ye knew not God, ye did 
service unto them which by nature are no gods. 

9. But now, after that ye have known God, or 
rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the 
weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire 
again to be in bondage ? 

10. Ye observe days and months and times and 
years. 

11. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed 
upon you labor in vain. 



Under the Roman law, with which Paul was familiar, the 
power of the father was so absolute, that " the minor was 
legally in much the same position as the slave." The eman- 
cipation of the young man from this tutelage was marked by 
his putting on the manly tot/a, — a ceremony celebrated with 
great rejoicings by his friends. It was the custom in Roman 
families to employ a tutor as the constant companion and 
guide of the child, to look after his manners and morals as 
well as his knowledge. The apostle describes the Jews as in 
a state of tutelage under the law as their tutor or pedagogue : 
but Christ has set us free from this bondage ; and so complete 



21. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, 
do ye not hear the law ? 

22. For it is written, that Abraham had two 
sons ; the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free- 
woman. 

23. But he who was of the bond-woman was 
born after the flesh ; but he of the free-woman was 
by promise. 

24. Which things are an allegory : for these 
are the two covenants ; the one from the Mount 
Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is 
Agar. 

25. For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and 
answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in 
bondage with her children. 

26. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which 
is the mother of us all. 

28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the chil- 
dren of promise. 

29. But as then he that was born after the flesh 
persecuted him that was bom after the Spirit, even 
so it is now. 

30. Nevertheless, what saith the scripture ? 
Cast out the bond-woman and her son ; for the son 
of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son 
of the free-woman. 

31. So then, brethren, we are not children of the 
bond-woman, but of the free. 



is the privilege of sonship to which he has lifted us up, that his 
own Spirit moves us to cry, "Abba, Father ! " Now, to attempt 
to save ourselves by our own works is to fall back from this 
privilege of sonship under the drudgery of servants. The 
very giving of the law is represented as a type of bondage 
in the stern and rugged peaks of Sinai ; whereas the gospel is 
likened to that wondrous city of crystal, gold, and gems, 
which John describes in the Revelation, and which Paul else- 
where speaks of as the heavenly Jerusalem. Already, through 
grace, our citizenship is there ; and we should make this mani- 
fest in the joyous freedom of the spiritual life. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 4, 62, 115. 



Our Father in heaven, the God of all the fami- 
lies of the earth, we give thee thanks for the mani- 
fold blessings which we as a family have received 
at thy hand, — for our birth and education under 
Christian influences, for the comforts of our home, 
for the tender relationships of life. May the mer- 
cies of thy covenant abide with this household, 
and every member of it be joined to the family of 
thy people! Be thou our Father and our God; 
and may we know the love and joy of thy dear 
children ! We bless thee that through another 
night thou hast kept our habitation in peace, and 
that we enter upon a new day surrounded with 
the tokens of thy providence and grace. Create 
within us a clean heart, God ! and renew a right 
spirit within us, that in our lives this day we may 



show forth thine image, and glorify thee in our 
bodies and spirits which are thine. Forgive us 
the sins of our past lives ; and help us, Lord ! to 
lead the new life in Christ Jesus. 

Be gracious to all dear to us ; bless them in their 
hearts and their homes ; remember the family of 
thy people ; have mercy upon such as have no 
home, upon the widow and the fatherless, the for- 
saken and outcast ; deliver such as are in bonds ; 
convert and restore thine ancient covenant peo- 
ple; and hasten the time when all mankind shall 
dwell together as one family in Christ their Head. 
Finally, we beseech thee to bring us to our Father's 
house, to the Jerusalem that is above, to dwell 
with thee forever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



161 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Genesis xxii. — 1. And it came to pass after these 
things that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto 
him, Abraham ; and he said, Behold, here I am. 

2. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son 
Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land 
of Moriah ; and offer him there for a burnt-offering 
upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 

3. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, 
and saddled his ass, and took two of his young 
men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the 
wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went 
unto the place of which God had told him. 

4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his 
eyes, and saw the place afar off. 

5. And Abraham said unto his young men, 
Abide ye here with the ass, an'd I and the lad will 
go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 

6. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt- 
offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son ; and he took 
the fire in his hand, and a knife : and they went 
both of them together. 

7. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, 
and said, My father ; and he said, Here am I, my 
son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood ; 
but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering ? 



8. And Abraham said, My son, God will provide 
himself a lamb for a burnt-offering: so they went 
both of them together. 

9. And they came to the place which God had 
told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and 
laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, 
and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 

10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and 
took the knife to slay his son. 

11. And the angel of the Lord called unto him 
out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham. And 
he said, Here am I. 

12. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the 
lad, neither do thou any thing unto him ; for 
now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou 
hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from 
me. 

13. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, 
and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket 
by his horns ; and Abraham went and took the 
ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the 
stead of his son. 

14. And Abraham called the name of that place 
Jehovah-jireh : as it is said to this day, In the mount 
of the Lord it shall be seen. 



There is but one comment upon this scene which can inter- 
pret its thrilling, agonizing pathos in harmony with the senti- 
ments of justice and of a true piety : it is that God " spared 
not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all." This un- 
exampled test of faith was the type of an unexampled love : 
the sacrifice which the Lord would not suffer an earthly 
father to offer to himself was the prophetic symbol of the 
sacrifice which he, the infinite Father,, would make for our re- 
demption. The custom of human sacrifice among the people 
of Canaan showed a deep sense of guilt, but a gross concep- 
tion of the character of God, and of the means of propitiation. 



By commanding such a sacrifice, Jehovah proved that Abra- 
ham was capable of doing for him, through a loving, childlike 
faith, what the heathen did for their gods through a slavish 
terror. By staying the sacrifice, the Lord taught Abraham, 
and the world through him, that he would be served, not by 
bloody rites and offerings, but by a self-sacrificing trust and 
devotion. By providing the lamb as a substitute, he met at 
once the sense of guilt, the desire of propitiation, and the long- 
ing of faith, until the only-begotten and well-beloved Son of 
God should appear, to redeem the world by his own precious 
blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of 
the world! we beseech thee take away our sin. 
God, the Fatherof all mercies, who didst not spare 
thine own Son, but didst deliver him up for us 
all ! for his sake give us all things needful for our 
comfort, our strength, and our salvation. May we 
be ever submissive and obedient to thy holy will, 
ready to be offered for thy cause ! Set a watch, 
Lord ! at the door of our lips, that we offend not 
in word : may we be holy, harmless, undefiled, and 
separate from sinners ! and, while bold and firm 
for thy truth, in all that concerns ourselves may 
we study the things that make for peace ! Help 
us this day to resist temptation, to walk uprightly, 
to do good as we have opportunity, to relieve the 
suffering and the needy, to be kind toward all, and 
to overcome the world. 

Father of all mercies, we commend this house- 
hold to thy loving care. [Oh ! take these children 
into thine arms ; defend them from the power of 



Prayer. [ Nos - 86 > "> 195 - 

evil ; draw them to the cross of Christ, that they 
may there be baptized into the love of Him who 
died for them.] Grant us, O Lord ! such prosperity 
as shall please thee ; yet, in all that we possess and 
enjoy, help us ever to remember that we are not 
our own, but are bought with a price, — even the 
precious blood of Christ. We pray for thy Church 
which thou hast redeemed. Lord Jesus ! bring 
forth to the knowledge of all men the true oneness 
of thy flock in love and obedience to the one Shep- 
herd; and hasten the ingathering of the nations, 
that thou mayest see of the travail of thy soul, and 
be satisfied. 

Heavenly Father, we bless thee for the mercy 
that has brought us to the beginning of this day ; 
we supplicate thy favor upon all our friends ; we 
pray thee to forgive our enemies ; and, O Lord ! 
prepare us for the great day of thine appearing, 
and have mercy upon us, and upon all men, for 
Christ's sake. Amen. 



162 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm cxxxiv. — 1. Behold, bless ye the Lord, 
all ye servants of the Lord which by night stand 
in the house of the Lord. 

2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and 
bless the Lord. 

3. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless 
thee out of Zion. 

Psalm cxxxiii. — 1. Behold, how good and how 
pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in 
unity ! 

2. It is like the preeious ointment upon the head, 
that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard ; 
that went down to the skirts of his garments, 

3. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that 
descended upon the mountains of Zion : for there the 
Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore. 

I John iv. — 7. Beloved, let us love one an- 
other : for love is of God ; and every one that 
loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 

8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God ; for 
God is love. 

9. In this was manifested the love of God toward 
us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son 
into the world, that we might live through him. 

10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but 
that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the pro- 
pitiation for our sins. 



11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also 
to love one another. 

12. No man hath seen God at any time. If we 
love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love 
is perfected in us. 

13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and 
he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 

14. And we have seen and do testify that the 
Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 

15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the 
Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 

16. And we have known and believed the love 
that God hath to us. God is love ; and he that 
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 

17. Herein is our love made perfect, that we 
may have boldness in the day of judgment ; be- 
cause, as he is, so are we in this world. 

18. There is no fear in love ; but perfect love 
casteth out fear ; because fear hath torment. He 
that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

19. We love him because he first loved us. 

20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his 
brother, he is a liar ; for he that loveth not his 
brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, 
whom he hath not seen ? 

21. And this commandment have we from him, 
That he who loveth God, love his brother also. 



" Herein is love : " this shows us what love is ; this shows 
what love will do. There is no pain, no loss, no labor, no 
sacrifice, that love will not undergo that it may attain its ob- 
ject, that it may bless those upon whom its heart is set. Yet 
the most tender, the most noble, the most heroic, the most 
pathetic examples of human love are all inadequate even to 
illustrate the love of God for us. When he had tested the 
faith of Abraham up to the point of binding Isaac for the 
sacrifice, and whetting the knife to slay him, God had pity 
upon the father's heart, and reached forth his hand, and held 



back Abraham from the stroke. But He who spared Isaac to 
Abraham spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us 
all. His only-begotten Son ; his well-beloved Son ; him in 
whom his soul delighted, — the infinite Father gave him for 
creatures so far beneath him; for sinners so ungrateful and 
so vile ; for enemies who had done all in their power to 
break down his law, to abuse his goodness, to hurt his king- 
dom. It was love self-moved and self-sacrificing. How 
ought it to constrain us to love God, to incite us to love one 
another ! 



Appropriate Htmns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 33, 36, 66. 



God of love ! what shall we render unto thee 
for thy love to us in the gift of thy Son ? Of 
him, through him, and to him, are all things. 
May our love answer to thine from the depth of 
our hearts ! and may we love one another, and love 
all men, in thee ! Of thy goodness we have gone 
out and come in this day in safety : we have had a 
bountiful supply of all our wants ; our eyes have 
been kept from tears, our feet from falling. In a 
goodly heritage thou hast placed us, and with in- 
numerable favors and blessings thou hast enriched 
us. Especially do we thank thee for thy mercy 
renewed on this thy holy day. 

Father, forgive us our sins, which have dis- 
honored thee whilst thou hast been loading us 
with thy benefits. Oh ! keep us as a family in thy 
love. Send us health and prosperity. Bless our 
friends with thy salvation. Remember the poor 
.and needy : bless all that is done for their temporal 



and spiritual good. May Sunday schools and mis- 
sion-labors bring many to Christ ! 

We entreat thee on behalf of thy people every- 
where. Let thy Church awake, and put on her 
beautiful garments, and go forth to help the world. 
Bless our beloved land. Guide, direct, and prosper 
all our rulers. Give peace in our time, Lord ! 
Give to parents grace to train up their children in 
the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Estab- 
lish us as a people in righteousness. Endue thy 
ministers with grace. Send down upon all con- 
gregations of those who worship thee the healthful 
Spirit of thy grace ; and, that they may truly please 
thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy 
blessing. Let the people praise thee, God ! let all 
the people praise thee : then shall the earth yield 
her increase ; and God, even our God, shall bless us. 
We pray thee watch over us this night, and keep 
us ever in thy love, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



163 



MONDAY. 



Genesis xxiii. — 1. And Sarah was a hundred 
and seven and twenty years old : these were the 
years of the life of Sarah. 

2. And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba ; the same is 
Hebron in the land of Canaan : and Abraham 
came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 

3. And Abraham stood up from before his dead, 
and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 

4. I am a stranger and a sojourner with you : 
give me a possession of a burying-place with you, 
that I may bury my dead out of my sight. 

5. And the children of Heth answered Abraham, 
saying unto him, 

6. Hear us, my lord : thou art a mighty prince 
among us : in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy 
dead : none of us shall withhold from thee his 
sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. 

7. And Abraham stood up and bowed himself 
to the people of the land, even to the children of 
Heth. 

8. And he communed with them, saying, If it 
be your mind that I should bury my dead out of 
my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron, 
the son of Zohar, 

9. That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, 
which he hath, which is in the end of his field : for 
as much money as it is worth he shall give it me 
for a possession of a burying-place among you. 

10. And Ephron dwelt among the children of 
Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abra- 
ham in the audience of the children of Heth, even 
of all that went in at the gate of his city, say- 
ing, 

11. Nay, my lord, hear me : the field give I thee, 



The cave is there in Hebron to this clay. It was known to 
the Jews, when they went up from Egypt, as the burial-place 
of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; it was held in honor by them 
through all the political and social changes of their nation ; 
it was kept in remembrance by Christians when they became 
the inheritors of the Promised Land; and it is now guarded 
with sacred jealousy by the Moslems, who have built over it a 
mosque in remembrance of the father of the faithful. The 



and the cave that is therein, I give it thee ; in the 
presence of the sons of my people give I it thee : 
bury thy dead. 

12. And Abraham bowed down himself before 
the people of the land. 

13. And he spake unto Ephron in the audience 
of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt 
give it, I pray thee, hear me : I will give thee 
money for the field : take it of me, and I will bury 
my dead there. 

14. And Ephron answered Abraham, saying 
unto him, 

15. My lord, hearken unto me : the land is worth 
four hundred shekels of silver ; what is that betwixt 
me and thee ? bury, therefore, thy dead. 

16. And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron, and 
Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he 
had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, 
four hundred shekels of silver, current money with 
the merchant. 

17. And the field of Ephron, which ivas in 
Machpelah, which ivas before Mamre, the field and 
the cave which was therein, and all the trees that 
were in the field, that were in all the borders 
round about, were made sure 

18. Unto Abraham for a possession in the pres- 
ence of the children of Heth, before all that went 
in at the gate of his city. 

19. And, after this, Abraham buried Sarah his 
wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before 
Mamre : the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. 

20. And the field, and the cave that is therein, 
were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a 
burying-place by the sons of Heth. 



tenderness of grief, the sacredness of death, the dignity of 
faith, the courtesy of sympathy, the nicety of honor, the liber- 
ality of love, the consecration of faith and hope, — these all 
are pictured here with a simplicity like Homer's, but which 
surpassses any poetry in speaking directly to the heart. It is 
the universal elegy of human grief, " Give me a possession, a 
secure and sacred spot, where I may bury my dead/' 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 20, 41, 105. 



God, whose tender mercies are over all thy 
works ! it is of thy mercy that another day is added 
to our lives ; and we would consecrate ourselves 
unto thee, beseeching thee to keep us this day and 
always, and to preserve us blameless unto the com- 
ing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For 
him we bless thee. In his name we seek the for- 
giveness of our sins, and the promise of thy Spirit. 
Dwell thou in our hearts, and consecrate this home 
with thy gracious presence. 

We thank thee for our home, our friends, our 
comforts, and all the manifold blessings of this 
life ; and, above all, for the hope of the life ever- 



lasting. Oh, may this hope sustain tis in all the 
trials of life, and especially in the death of friends ! 
May the grave be consecrated by the cross of 
Christ, and made glorious by his resurrection ! 
Send down thy blessings, temporal and spiritual, 
upon all our relations, friends, and neighbors. Be 
merciful to all who are in any trouble ; and incline 
our hearts, Lord ! to follow Him who went about 
doing good. Be gracious unto thy Church, and 
grant that every member of it may be kept from 
the evil that is in the world ; and let the light of 
thy gospel shine upon all nations, for the sake of 
Him who came to seek and save the lost. Amen. 



164 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Genesis xxiv. — 29. AndRebekah had a broth- 
er, and his name was Laban ; and Laban ran out 
unto the man, unto the well. 

30. And it came to pass, when he saw the ear- 
ring, and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and 
when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, 
saying, Thus spake the man unto me, that he 
came unto the man ; and, behold, he stood by the 
camels at the well. 

31. And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the 
Lord: wherefore standest thou without? for I have 
prepared the house, and room for the camels. 

32. And the man came into the house ; and he 
ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender 
for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the 
men's feet that ivere with him. 

33. And there was set meat before him to eat ; 
but he said, I will not eat until I have told mine 
errand. And he said, Speak on. 

34. And he said, I am Abraham's servant. 

35. And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly, 
and he is become great ; and he hath given him 
flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and men- 
servants and maid-servants, and camels and asses. 

36. And Sarah, my master's wife, bare a son to 
my master when she was old; and unto him hath 
he given all that he hath. 

37. And my master made me swear, saying, 
Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daugh- 
ters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell ; 

38. But thou shalt go unto my father's house, 
and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son. 



The story of Isaac and Kebekah is a sweet idyl of faith 
and love. In those days, marriage was a contract between 
parents for the union of their children, over whom they re- 
tained authority, even in such matters, to a late period of 
life. As Abraham drew near his end, he desired that a wife 
should be provided for Isaac from a godly family ; and there 
were none such in Canaan. He would not risk sending Isaac 
to the distant East, lest he should not return to the land of 
promise : so he committed this delicate affair to a trusty ser- 
vant who stood in the relation of a confidential manager. 
The steward acted with piety and discretion. He sought 
the guidance of God, and, even in little things, begged a special 



42. And I came this day unto the well, and said, 

Lord God of my master Abraham ! if now thou 
do prosper my way which I go ; 

43. Behold, I stand by the well of water ; and 
it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh 
forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I 
pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink, 

44. And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I 
will also draw for thy camels, let the same be the 
woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for my 
master's son. 

45. And before I had done speaking in mine 
heart, behold, Rebekah came forthwith her pitcher 
on her shoulder; and she went down unto the 
well, and drew water ; and I said unto her, Let me 
drink, I pray thee. 

46. And she made haste, and let down her 
pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I 
will give thy camels drink also : so I drank, and 
she made the camels drink also. 

47. And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter 
art thou ? and she said, The daughter of Bethuel, 
Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him. And I 
put the ear-ring upon her face, and the bracelets 
upon her hands. 

48. And I bowed down my head, and worshipped 
the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master 
Abraham, which had led me in the right way to 
take my master's brother's daughter unto his son. 

49. And now, if ye will deal kindly and truly 
with my master, tell me ; and if not, tell me, that 

1 may turn to the right hand, or to the left. 



answer to prayer ; but he also prepared himself by the gener- 
osity of his outfit and his gifts to make the best impression for 
his master. " Prayer and provender hinder no man's jour- 
ney." At the well — the place of concourse in an Eastern 
village — he met Rebekah, " a damsel very fair to look 
upon ; " and she waited upon him with a simple courtesy 
and modesty that won his heart. Going to her home, he 
told his errand, using the pleas of kindred, of prosperity, of 
religious opportunity, and divine guidance; and with these 
arguments, and hints of liberal presents, he won his master's 
suit. In all the arrangements of life, they prosper best who 
at every step seek and acknowledge the hand of God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 56, 68, 178. 



Holy Father ! we bless thee for the faith and 
example of the godly who have gone before us. So 
enlighten, purify, and strengthen our whole nature, 
that we shall faithfully follow them. More espe- 
cially we bless thee for the perfect example of thy 
Son Jesus Christ, and beseech thee so to endue us 
with his spirit, that we may evermore walk in his 
steps, and be found faithful to him even unto death. 
Thou art the strength of all them that put their 
trust in thee. Grant us, we beseech thee, the con- 
tinual help of thy grace, that in keeping thy com- 



mandments we may please thee, and that, in the 
midst of dangers, we may be upheld and preserved. 
Father of mercies ! we offer our humble thanks- 
giving for thy great and manifold favors bestowed 
upon us. Goodness and mercy have followed us 
all our days. May it please thee still to be merci- 
ful to us, and bless us, and cause thy face to shine 
upon us ! Make us strong in faith, and joyful in 
hope ; and finally let us stand before thy throne, 
accepted and glorified, through the merits of Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



165 



WEDNESDAY. 



Genesis xxiv. — 50. Then Laban and Bethuel 
answered, and said, The thing proceedeth from the 
Lord : we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. 

51. Behold, Bebekah is before thee : take her, 
and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as 
the Lord hath spoken. 

52. And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's 
servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, 
bowing himself to the earth. 

53. And the servant brought forth jewels of sil- 
ver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave 
them to Bebekah. He gave also to her brother 
and to her mother precious things. 

54. And they did eat and drink, he and the men 
that were with him, and tarried all night; and 
they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me 
away unto my master. 

55. And her brother and her mother said, Let 
the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least 
ten : after that she shall go. 

56. And he said unto them, Hinder me not, see- 
ing the Lord hath prospered my way : send me 
away, that I may go to my master. 

57. And they said, We will call the damsel, and 
inquire at her mouth. 

58. And they called Bebekah, and said unto her, 
Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I 
will go. 



The gifts to Rebekah were her dower ; those to her kin- 
dred were a sort of purchase-money, according to the mar- 
riage-customs of the times. Her brother Laban, both here 
and in later transactions with Jacob, evidently had an eye to 
his own advantage. In fixing the time of parting, there is a 
quite natural contrast of brotherly tenderness and girlish 
eagerness. The confidence of Rebekah appears beautiful in 
its simplicity : but it was warranted by all that she had heard 
of her unknown suitor ; and custom led her to acquiesce in 
the judgment and desire of her natural protectors. Her 
retinue of maidens were the guard of her modesty upon the 
way, and the promise of society in her future home. 



59. And they sent away Bebekah their sister, 
and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his 
men. 

60. And they blessed Bebekah, and said unto 
her, Thou art our sister: be thou the mother of 
thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the 
gate of those which hate them. 

61. And Bebekah arose, and her damsels, and 
they rode upon the camels, and followed the 
man ; and the servant took Bebekah, and went 
his way. 

62. And Isaac came from the way of the well 
Lahai-roi ; for he dwelt in the south country. 

63. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field 
at the even-tide ; and he lifted up his eyes, and 
saw, and behold, the camels were coming. 

64. And Bebekah lifted up her eyes ; and, when 
she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. 

65. For she had said unto the servant, What 
man is this that walketh in the field to meet us ? 
And the servant had said, It is my master : there- 
fore she took a veil, and covered herself. 

66. And the servant told Isaac all things that 
he had done. 

67. And Isaac brought her into his mother 
Sarah's tent, and took Bebekah, and she became 
his wife ; and he loved her : and Isaac was com- 
forted after his mother's death. 



Who can estimate the effect upon Isaac of his being bound 
upon the altar for sacrifice ? He seems to have been reticent, 
passive, docile, fond of solitude. Just now, as he was ex- 
pecting the great event of his life, he went out, as was his 
habit, to meditate at even-tide ; and so the joy of his earthly 
life came to be blended with his religious devotions. De- 
scending from her camel, just as an Arab woman would do 
to-day to meet her lord, with maidenly modesty Rebekah 
veiled her beauty. Isaac met her with a courtly grace ; and 
these two affianced strangers soon felt the bloom of love 
more fragrant than that of the fields. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 59, 83, 96. 



Thou only, Lord ! makest us to dwell in safety. 
We lie down at night under the shadow of thy 
wings ; we awake in the morning to the light of 
thy love. We thank thee for another night of rest 
and comfort, for another day of life, health, and 
hope. O Lord ! may we be found faithful to thee 
in the duties of this day ! and amid its temptations 
and its trials do thou sustain us, comfort us, keep 
us, and grant us grace in all we do to seek thy 
glory. May this household, which thou hast so 
blessed, serve thee, not at this altar only, but in all 
the walks of life ! As we engage in the business of 
the world, as we go into society, wherever we are, 
and whatever we do, may we remember thee, and 
do thy will ! Oh ! grant that every member of this 
family may be a child of God, a humble, faithful 



follower of the Lord Jesus Christ ! Bless all dear 
to us who are absent from us. Do thou, O Lord ! 
dwell by thy Spirit in the hearts and the minds 
of all our friends. We supplicate thy mercy for 
the needy, the afflicted, the bereaved, and sor- 
rowing. Oh ! tyrant to all the consolations of thv 
gospel. 

Build up thy Church, Lord ! Fill our land 
with pure religion. Bless the industry of the peo- 
ple ; and may its fruit be consecrated to the good of 
men ! May our rulers be faithful and just, walking 
in thy fear! And we beseech thee to bring all 
lands under the power and glory of thy kingdom. 
In thy great mercy, Lord ! forgive our sins, and 
bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, through 
Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



166 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



John viii. — 12. Then spake Jesus again unto 
them, saying, I am the light of the world : he that 
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall 
have the light of life. 

13. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, 
Thou hearest record of thyself: thy record is not 
true. 

14. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though 
I bear record of myself, yet my record is true : for 
I know whence I came, and whither I go ; but ye 
cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. 

15. Ye judge after the flesh : I judge no man. 

16. And yet, if I judge, my judgment is true ; 
for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent 
me. 

17. It is also written in your law, that the testi- 
mony of two men is true. 

18. I am one that bear witness of myself; 
and the Father that sent me beareth witness of 
me. 

19. Then said they unto him, Where is thy 
Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, 
nor my Father : if ye had known me, ye should 
have known my Father also. 

20. These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as 
he taught in the temple ; and no man laid hands 
on him, for his hour was not yet come. 



21. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my 
way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your 
sins : whither I go ye cannot come. 

22. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? 
because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 

23. And he said unto them, Ye are from be- 
neath ; I am from above : ye are of this world ; I 
am not of this world. 

24. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die 
in your sins ; for, if ye believe not that I am he, ye 
shall die in your sins. 

25. Then said they unto him, Who art thou ? 
And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I 
said unto you from the beginning. 

26. I have many things to say, and to judge of 
you : but he that sent me is true ; and I speak to 
the world those things which I have heard of 
him. 

27. They understood not that he spake to them 
of the Father. 

28. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have 
lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that 
I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as 
my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 

29. And he that sent me is with me : the Father 
hath not left me alone ; for I do always those 
things that please him. 



Jesus was more than a teacher of truth ; for he not only 
gave light, but was the Light : more than the guide to life ; 
for he was the Light of life. As the great Augustine has said, 
" Light, which brings other things to view, brings itself to 
view. Light furnishes its own testimony : it opens healthy 
eyes, and itself is a witness to itself." During the Feast of 
1 abernacles, it was the custom to light up the courts of the 
temple with a brilliancy which illuminated the whole city. 
With this extraordinary light from the holy place fresh in the 



minds of his hearers, Jesus announced himself as the Light, not 
of one city or people only, but of the whole world. This light 
had come, not to search men out for judgment, but to guide 
them to salvation ; but, for that very reason, so much the 
greater must be the condemnation to those who should reject 
it. Not to come forth and walk in the light is to abide in 
darkness ; not to come to the Saviour will be to die in sin ; 
and to die in sin, rejecting Jesus, who alone can save from 
sin, will be to die without hope, and to perish without remedy. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 76, 78. 



God, who hast spoken to us by thy Son, our 
Saviour Jesus Christ ! grant us, we pray thee, that 
faith in him which is eternal life. May we believe 
unto the saving of our souls ! 

We thank thee for the many means which thou 
hast provided for our growth in grace and knowl- 
edge. Make thy holy Word to be our nourish- 
ment, our guide, and the constant source of com- 
fort and strength. May we by it be made wise 
unto salvation ! May it ever be as a lamp to 
our feet, and a light to our path ! Lord ! thou 
only teachest to profit : thou art the fountain of 
light and wisdom and truth. In thy light may 
we see light! Preserve vis from error, and from 
the sin of unbelief. 

Pardon our many sins and short-comings. 
Cleanse thou us from secret faults. Keep us back 
from presumptuous sins. Help us, Lord ! to 
serve thee better, and to love thee more heartily. 



Sanctify us wholly, body, soul, and spirit. Let lis 
not be conformed to this world, but transformed by 
the renewing of our minds. 

We bless thee that thou hast granted us peace- 
ful rest in the night-season. Now take our souls, 
holy Father ! into thy keeping. Whether we 
live, may we live unto thee ; and whether Ave die, 
may we die unto thee : so that, living or dying, we 
may be the Lord's ! We look to thee in trust 
for all things needful in this life. Continue thy 
favor to this family ; be very gracious to all our 
friends ; and show thy mercy and salvation unto 
all men. Give thy Word free course, and let it be 
glorified. May it be the wisdom of God and the 
power of God unto salvation ! Lord ! hear 
these our prayers, and grant unto us an answer 
of peace ; for we come to thee, trusting not in our 
own righteousness, but in the alone merits and 
mediation of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



167 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm XXV. — 8. Good and upright is the Lord : 
therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 

9. The meek will he guide in judgment ; and 
the meek will he teach his way. 

10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and 
truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testi- 
monies. 

11. For thy name's sake, Lord ! pardon mine 
iniquity; for it is great. 

12. What man is he that feareth the Lord? 
him shall he teach in the way that he shall 
choose. 

13. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed 
shall inherit the earth. 

14. The secret of the Lord is with them that 
fear him ; and he will show them his covenant. 

John viii. — 30. As he spake these words, many 
believed on him. 

31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed 
on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my 
disciples indeed ; 

32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth 
shall make you free. 

33. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, 
and were never in bondage to any man : how sayest 
thou, Ye shall be made free ? 

34. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say 
unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant 
of sin. 

35. And the servant abideth not in the house 
forever ; but the Son abideth ever. 



The test of discipleship is constancy in obedience. Truth 
itself is rendered intelligible by the spirit of obedience : the 
appreciative knowledge of truth dispels error, and, by showing 
the evil and the danger of sin, delivers the soul from' its bond- 
age and power. Sin is a hard taskmaster ; and they who be- 
gin by yielding to its pleasures must end by paying its penal- 
ties. Christ alone can free us from such bondage ; and to> 
enter into union with him by faith is to receive that spirit of 
life which is the sense of true freedom. The Jews, who prided 
themselves upon being the children of God through the call- 
ing and covenant of Abraham, had enslaved themselves to> 
formalism, to hypocrisy, to the spirit of darkness, to the 
powers of this world. Besenting the tyranny of the Romans 



36. If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, 
ye shall be free indeed. 

37. I know that ye are Abraham's seed ; but ye 
seek to kill me because my word hath no place in you. 

38. I speak that which I have seen with my 
Father-; and ye do that which ye have seen with 
your father. 

39. They answered and said unto him, Abraham 
is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were 
Abraham's children, ye would do the works of 
Abraham. 

40. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath 
told you the truth, which I have heard of God : 
this did not Abraham. 

41. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said 
they to him, We be not born of fornication : we 
have one Father, even God. 

42. Jesus said unto them, If God were your 
Father, ye would love me : for I proceeded forth 
and came from God ; neither came I of myself, but 
he sent me. 

43. Why do ye not understand my speech ? even 
because ye cannot hear my word. 

44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts 
of your father ye will do : he was a murderer from 
the beginning, and abode not in the truth ; because 
there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, 
he speaketh of his own ; for he is a liar, and the 
father of it. 

45. And, because I tell you the truth, ye believe 
me not.. 



with a hatred that never died, they yet lived under bondage 
to a spiritual power more degrading and more unrelenting 
than this hated foreign yoke. Christ came to announce the 
year of jubilee, the day of redemption, the salvation of God, 
and, by striking at the root of sin in the heart, to deliver all 
who would hear him. His religion is not a yoke of rules, a 
bondage of forms, but the perfect law of liberty : for its life is 
truth ; and its spirit, love. 

Had the Jews kept the inner meaning of their own Scrip- 
tures, they would have known that meekness and obedience 
were the keys of divine knowledge, and that Jehovah would 
initiate the humble soul into the mysteries of his kingdom. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 5, 39. 



Oh ! grant us grace, Father in heaven, to hear 
thy Word, and to obey it. We would make haste, 
and delay not, to keep thy commandments. Thou 
hast a right, Lord ! to our time, our gifts, our 
hearts, our persons ; to all that we are, and all that 
we have: for thou hast created us, and hast re- 
deemed us with the precious blood of thy Son. 

We give thee thanks for the mercies of the night, 
and for all the mercies of our past lives, — for home 
and its blessings ; for friends, and all the ministries 
of love ; for health, knowledge, comfort, and pros- 
perity ; but, above all things, for thy grace in the 



gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we ever be 
ready to acknowledge him the Son of God, the 
Saviour of the world ! May men in the high places 
of power and influence consecrate themselves to 
him ! may the poor and lowly trust in him ! may 
children sing hosannas to the Son of David ! How 
shall we praise thee, God ! for thy love and grace 
to us sinners ? For all thy mercies, we bless and 
magnify thy glorious name ; humbly beseeching 
thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise 
for His sake who died, and rose again, and who 
liveth evermore. Amen. 



168 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Psalm xl. — 6. Sacrifice and offering thou didst 
not desire ; mine ears hast thou opened : burnt- 
offering and sin-offering hast thou not required. 

7. Then said I, Lo, I come : in the volume of 
the book it is written of me, 

8. I delight to do thy will, my God ! yea, thy 
law is within my heart. 

9. I have preached righteousness in the great 
congregation : lo, I have not refrained my lips, 
Lord ! thou knowest. 

10. I have not hid thy righteousness within 
my heart ; I have declared thy faithfulness and 
thy salvation : I have not concealed thy loving- 
kindness and thy truth from the great congrega- 
tion. 

11. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from 
me, Lord ! let thy loving-kindness and thy truth 
continually preserve me. 

John viii. — 46. Which of you convinceth me 
of sin ? And, if I say the truth, why do ye not 
believe me ? 

47. He that is of God heareth God's words : ye 
therefore hear, them not, because ye are not of 
God. 

48. Then answered the Jews, and said unto 
him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, 
and hast a devil ? 

49. Jesus answered, I have not a devil ; but I 
honor my Father, and ye do dishonor me. 



By the law of Moses, one who was guilty of blasphemy 
must be stoned to death by the whole congregation. For a 
man to make himself the equal of God was blasphemy ; and, 
because the Jews understood Jesus to claim divine attributes, 
upon several occasions they threatened to stone him. This 
action was something more than the sudden frenzy of a mob : 
it was prompted by that religious jealousy, which, when infu- 
riated, is the most vindictive of passions. The deportment of 
Jesus under these assaults is a striking testimony to his doc- 
trine concerning himself. He does not seek to free himself from 
the accusation of a crime so abhorrent to his own spirit, nor 
even to save his life, by denying the construction which the 
Jews put upon his words. He either justified his words, or 
withdrew himself from the rage of the people. In this instance 
he boldly challenged them to accuse him of sin in his whole 



50. And I seek not mine own glory : there is 
one that seeketh and judgeth. 

51. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep 
my saying, he shall never see death. 

52. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know 
that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the 
prophets ; and thou sayest, If a man keep my say- 
ing, he shall never taste of death. 

53. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, 
which is dead ? and the prophets are dead : whom 
makest thou thyself? t 

54. Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor 
is nothing : it is my Father that honoreth me ; of 
whom ye say, that he is your God. 

55. Yet ye have not known him ; but I know 
him : and, if I should say I know him not, I shall 
be a liar like unto you ; but I know him, and keep 
his saying. 

56. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my 
day; and he saw it, and was glad. 

57. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art 
not yet fifty years old ; and hast thou seen Abra- 
ham ? 

58. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say 
unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 

59. Then took they up stones to cast at him ; 
but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, 
going through the midst of them, and so passed 



life. Next he affirmed his power over death, and his unison 
with the will of God ; and, to crown all, he asserted his pre- 
existence in the selfsame terms in which Jehovah had de- 
clared to Moses his own eternity, — I AM. This calm as- 
sumption of qualities and prerogatives belonging to God 
only, leaves no room to doubt that Jesus claimed equality with 
the Father. 

Already the Psalmist, in a passage which the Epistle to the 
Hebrews directly applies to Christ, had declared the pre- 
existence of the Messiah. He came forth from the bosom 
of the Father, and by a voluntary offering of himself, to 
do away with the sacrifices of the law, and to declare to 
an apostate people the truth, the righteousness, and the 
mercy of God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 73, 75. 



O Thou who didst humble thyself to be born of 
a virgin, the everlasting Son of the Father, the 
Prince of peace ! we bless and adore thee for thy 
grace and compassion for its sinners. We give 
thanks unto the Father, who so loved the world, 
that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever 
believeth in him should not perish, but have ever- 
lasting life ; we praise and worship the Son, who 
took upon him our nature that he might redeem us 
to God. Oh ! grant us, we beseech thee, thy peace, 
through the forgiveness of sin, reconciliation with 
God, and the indwelling of the Spirit, that we may 



glorify and praise thee in our lives for all that we 
have heard and seen of thy grace. 

[May the children of this family remember that 
Jesus came as a little child to bless them ! May 
they give their hearts to his love !] And may we all, 
in the spirit of little children, love and serve Him 
who came into the world to save sinners ! And, 
oh ! may the world be saved ; may all men come to 
Christ ; may peace reign on earth, and good will 
bind all hearts together for the glory of God! 
And to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be honor 
and praise throughout all ages. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



169 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Acts X. — 1. There was a certain man in Cesa- 
rea, called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called 
the Italian band, 

2. A devout man, and one that feared God with 
all his house ; which gave much alms to the people, 
and prayed to God always. 

3. Pie saw in a vision evidently, about the ninth 
hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, 
and saying unto him, Cornelius. 

4. And, when he looked on him, he was afraid, 
and said, What is it, Lord ? And he said unto 
him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for 
a memorial before God. 

5. And now send men to Joppa, and call for 
one Simon, whose surname is Peter : 

6. He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose 
house is by the sea-side : he shall tell thee what 
thou oughtest to do. 

7. And, when the angel which spake unto Cor- 
nelius was departed, he called two of his house- 
hold servants, and a devout soldier of them that 
waited on him continually ; 

8. And, when he had declared all these things 
unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 

9. On the morrow, as they went on their 
journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went 
up upon the house-top to pray, about the sixth hour : 



10. And he became very hungry, and would 
have eaten ; but, while they made ready, he fell into 
a trance, 

11. And saw heaven opened, and a certain ves- 
sel descending unto him, as it had been a great 
sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the 
earth ; 

12. Wherein were all manner of four-footed 
beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping 
things, and fowls of the air. 

13. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; 
kill and eat. 

14. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have 
never eaten any thing that is common or un- 
clean. 

15. And the voice spake unto him again the sec- 
ond time, What God hath cleansed, that call not 
thou common. 

16. This was done thrice ; and the vessel was 
received up again into heaven. 

17. Now, while Peter doubted in himself what 
this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, 
the men which were sent from Cornelius had made 
inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the 
gate, 

18. And called, and asked whether Simon, which 
was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 



The case of Cornelius illustrates the harmony of the reli- 
gion of Nature with the religion of the Old Testament, and of 
both with Christianity. Nature teaches the unity of God, and 
the duties of prayer, of thanksgiving, and of benevolence. The 
Old Testament declares the oneness, the spirituality, and the 
holiness of God, embodies the practical duties of religion in 
specific laws, and sets forth mediation through sacrifices. The 
New Testament re-enforces the doctrines and precepts of the 
Old with greater emphasis upon an inward spirituality of 
worship and obedience, and presents Christ as the sacrifice for 
sin, and the one Mediator between man and God. 

Cornelius, following the light of reason and conscience, had 
renounced idolatry, and, in his search for the true religion, had 
begun to worship the God revealed in the Old Testament. 



Without adopting the rites of Judaism, he observed the duties 
of prayer and alms-giving, was devout in his spirit and life, and 
regulated his household in the fear of God. The Lord looketh 
upon the heart, and, finding in Cornelius a state of mind pre- 
disposing him to welcome higher truths, directed him to the 
gospel of Christ, and prepared Peter to unfold a full and free 
salvation. Peter needed to be converted from his prejudices 
as a Jew ; and the vision taught him that the Jewish system, 
having fulfilled its purpose of type and preparation, should 
find its own ideal in a system of grace embracing all man- 
kind. Thus do the providence and the grace of God re- 
spond to every longing heart. But how often does the lesson 
of this vision need to be repeated ! — teaching bigotry and 
prejudice, that with God no class is common or unclean. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 29, 60, 70. 



Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine 
unworthy servants do give thee most humble and 
hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kind- 
ness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our 
creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this 
life ; but, above all, for thine inestimable love in 
the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus 
Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of 
glory. Help us, we pray thee, so to improve the 
privileges and promises of this thine holy day, so 
to meditate upon thy Word, and to worship thee in 
the prayers and praises of thine house, that we shall 
be edified, comforted, and sanctified, and shall 
worthily show forth thy salvation. 

We pray for thy holy Church universal, that it 



may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, 
that all who call themselves Christians may be led 
into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity 
of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness 
of life. Bless thy Word to children : as in the home 
and the Sunday school they shall hear of Jesus, and 
sing his praise, may their hearts be filled with his 
love ! Send thy Word, Lord ! to those who have 
it not : may it have free course and be glorified in 
all the earth! Show thy loving-kindness to all 
who are dear to us, and grant them thy peace. In 
thy mercy, for Christ's sake, take away our sins ; 
fill our hearts with the hope of heaven ; and prepare 
us to enter into thy rest, through our Lord and 
Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 



170 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Acts X. — 34. Then Peter opened his mouth, 
and said, Of a truth, I perceive that God is no re- 
specter of persons ; 

35. But, in every nation, he that feareth him, 
and worketh righteousness, is accepted with 
him. 

36. The word which God sent unto the children 
of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (he is 
Lord of all) ; 

37. That word. I say, ye know, which was pub- 
lished throughout all Judsea, and began from Gali- 
lee, after the baptism which John preached : 

38. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with 
the Holy Ghost and with power ; who went about 
doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of 
the devil ; for God was with him. 

39. And we are witnesses of all things which he 
did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusa- 
lem ; whom they slew and hanged on a tree : 

40. Him God raised up the third day, and 
showed him openly ; 

41. Not to all the people, but unto witnesses 



chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and 
drink with him after he rose from the dead. 

42. And he commanded us to preach unto the 
people, and to testify that it is he Avhich was or- 
dained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 

43. To him give all the prophets witness, that, 
through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall 
receive remission of sins. 

44. While Peter yet spake these words, the 
Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 

45. And they of the circumcision which believed 
were astonished, as many as came with Peter, be- 
cause that on the Gentiles also was poured out the 
gift of the Holy Ghost. 

46. For they heard them speak with tongues, 
and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 

47. Can any man forbid water, that these should 
not be baptized, which have received the Holy 
Ghost, as well as we ? 

48. And he commanded them to be baptized in 
the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to 
tarry certain days. 



While Peter was wondering what the vision of the sheet 
full of all sorts of creatures might signify, the messengers sent 
by Cornelius arrived ; and perceiving that God had summoned 
him to carry the gospel to the Gentiles, without requiring 
them to conform to Jewish customs, he hastened to give this 
Roman officer instruction in the way of salvation. How grand 
the truths of the gospel which Peter here announced ! Reli- 
gion, which hitherto had been as much a matter of race and 
nation as the color of one's skin or the country of one's birth, 
is declared to be a state of the heart toward the one universal 
Lord ; a reverent, devout, trusting, obedient spirit : this, which 
is the essence of true faith, is accepted of God, as the frame 



of mind which the gospel was intended both to induce and 
to meet. To Cornelius and his friends, in this frame, Peter 
declared, first, the historical facts upon which the gospel 
rests, — the life, the works, the teaching, the death, of Jesus 
of Nazareth ; next the crowning truth of the resurrection, 
which proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God ; and then, upon 
this basis of fact, the assurance, which the facts make credible, 
that to receive Christ as the risen Saviour is to receive remis- 
sion of sins, and the necessity for this faith enforced by the 
announcement that Christ shall come again to be our Judge. 
This is the gospel of fact, the gospel of faith, the gospel of 
hope, the gospel of salvation. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 2, 123, 187. 



Lord, our heavenly Father! we humbly beseech 
thee to accept this our evening sacrifice of praise 
and thanksgiving ; mercifully granting unto us, 
by the merits and death of thy son Jesus Christ, 
and through faith in his blood, the remission of 
our sins, and all the blessings of eternal life. 

Grant that the words which we have this day 
heard with our outward ears may through thy 
grace be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that 
they may bring forth in us fruit to the honor and 
glory of thy name. May we ever prove what is 
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God ! 
and may thy goodness to us as a family draw us 
to thee in the communion of thy saints ! 

Bless the education of the young, the instruc- 
tion of the ignorant, the visitation of the sick, the 
distribution of thy Word, and all the means em- 
ployed to bring men to Christ. 

Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, who 
dost comfort thy children in all their tribulation, 
we commend to the love and grace of thy Spirit 
all who are in . any way afflicted, praying that 



thou wouldest succor, sustain, and sanctify them, 
and prepare them for the issue of their trials, 
whether it be life or death. Pitifully behold the 
widow and the orphan, the poor, the destitute, 
and the forsaken, the captive, the prisoner, and 
him who is doomed to die ; and inspire them with 
confidence in thy fatherly love, and help them to 
trust in thy mercy. We commend to thy special 
favor all who are dear to us by the ties of nature 
and affection, that it may please thee to adopt them 
into thy redeemed family, enrich them with thy 
heavenly blessing, and at last receive them into 
the presence of thy glory. 

God ! thou knowest our frame, and remem- 
berest that we are dust : look upon us in our weak- 
ness and necessity, and supply our need according 
to the riches of thy glory. Grant that we may 
retire to rest pardoned and accepted in thy Beloved. 
Watch over us during the night : and may we rise 
in the morning full of life and joy ! and, passing 
all our days here in thy fear, may we finally come to 
thine everlasting joy, through Jesus Christ ! Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



171 



MONDAY. 



Acts xii. — 1. Now, about that time, Herod the 
king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of 
the church. 

2. And he killed James the brother of John with 
the sword. 

3. And, because he saw it pleased the Jews, he 
proceeded further to take Peter also. Then were 
the days of unleavened bread. 

4. And, when he bad apprehended him, he put 
him in prison, and delivered him to four quater- 
nions of soldiers to keep him ; intending after Eas- 
ter to bring him forth to the people. 

5. Peter, therefore, was kept in prison ; but 
prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto 
God for him. 

6. And, when Herod would have brought him 
forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between 
two soldiers, bound with two chains ; and the 
keepers before the door kept the prison. 

7. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon 
him, and a light shined in the prison ; and he 
smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, 
Arise up quickly ; and his chains fell off from his 
hands. 

8. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, 
and bind on thy sandals ; and so he did. And he 
saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and 
follow me. 

9. And he went out, and followed him, and wist 
not that it was true which was done by the angel, 
but thought he saw a vision. 



How wonderfully true to nature is this whole narrative ! 
The artlessness with which the story is told verifies the miracle. 
The surprise and bewilderment of Peter ; the mechanical way 
in which he did just as the angel told him, as one might do 
in a fit of somnambulism ; his coming to himself, and realizing 
the hand of God, — all this belongs to reality. And " nothing 
could be more life-like than the description of the scene which 
follows. Rhoda, in the excess of her joy, forgets to open the 
door, runs into the house, declares the news ; while Peter is left 
in the street, still knocking, and exposed to arrest. The pas- 



10. When they were past the first and the 
second ward, they came unto the iron gate that 
leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his 
own accord : and they went out, and passed on 
through one street; and forthwith the angel de- 
parted from him. 

11. And, when Peter was come to himself, he 
said, Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath 
sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the 
hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the 
people of the Jews. 

12. And, when he had considered the tiling, he 
came to the house of Mary the mother of John, 
whose surname was Mark ; where many were 
gathered together, praying. 

13. And, as Peter knocked at the door of the 
gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 

14. And, when she knew Peter's voice, she 
opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in and 
told how Peter stood before the gate. 

15. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But 
she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then 
said they, It is his angel. 

16. But Peter continued knocking. And when 
they had opened the door, and saw him, they were 
astonished. 

17. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to 
hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord 
had brought him out of the prison. And he said, 
Go show these things unto James and to the breth- 
ren. And he departed, and went into another place. 



sage has all the vividness of the recital of an eye-witness. 
When Peter gained entrance, the joy of the disciples was so 
tumultuous, that he could make them understand a gesture 
better than a word." This miracle was wrought, not for Peter's 
sake, but to further the gospel. Even now it should serve to 
inspire confidence in the ministry of angels to the heirs of 
salvation. In after-years, when Peter was seized, the angel 
of death alone came to his deliverance, when, like his Lord, 
he hung upon the cross. 



Appropriate Hymns.] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 131, 147. 



Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be 
thy name ; thy kingdom come ; thy will be done 
in earth as it is in heaven. Oh, may thy kingdom 
fully come in our hearts, casting out all sin ! may 
thy will take possession of our wills, so that in all 
things we shall please and serve thee ! Thy mercy, 
Lord ! of which every night and morning bears 
witness, binds us to thee in love and gratitude ; 
and we dedicate ourselves to thee this day as 
obedient children. Help us to fulfil our vows. 
Keep us, we pray thee, from the love of this world, 
and from the power of evil. OLord! strengthen, 
defend, deliver all thy servants, and maintain thy 
cause. 



God, the protector of all that trust in thee, 
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is 
holy ! increase and multiply upon us thy mercy ; 
that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so 
pass through things temporal, that we finally lose 
not the things eternal. Dwell thou in our hearts 
by thy Spirit ; yea, make our very bodies temples 
of the Holy Ghost : and may all sin be put far 
away from us ! O Lord our Saviour ! make this 
home thy habitation. [May the children gather 
about thee with songs of praise, with hearts and 
hands to do thy will !] And finally bring us unto 
our Father's house, to dwell forever in love and 
purity and joy, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



172 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Mark iv. — 1. And he began again to teach by 
the sea-side : and there was gathered unto him a 
great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and 
sat in the sea ; and the whole multitude was by 
the sea, on the land. 

2. And he taught them many things by parables, 
and said unto them in his doctrine, 

3. Hearken : Behold, there went out a sower to 
sow. 

4. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by 
the way-side, and the fowls of the air came and 
devoured it up. 

5. And some fell on stony ground, where it had 
not much earth ; and immediately it sprang up, 
because it had no depth of earth : 

6. But, when the sun was up, it was scorched ; 
and, because it had no root, it withered away. 

7. And some fell among thorns ; and the thorns 
grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 

8. And other fell on good ground, and did yield 
fruit that sprang up, and increased, and brought 
forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some a 
hundred. 



9. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to 
hear, let him hear. 

14. The sower soweth the word. 

15. And these are they by the way-side, where 
the word is sown ; but, when they have heard, 
Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the 
word that was sown in their hearts. 

16. And these are they likewise which are sown 
on stony ground, who, when they have heard the 
word, immediately receive it with gladness ; 

17. And have no root in themselves, and so en- 
dure but for a time : afterward, when affliction or 
persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately 
they are offended. 

18. And these are they which are sown among 
thorns ; such as hear the word. 

19. And the cares of this world, and the deceitful- 
ness of riches, and the lusts of other things, enter- 
ing in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 

20. And these are they which are sown on good 
ground ; such as hear the word, and receive it, and 
bring forth fruit, some thirty -fold, some sixty, and 
some a hundred. 



In Palestine there are no farms with fenced fields and farm- 
houses at intervals over a district ; but the farmers, for safety, 
live together in compact villages, and go forth to cultivate the 
open country, often at a distance from their homes, each man's 
field being marked by boundary-stones, and the highway run- 
ning through the ploughed land. The land, moreover, which in 
spots is rich and fertile, is diversified with rocky projections, 
and with clumps of thorns. Hence, in sowing the furrows, one 
could scarce avoid scattering seed upon the thin, rocky soil, or 
among the thorn-bushes, and along the hard-trodden path. 
Such was the picture of his own preaching which our Lord 
had directly before his eye, as from the boat on the lake he 
looked out upon the neighboring fields. His explanation of 
the parable brings it home at some point to every heart. " In 
the first case, the heart is hardened, trodden down : the seed 
cannot penetrate. By fowls of the air — passing thoughts and 



desires, which seem insignificant, and even innocent — does 
Satan do his work, and rob the heart of the precious seed. In 
the second case, the surface of the mind and disposition is 
easily stirred, soon excited ; but beneath lies a heart even 
harder than the trodden way. Such religion is the creature 
of circumstances, changing as they change. In the third case, 
all as regards the soil is well : the seed goes deep, the plant 
springs up ; but the fruit fails, and this because the seeds or 
roots of thorns are in, and are suffered to spring up in the 
heart and to overwhelm the plant." Ah ! let us beware how 
we suffer the cares or the pleasures of the world, or the eager- 
ness for gain, to stifle or efface the impressions of the sabbath, 
of the Bible, of God's providence in sickness or sorrow. Let 
us keep our hearts open to all good influences, that our lives 
may be fruitful in all good works. 



Appeopeiate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 117, 132, 165. 



Graciously bestow upon us, heavenly Father ! 
thy Holy Spirit, to quicken within us the word 
that we have now read. Take away our ignorance, 
our hardness and coldness of heart, and our love 
of this present world. Enlighten our understand- 
ings ; give unto us the spirit of wisdom and revela- 
tion in the knowledge of Christ. May we know 
thee as our God and Saviour, and glorify thee by 
the holy obedience of our lives ! Grant that, be- 
ing set free from sin, and made servants to God, 
we may have our fruit unto holiness, and the end 
everlasting life. 

O Lord ! we beseech thee quicken thy Church 
to greater fruitfulness in thy service ; and suffer 
not thy word to return to thee void, but bring 
multitudes to the acknowledging of the truth as it 
is in Jesus. 

We thank thee for all thy goodness and thy 



care. Thou spreadest our table ; thou givest us 
life and breath and all things. Lord ! our souls, 
and all that is within us, would bless and praise 
thy holy name. As a family, we bless thee for 
our home, and for all the comforts and joys of our 
daily life. [May the children whom thou hast so 
favored in this house remember thee, their heaven- 
ly Father, and love and serve thee !] Be with us 
this day to guide and keep us. 

most merciful Saviour, our compassionate 
High Priest! pity all our infirmities ; heal our souls' 
sicknesses ; give us the joy of thy salvation, and a 
hope full of immortality. Strengthen us to live 
and labor for thee ; and at length take us to rest 
with thee above, for thine own name and mercy's 
sake. And unto thee, with the Father and the 
Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, now and 
forevermore. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



173 



WEDNESDAY. 



Ezekiel xvii. — 22. Thus saith the Lord God: 
I will also take of the highest branch of the high 
cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top 
of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it 
upon a high mountain and eminent: 

23. In the mountain of the height of Israel will 
I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and 
bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it 
shall dwell all fowl of every wing ; in the shadow 
of the branches thereof shall they dwell. 

24. And all the trees of the field shall know 
that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, 
have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green 
tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish : I the 
Lord have spoken and have done it. 

Mark iv. — 26. And he said, So is the kingdom 
of God, as if a man should cast seed into the 
ground ; 

27. And should sleep, and rise night and day, 
and the seed should spring and grow up, he know- 
eth not how. 



Dr. Hackett, in his " Illustrations of Scripture," thus de- 
scribes the mustard-plant: "As I was riding across the Plain 
of Akka, on the way to Carmel, I perceived what seemed to be 
a little forest or nursery of trees. On coming nearer, they 
proved to be an extensive field of the mustard-plant. It was 
then in blossom, full grown, in some cases six, seven, and nine 
feet high, with a stem or trunk an inch or more in thickness, 
throwing out branches on every side. At that very instant, 
lo ! one of the fowls of heaven stopped in its flight through 
the air, alighted down on one of the branches, which hardly 
moved beneath the shock, and then began to warble forth a 
strain of the richest music." Thus continually does the Holy 
Land illustrate the Holy Book. But, while the incident which 
suggested this second parable is thus vividly set before us, the 
parable itself finds its interpretation in the history of the 
Church. 

To these two parables Matthew adds a third, to the 
same effect, in these words : " The kingdom of heaven is 



28. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; 
first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn 
in the ear. 

29. But, when the fruit is brought forth, imme- 
diately he putteth in the sickle, because the har- 
vest is come. 

30. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the 
kingdom of God ? or with what comparison shall 
we compare it ? 

31. It is like a grain of mustard-seed, which, 
when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the 
seeds that be in the earth : 

32. But, when it is sown, it groweth up, and be- 
cometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out 
great branches ; so that the fowls of the air may 
lodge under the shadow of it. 

33. And with many such parables spake he the 
word unto them as they were able to hear it. 

34. But without a parable spake he not unto 
them ; and, when they were alone, he expounded 
all things to his disciples. 



like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three meas- 
ures of meal till the whole was leavened." The three para- 
bles teach, under different forms, the gradual, certain, and 
vigorous growth of the kingdom of God : first, like the growth 
of grain, by silent, mysterious agencies, to which man may 
adapt himself, but which he can neither produce nor control ; 
secondly, by " the inherent, self-developing power " of truth 
and the spiritual life, as the tiniest seed contains in itself the 
form of the tree and " the principle of expansion ; " and, 
thirdly, by " the power of penetrating and assimilating a 
foreign mass," as the leaven ferments the whole body of meal 
into which it is cast. By these three principles, the growth 
and the perpetuity of Christianity in the world are assured be- 
yond a question : but we may aid that growth by cherishing 
the divine life within us ; by giving up our hearts to be com- 
pletely possessed by the truth and grace of Christ, our lives to 
be completely moulded by his will, and consecrated to his 
service. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 3, 49, 101. 



Our Father which art in heaven, we draw nigh 
to thee through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Thou 
reignest above in light unapproachable. Heaven 
is thy throne, and earth is thy footstool : what 
are we that thou shouldst regard us, and adopt us 
as thy reconciled children ? Teach thou us to for- 
get ourselves, and seek thy glory. Let thy praise 
be shown forth in our time ; let thy great name 
be known and feared ; let the kingdoms of the 
world become thine, till thy holy law is kept by 
men as angels keep it above. And as for us, 
Father ! preserve us from day to day, and feed us 
with food convenient for us. And, inasmuch as our 
love cannot reach the measure of thine, teach us 
to forgive others as thou hast forgiven us. Suffer 
us not to be tempted above that we are able : but, 
however thou triest us, keep us from harm within 
and without ; from the evil in the world around 



us ; from the evil that is in ourselves ; from the 
Evil One, who lies in wait for our souls. 

Thou, our Father, canst hear and answer our 
prayers ; for thou reignest over all from the be- 
ginning, and with thee nothing is impossible : for 
thy pleasure and thy praise all things are, and were 
created. Thou hast created us, preserved us, re- 
deemed us ; our lives have been foil of thy mercies ; 
thou hast blessed us in our home, in our friends, 
in our country, in our times, in the means of 
knowledge and of grace. Help us to use to thy 
glory, and the good of others, that which we have 
so freely received. We come unto thee through 
Him who taught us to pray, — even Jesus Christ 
our Lord ; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, 
be all praise and dominion ; for thine is the 
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. 
Amen. 



174 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Ezekiel xviii. — 1. The word of the Lord came 
unto me again, saying, 

2. What mean ye, that ye use this proverb con- 
cerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have 
eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set 
on edge ? 

3. As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not 
have occasion any more to use this proverb in 
Israel. 

4. Behold, all souls are mine ; as the soul of the 
father, so also the soul of the son is mine : the 
soul that sinneth, it shall die. 

19. Yet say ye, Why ? doth not the son bear 
the iniquity of the father ? When the son hath 
done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept 
all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall sure- 
ly live. 

20. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son 
shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither 
shall the father bear the iniquity of the son : the 
righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, 
and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 

21. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins 
that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, 
and do that which is lawful and right, he shall 
surely live ; he shall not die. 

22. All his transgressions that he hath com- 
mitted, they shall not be mentioned unto him : in 
his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 



23. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked 
should die ? saith the Lord God ; and not that he 
should return from his ways, and live ? 

Luke xiii. — 1. There were present at that sea- 
son some that told him of the Galileans, whose 
blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 

2. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Sup- 
pose ye that these Galileans were sinners above 
all the Galileans, because they suffered such 
things ? 

3. I tell you, Nay ; but, except ye repent, ye 
shall all likewise perish. 

4. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in 
Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were 
sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 

5. I tell you, Nay ; but, except ye repent, ye 
shall all likewise perish. 

6. He spake also this parable : A certain man 
had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard ; and he 
came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 

7. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, 
Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on 
this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down; why 
cumbereth it the ground? 

8. And he, answering, said unto him, Lord, let 
it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and 
dung it : 

9. And if it bear fruit, ivell; and if not, then 
after that thou shalt cut it down. 



Men are apt to associate great calamities with special sins ; 
but our Lord here teaches that such an interpretation of Prov- 
idence is neither sound nor just. There had probably been a 
riot within the outer court of the temple ; and, in quieting it, 
the soldiers of Pilate had slain some Galileans upon the very 
spot where sacrifices were offered. The Jews construed this 
as a special judgment for some pre-eminent wickedness ; and 
so of the unhappy victims of a falling tower. Our Lord did 
not deny that there is a general connection between calamity 
and sin ; in fact, he assumed that the calamities of life have 
more or less the character of judgments : but he would not 
allow this doctrine to be pressed to extremes in individual 
cases. He warned those who were so ready to pronounce 
judgment upon others, that they also should perish by the 



sword in the overthrow of their city, unless they would repent- 
But, even while the divine judgments were impending over 
them, the grace of God was seeking to recover them. Like a 
fig-tree planted under most favorable conditions, the Jewish 
nation had possessed every facility for religious culture. 
Theirs were the covenant of Abraham, the law and sacrifices 
of Moses, the promises of the prophets ; yet for three years 
had Christ been seeking among them the fruits of all this 
tillage, but almost in vain. They stood in the way of that 
kingdom of grace which they were set to further. The pa- 
tient Redeemer would bear with them a little longer ; try yet 
other methods : but even his love must yield at last to judg- 
ment for incorrigible sinners. Oh ! let us take heed that the 
mercy of God is not abused by us to the greater sin. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 155, 177. 



Oh ! grant us grace, Father in heaven, to hear 
thy Word, and to obey it. We would make haste, 
and delay not, to keep thy commandments. Thou 
hast a right, Lord ! to our time, our gifts, our 
hearts, our persons ; to all that we are, and all that 
we have : for thou hast created us, and hast re- 
deemed us with the precious blood of thy Son. 

We give thee thanks for the mercies of the night, 
and for all the mercies of our past lives, — for home 
and its blessings ; for friends, and all the ministries 
of love ; for health, knowledge, comfort, and pros- 
perity ; but, above all things, for thy grace in the 



gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we ever be 
ready to acknowledge him the Son of God, the 
Saviour of the world ! May men in the high places 
of power and influence consecrate themselves to 
him ! may the poor and lowly trust in him ! may 
children sing hosannas to the Son of David ! How 
shall we praise thee, God ! for thy love and grace 
to us sinners ? For all thy mercies, we bless and 
magnify thy glorious name ; humbly beseeching 
thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise 
for His sake who died, and rose again, and who 
liveth evermore. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



175 



FRIDAY. 



Luke xiii. — 23. Then said one unto him, Lord, 
are there few that be saved ? And he said unto 
them, 

24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for 
many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and 
shall not be able. 

25. When once the Master of the house is 
risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye 
begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, 
saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us ; and he shall 
answer and say unto you, I know you not whence 
ye are : 

26. Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten 
and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in 
our streets. 

27. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not 
whence ye are : depart from me, all ye workers of 
iniquity. 

28. There shall be weeping, and gnashing of 
teeth, when ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and 
Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, 
and you yourselves thrust out. 

29. And they shall come from the east, and from 



the west, and from the north, and from the south, 
and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 

30. And, behold, there are last which shall be 
first, and there are first which shall be last. 

31. The same day there came certain of the 
Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and de- 
part hence ; for Herod will kill thee. 

32. And he said unto them, Go ye and tell that 
fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to-day 
and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be per- 
fected. 

33. Nevertheless, I must walk to-day and to- 
morrow, and the day following; for it cannot be 
that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 

34. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the 
prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee ! 
how often would I have gathered thy children to- 
gether as a hen doth gather her brood under her 
wings, and ye would not ! 

35. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 
And verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me 
until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is 
he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 



In some of the walled cities of the East, where the main 
gates are closed at sundown, there are small gates in retired 
corners, by which one who knows the way and has the pass- 
word can gain admittance ; but after a certain hour these are 
shut and locked, and there is no more opening, no matter how 
long and loud the knocking. Here, however, the allusion 
seems rather to be to the gate of a palace, or stately mansion, 
where a festival awaits all who are entitled to be guests. They 
who have not availed themselves of the invitation in its proper 
terms and conditions, arriving late, will in vain endeavor to 
gain admission upon other grounds. No amount of mercy 
shown by the Saviour will avail for our salvation, unless that 
mercy is accepted by us for ourselves. We must enter into 
his kingdom by the personal act of faith if we would be saved. 
Privileges of birth, of race, of education, of church connec- 



Appropeiate H.Y51NS,] 



tion, will only aggravate the final loss of those who do not here 
live according to their opportunity. 

Heaven preserves the identity of a personal faith. Abra- 
ham, Isaac, and Jacob are there in their individuality, and 
with all the sacred associations of their lives : and around 
these venerable names, as a nucleus, shall be gathered multi- 
tudes from nations which the Jews despised as outcast ; while 
Israel, which had been first in point of privilege, shall be last 
in point of benefit ; yet this not by an excluding act of sove- 
reignty, but as a result of incorrigible sin. The Saviour's 
compassion overflowed even for the people that sought his 
life. With tenderest love and care he would save them ; but 
they would not. Salvation is of God : perdition comes of im- 
penitence and unbelief. 



Prayer 

O God our Creator, who hast made of one blood 
all nations of men ! we worship thee, the King of 
kings, and Lord of lords. Thou puttest down one, 
and settest up another ; and none can deliver out 
of thy hand. Thou hast set up thine own king- 
dom in this world, — a kingdom which shall never 
be moved ; and willingly, Lord ! would we con- 
secrate our hearts, our time, our talents, to thy 
service. Thou hast left to each the command, 
" Occupy till I come." Thou hast given to each of 
us, in our several places and relations, opportuni- 
ties and means of doing something for thy cause 
on earth ; and thou wilt require an account of our 
stewardship. Lord, put thy good Spirit within us, 
that we may keep thy judgments and do them. 
Create in us clean hearts, and renew right spirits 
within us. We are not our own ; we are bought 
with a price, — even the blood of thy dear Son : 
and we would not live to advance our own interests, 



[Nos. 117, 147, 175. 

or secure our own enjoyment, but to glorify him 
in our bodies and spirits, which are his. De- 
liver us from selfishness, and cause us to know 
the blessedness of submitting our own wills to 
thine. 

Gracious Father, thou hast watched over us 
through another night, and renewed our life and 
health and family comforts. Thankful for the past, 
we would be trustful for the future. Deliver us this 
day from all fretting cares, and from worldliness 
of heart and life. May we study to approve our- 
selves unto thee, and ever watch for the coming of 
the Lord ! Quicken thy Church to vigilance and 
activity. Save our land from the doom of impiety 
and unbelief. We leave ourselves with thee. We 
know not what a day may bring forth ; but do thou 
prepare us for all which thou hast in store for us, 
and for thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



176 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Psalm xcviii. — 1. Oh! sing unto the Lord a new 
song ; for he hath done marvellous things : his 
right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the 
victory. 

2. The Lord hath made known his salvation ; 
his righteousness hath he openly showed in the 
sight of the heathen. 

3. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth 
toward the house of Israel : all the ends of the 
earth have seen the salvation of our God. 

4. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the 
earth ; make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing 
praise. 

5. Sing unto the Lord with the harp ; with the 
harp and the voice of a psalm. 

6. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a 
joyful noise before the Lord, the King. 

7. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the 
world, and they that dwell therein. 

8. Let the floods clap their hands ; let the hills 
be joyful together 

9. Before the Lord ; for he cometh to judge the 
earth : with righteousness shall he judge the world, 
and the people with equity. 

Psalm cxxxii. — 8. Arise, Lord! into thy 
rest ; thou, and the ark of thy strength. 

9. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness ; 
and let thy saints shout for joy. 

13. For the Lord hath chosen Zion ; he hath 
desired it for his habitation. 



The latter psalm has the ring of a triumphal march. It 
was sung by responsive choirs at a grand national festival. 
David, proclaimed by acclamation king at Hebron, had driven 
out the Jehusites from the stronghold of Zion ; had taken pos- 
session of the fort, and built his capital around it. He was 
now about to bring into the city the ark of God, which, as the 
symbol of the divine presence, had been the source of his 
strength, and had given him the victory. All the earth was 
the Lord's ; all its people were under his control. Jehovah 
had set him up as king upon this hill, and he would now con- 
secrate it to his abode. David, regarding himself as only an 
agent and representative of the divine government, would have 



14. This is my rest forever : here will I dwell ; 
for I have desired it. 

15. I will abundantly bless her provision; I 
will satisfy her poor with bread. 

16. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, 
and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 

Psalm xxiv. — 1. The earth is the Lord's, and 
the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell 
therein. 

2. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and es- 
tablished it upon the floods. 

3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? 
or who shall stand in his holy place? 

4. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart ; 
who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor 
sworn deceitfully. 

5. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, 
and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 

6. This is the generation of them that seek him, 
that seek thy face, Jacob ! 

7. Lift up your heads, ye gates ! and be ye lift 
up, ye everlasting doors ; and the King of glory 
shall come in. 

8. Who is this King of glory? the Lord strong 
and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 

9. Lift up your heads, ye gates ! even lift 
them up, ye everlasting doors ; and the King of 
glory shall come in. 

10. Who is this King of glory? the Lord of 
hosts, he is the King of glory. 



the true King, the King of glory, enthroned and honored in 
Zion. But the gates of the city are altogether too low and 
mean for the entry of such a guest. They must lift up their 
heads. The ancient doors, which had sufficed for so many 
chiefs and princes, must be made broader and loftier to receive 
this mighty King. And his retinue should consist, not of 
princes and warriors, dividing, as it were, the honors of victory, 
but of true, humble, upright, noble souls, who bring to him 
the service of clean hands and pure hearts ; who seek his face 
as their chief good, and make his glory their chief joy. So 
let our hearts enthrone the Lord over all that is given us, 
and over all the world. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 80, 88, 93, 104. 



Thine, Lord ! is the greatness, and the power, 
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; 
for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is 
thine : thine is the kingdom, Lord ! and thou art 
exalted as Head over all. We bless thee that thou 
hast given unto thy Son the kingdom in this 
world, and hast promised that the gates of hell 
shall not prevail against his Church ; and we be- 
seech thee hasten the day when Zion shall be a 
joy and praise in all the earth. Make thy Word a 
comfort and a joy unto all believers, and the power 
of God unto salvation to the world that lieth in 
wickedness. 

Lord Jesus ! rule thou in our hearts : enter 



in, thou King of glory ! By thy redeeming grace 
take away our sins ; by thy sanctifying presence 
fill our souls with thy peace. May we do all 
things to thy glory, and show forth thy praise 
in our lives ! We humbly thank thee, Lord ! 
for the blessings of the past night; for thy 
daily benefits to us, and to all dear to us. Bless 
this household, this day and always, with thy grace. 
May we know the joy of a full consecration unto 
Hint who hath redeemed us to God with his 
precious blood ! and, having served him in his 
kingdom here, may we come to be partakers of 
his glory in the kingdom of his Father, for Christ's 
sake ! Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



177 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Isaiah xl. — 18. To whom, then, will ye liken 
God ? or what likeness will ye compare unto him ? 

19. The workman melteth a graven image, and 
the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and 
casteth silver chains. 

20. He that is so impoverished that he hath no 
oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot : he seek- 
eth unto him a cunning workman to prepare a 
graven image that shall not be moved. 

21. Have ye not known ? have ye not heard ? 
hath it not been told you from the beginning ? have 
ye not understood from the foundations of the earth ? 

22. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the 
earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshop- 
pers ; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, 
and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in ; 

23. That bringeth the princes to nothing; he 
maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. 

24. Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they 
shall not be sown ; yea, their stock shall not take 
root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon 
them, and they shall wither ; and the whirlwind 
shall take them away as stubble. 



25. To whom, then, will ye liken me, or shall I 
be equal ? saith the Holy One. 

26. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who 
hath created these things, that bringeth out their 
host by number : he calleth them all by names, by 
the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in 
power ; not one faileth. 

27. Why sayest thou, Jacob ! and speakest, 
Israel ! My way is hid from the Lord, and my judg- 
ment is passed over from my God ? 

28. Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, 
that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of 
the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is 
weary ? there is no searching of his understand- 
ing. 

29. He giveth power to the faint; and to them 
that have no might he increaseth strength. 

30. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, 
and the young men shall utterly fall : 

31. But they that wait upon the Lord shall re- 
new their strength ; they shall mount up with 
wings as eagles ; they shall run, and not be weary; 
and they shall walk, and not faint. 



The true use of Nature is to teach us to observe God in 
his works, and so to help our faith in the higher sphere of 
spiritual religion. But men pervert Nature, on the one hand, 
to the displacement of God, by substituting its forces for his 
power, its laws for his Spirit ; and on the other, to the degrad- 
ing and caricaturing of the Divinity through material objects 
of worship. The prophet, having exhibited, even to the verge 
of ridicule, the folly and worthlessness of idolatry, and the 
emptiness and vanity of worldly rank and power, would have 
us regard the earth in the firmness of its foundations and the 
breadth of its circuit, the heavens in their wide-spread glory, 
the stars in their ordered beauty and majesty, as evidences of 
the inapproachable unity, power, and dominion of God. But 
this everlasting Creator and Lord, whose nature no image 



could represent, whose understanding no philosophy could 
measure, will reveal himself to the consciousness of those who 
humbly wait upon his pleasure, and will communicate to 
them of his wisdom and strength. The highest power of man 
exhausts itself by its own exertion ; the freshest vigor, after a 
little, grows weary and faint, and must be renewed by rest. 
But the strength that the Lord imparts to the trusting soul 
never exhausts itself, nor tires him who exerts it. It is per- 
petually self-renewing. And he who by faith so uses this di- 
vine power as to overcome the downward tendency of sense 
and sin will gain such freedom and vigor, that, as the eagle 
mounts to the sun, he will rise to the Source of all light and 
love. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 140, 172, 192. 



Most gracious God, who hast in thy good provi- 
dence again permitted us to see the light of thy 
holy sabbath, do thou draw near to us in thy great 
mercy. Thou hast dispersed the darkness of an- 
other night. May the Sun of righteousness arise 
upon us, with healing in his wings ! May our fel- 
lowship this day be with the Father and with his 
Son Jesus Christ ! May all sinful and unworthy 
thoughts be repressed! May the world be ex- 
cluded, that we may be alone with God ! 

We pray for those who dishonor thy sabbaths 
and profane thy holy name ; who reject the offers of 
thy grace, and continue in alienation and sin. Do 
thou turn them from their wickedness, and bring 
them to Jesus, the one and only Saviour. 

Thou God of consolation, draw near to the af- 
flicted. Sanctify unto all men the dealings of 
thy providence ; and by thy Holy Spirit convince 
them of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to 



come. Bless all related to us in the bonds of 
earthly affection. Thou who leadest Joseph like 
a flock, may they be safe under thy guidance, and 
repose in thy love ! Bless this day the lambs of 
the flock. As in the family, the Sunday school, 
the house of prayer, they shall hear of Jesus 
and his love, oh, may their hearts be drawn to 
him ! Through his atoning sacrifice may our sins 
be forgiven, and our hearts prepared for thy ser- 
vice ! 

May thy mercy, Lord ! be upon us according 
as we hope in thee ; and, when our sabbaths on 
earth are ended, may ours, at last, be an unending 
sabbath in thy presence and favor! And all that 
we ask is in the name and for the sake of Him 
whom thou hearest always ; to whom, with thee, 
the Father, and thee, Eternal Spirit ! one God, 
be ascribed all blessing and honor and glory and 
praise, world without end. Amen. 



178 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Hebrews vi. — 1. Therefore, leaving the prin- 
ciples of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto 
perfection ; not laying again the foundation of re- 
pentance from dead works, and of faith toward 
God, 

2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying-on 
of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of 
eternal judgment. 

3. And this will we do, if God permit. 

4. For it is impossible for those who were 
once enlightened, and have tasted of the heav- 
enly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy 
Ghost, 

5. And have tasted the good word of God, and 
the powers of the world to come, 

6. If they shall fall away, to renew them again 
unto repentance ; seeing they crucify to themselves 
the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open 
shame. 

7. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that 
cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet 
for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing 
from God : 

8. But that which beareth thorns and briers is 
rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is 
to be burned. 

9. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things 
of you, and things that accompany salvation, 
though we thus speak. 

10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your 
work and labor of love which ye have showed 



toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the 
saints, and do minister. 

11. And we desire that every one of you do 
show the same diligence to the full assurance of 
hope unto the end ; 

12. That ye be not slothful, but followers of 
them who through faith and patience inherit the 
promises. 

13. For when God made promise to Abraham, 
because he could swear by no greater, he sware by 
himself, 

14. Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and 
multiplying I will multiply thee. 

15. And so, after he had patiently endured, he 
obtained the promise. 

16. For men verily swear by the greater ; and 
an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all 
strife. 

17. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to 
show unto the heirs of promise the immutability 
of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath : 

18. That by two immutable things, in which it 
was impossible for God to lie, we might have 
a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay 
hold upon the hope set before us ; 

19. Which hope we have as an anchor of the 
soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth 
into that within the veil ; 

20. Whither the forerunner is for us entered, 
even Jesus, made a high priest forever after the 
order of Melchizedek. 



In a financial panic, a man hurried to a bank that was ru- 
mored to have stopped payment, and demanded his deposits : 
but, when the money was promptly set before him on the 
counter, he declined to take it, saying that " he did not want 
the money if he could get it ; he only wanted confidence." The 
bank of faith is one of unlimited confidence. Its securities 
are the covenant and the oath of God. Whatever may betide 



us, these are our strong consolation ; and the hope that holds 
by these is " an anchor sure and steadfast." With such assur- 
ance on the part of God, how high should we rise in faith, 
how strong should we be in hope, how steadfast in devo- 
tion ! To fall away from such promises, such helps, such 
grace, is to forfeit salvation ; is to deserve rejection, and to 
invite it. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 177, 179. 



Holy Father, in this closing hour of thy day, we 
bow at thy throne with thankful and loving hearts. 
As a family, we would gather up the memorials of 
thy faithfulness, and sing of thy mercy. Thou 
hast kept our feet from falling, our eyes from tears, 
and our souls from death. The shield of thy favor 
and power has been over us ; and we meet, a circle 
unbroken, to present our evening sacrifice. Oh ! 
take us all into union with thyself; grant us the 
fellowship of thy Spirit ; quicken our souls into a 
more divine and glorious life ; and perfect in us all 
thy blessed will. 

What shall we render unto thee for all thy mer- 
cies ? [Oh, may these children know thee, love 
thee, praise thee, serve thee !] 

We commit ourselves to thee through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. We depend on his sacrifice and media- 



tion. To his cross we cling. In his finished work 
we confide. In his resurrection we rejoice. AVe tri- 
umph in his universal reign. We believe in his sec- 
ond coming ; and we look for his mercy unto life 
eternal. 

Thou ever-living God, who dost neither slumber 
nor sleep, take charge of our bodies and souls dur- 
ing the hours of night. Keep us and the place of 
our dwelling from all harm. Let our sleep be un- 
disturbed ; let our rest minister to our refreshment 
and strength ; let the morrow be to us even better 
and brighter and happier than to-day; and may 
we drink at the fountain of joy forever! 

And unto Him who is able to keep us from fall- 
ing, and to present us faultless before the presence 
of his glory with exceeding joy, — to the only wise 
God, our Saviour, be glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



179 



MONDAY. 



Luke IV. — 16. And he came to Nazareth, where 
he had been brought up ; and, as his custom was, he 
went into the synagogue on the sabbath -day, and 
stood up for to read. 

17. And there was delivered unto him the book 
of the prophet Esaias. And, when he had opened 
the book, he found the place where it was written, 

18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because 
he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the 
poor ; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, 
to preach deliverance to the captives, and recover- 
ing of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them 
that are bruised, 

19. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 

20. And he closed the book, and he gave it again 
to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of 
all them that were in the synagogue were fastened 
on him. 

21. And he began to say unto them, This day is 
this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 

22. And all bare him witness, and wondered at 
the gracious words which proceeded out of his 
mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's 
son? 

23. And he said unto them, Ye will surely say 
unto me this proverb : Physician, heal thyself : 



In the synagogue, it was customary for the director of pub- 
lic worship " to call upon persons of any learning or note to 
read and explain " the Scripture-lesson for the day. Jesus 
had already begun to take part in this service, though now for 
the first time at Nazareth. His townsmen listened to him at 
first with curiosity ; but as thev heard the meaning he put 
upon the text, and felt it coming home with a strange and 
gracious power to their own case, curiosity gave place to won- 
der and admiration that such precious words should come 
from the lips of the carpenter's son. Wondrous words they 
seemed to a conquered and degraded people, sighing for deliver- 
ance, hoping for their Messiah, — blessings for the- poor, sym- 
pathy for the sorrowing, succor for the oppressed, sight to the 
blind, relief and healing for the wretched. 

But, though such benefits would flow from his ministry, 



whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do 
also here in thy country. 

24. And he said, Verily, I say unto you, No 
prophet is accepted in his own country. 

25. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were 
in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven 
was shut up three years and six months, when 
great famine was throughout all the land ; 

26. But unto none of them was Elias sent, save 
unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that 
was a widow. 

27. And many lepers were in Israel in the time 
of Eliseus the prophet ; and none of them was 
cleansed, saving Naainan the Syrian. 

28. And all they in the synagogue, when they 
heard these things, were filled with wrath, 

29. And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, 
and led him unto the brow of the hill (whereon 
their city was built) that they might cast him 
down headlong. 

30. But he, passing through the midst of them, 
went his way, 

31. And came down to Capernaum, a city of 
Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath-days. 

32. And they were astonished at his doctrine ; 
for his word was with power. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Jesus did not rest in the outward and the temporal for its 
fruits. His miracles of healing were but signs of the spiritual 
healing he would impart to humble souls : they served for the 
introduction of his gospel, but were not the gospel itself. And 
so he refused to gratify the carnal desire of the Jews for the 
marvellous, and addressed himself to their consciences with 
words of searching condemnation. His fan was in his hand ; 
and he would thoroughly sift and winnow them. But they 
would not stand the test. So fickle is human nature, that 
they who just now admired, almost worshipped, were filled 
with rage, and dragged him along the slope of the hill on 
which the city stood, toward a steep precipice at a distance, 
that they might hurl him down. Ah ! let us take heed lest 
we reject the grace of Christ, and prove ourselves his enemies, 
so narrow often is the line between salvation and perdition. 



[Nos. 156, 175, 190. 



O Lord our Lord ! how excellent is thy name in 
all the earth ! who hast set tby glory above the 
heavens. Day unto day uttereth speech ; night 
unto night showeth knowledge of thee. We lift 
up our hearts in adoration for thy majest3 r and 
glory, in thanksgiving for thy goodness and grace. 
When we consider thy heavens, the work of thy 
fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast 
ordained, Lord, what is man that thou art mindful 
of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him ? 
Yet thou hast had compassion upon us in our low 
estate, and hast sent thy Son to redeem us from 
our iniquities. 

Lord ! for Christ's sake, lift upon us the light of 
thy countenance, and grant us thy peace. As thou 
hast brought us safely through the night, so may 



Prayer. 

it please thee to guide and keep us this day ; de- 
fending us from evil, and prospering us in that 
which is good. Preserve us from all evil passions 
that would resist thy grace. May we receive thy 
Word into willing and honest minds, and gladly 
learn and do thy will ! We pray for a like benedic- 
tion upon our kindred, friends, and neighbors ; upon 
the Church of Christ, and all who labor for the good 
of men. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly 
goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or 
distressed in mind, body, or estate ; that it may 
please thee to comfort and relieve them according 
to their several necessities, giving them patience 
under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of 
all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus 
Christ's sake. Amen. 



180 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Mark i. — 21. And they went into Capernaum ; 
and straightway on the sabbath-day he entered 
into the synagogue, and taught. 

22. And they were astonished at his doctrine ; 
for he taught them as one that had authority, and 
not as the scribes. 

23. And there was in their synagogue a man 
with an unclean spirit ; and he cried out, 

24. Saying, Let us alone : what have we to do 
with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth ? Art thou 
come to destroy us ? I know thee who thou art, 
the Holy One of God. 

25. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy 
peace, and come out of bim. 

26. And when the unclean spirit had torn 
him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of 
him. 

27. And they were all amazed, insomuch that 
they questioned among themselves, saying, What 
thing is this ? what new doctrine is this ? for with 



authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, 
and they do obey him. 

28. And immediately his fame spread abroad 
throughout all the region round about Galilee. 

29. And forthwith, when they were come out of 
the synagogue, they entered into the house of 
Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 

30. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a 
fever ; and anon they tell him of her. 

31. And he came and took her by the hand, and 
lifted her up ; and immediately the fever left her, 
and she ministered unto them. 

32. And at even, when the sun did set, they 
brought unto him all that were diseased, and them 
that were possessed with devils. 

33. And all the city was gathered together at 
the door. 

34. And he healed many that were sick of divers 
diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered 
not the devils to speak, because they knew him. 



Certain maladies are in the New Testament so uniformly 
imputed to evil spirits, that we cannot doubt there was, at the 
time of Christ, a remarkable activity of demoniacal influence 
upon the bodies of men. Many were " possessed with devils ; " 
and this disorder is distinguished from common forms of dis- 
ease, as the direct action of evil spirits. Jesus had knowledge 
concerning these spirits, and power over them : they feared his 
presence, and obeyed his word. The spirits knew him, and 
often bore witness to his character ; but " Jesus rejected and 
forbade all testimony to his person, except that which he came 
on earth to give. The devils knew him, but were silenced." 

No doubt, the notion of the influence of evil spirits upon 
the minds and bodies of men was greatly exaggerated among 
the Jews, who were much given to superstitious beliefs. But, 
had this been a mere superstition, our Lord would not have 
countenanced it, nor have appealed to his power to cast out 
devils as proof of his divinity. The Bible never deals in the 



mysterious and the marvellous for their own sake, but only 
uses the supernatural for the sake of attesting spiritual truth, 
or of conferring some gracious benefit. 

It is worth noticing, that Peter had a wife : hence the celibacy 
of the clergy finds no warrant in his example. Those who 
call themselves his successors would be more apostolic if they 
should imitate him in this. Paul, on the other hand, re- 
mained single from choice. But though, in view of his jour- 
neyings and exposures, it was better for him to be free from 
family ties, he maintained his right to marry, and recom- 
mended that a bishop should set an example of domestic love 
and virtue as a husband and father. 

The Gospels give us but a small part of the miracles of our 
Lord. We often read of multitudes who were healed by his 
power. Yet Capernaum, which beheld so large a proportion 
of these mighty works, was condemned for its unbelief. Blessed 
are they who have not seen, and yet have believed ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Ncs. 36, 119. 



Almighty God, Father and Redeemer of our 
spirits, we bless thee that we may come again to 
thy mercy-seat to offer thanksgivings to thy name, 
to confess our sins, and to ask those things which 
thou seest to be needful for soul and body. Oh ! 
grant to us the best of blessings, — a heart to love 
and serve thee, and diligently to walk after thy 
commandments. [May the children of this house- 
hold remember thee their Creator in the days of 
their youth, and early walk in the peaceful way of 
holiness !] 

Help us ever to keep before us the example of our 
blessed Lord. In our family relations, may we 
manifest the spirit that was in him ! May we 
take his yoke upon us, and learn of him, who was 
meek, and lowly of heart ; and so find rest unto 
our souls ! We would remember the sick, the sor- 
rowful, and the dying. Though thou dost not now 
heal by miracle, yet grant them the supplies of 
thy grace according to their need, and make thy 
strength perfect in their weakness. 



Bless thine own cause throughout the world. 
Hasten the happy day when all men 'shall know 
thee, from the least unto the greatest. Let the 
idols of the heathen be utterly abolished. Take 
away the veil from the face of thine ancient people. 
Let the power of Satan be destroyed by the breath 
of the Lord's mouth, and the brightness of his 
coming. Let the rod of the oppressor be broken ; 
and may thy providence fulfil what thy gospel hath 
anounced, — liberty to the captives, and the open- 
ing of the prison to them that are bound ! Es- 
pecially do we pray thee to deliver those who are 
in bondage to the powers of darkness and evil. O 
thou almighty Saviour ! loose all bonds of iniquity, 
and set free the captives of the god of this world. 

Our Father in heaven, give us our daily bread; 
prosper us so far as is agreeable to thy holy will ; 
prepare us for this day's trials ; and help us to say, 
" Thy will be done." We present these our prayers 
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



181 



WEDNESDAY. 



Jeremiah xxxiii. — 7. I will cause the captivity 
of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, 
and will build them, as at the first. 

8. And I will cleanse them from all their in- 
iquity whereby they have sinned against me ; and 
I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they 
have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed 
against me. 

9. And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise, 
and an honor, before all the nations of the earth, 
which shall hear all the good that I do unto them ; 
and they shall fear and tremble for all the good- 
ness and. for all the prosperity that I procure unto 
it. 

10. Thus saith the Lord : Again there shall be 
heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate 
without man and without beast, even in the cities 
of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are 
desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and 
without beast, 

11. The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness ; 
the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the 
bride ; the voice of them that shall say, Praise the 
Lord of hosts : for the Lord is good ; for his mercy 
endureth forever. 

Mark i. — 35. And in the morning, rising up a 
great while before day, he went out, and departed 
into a solitary place, and there prayed. 



Can any one doubt the complete humanity of Christ who 
reads how habitually he resorted to prayer for his own strength 
and consolation in his work, and for the delight he had in 
communing with the Father ? No more than one can doubt his 
complete divinity who reads how he cleansed lepers and cast 
out devils. This absolute power over incurable diseases and 
malignant spirits — a power put forth by his bare will and 
word — was his prerogative as the " Son of God." 

The blending of the human and the divine, though it cannot 
be explained by our philosophy, appears most natural in Christ ; 
is harmonious throughout ; and it causes us to realize the 
nearness and the love of God through the interplay of the two 
natures in the same person. The mere acting of the Divine 
Spirit through a human form, without a personal human 
spirit, could not have brought God so nigh to us. 



36. And Simon, and they that were with him, 
followed after him. 

37. And, when they had found him, they said 
unto him, All men seek for thee. 

38. And he said unto them, Let us go into the 
next towns, that I may preach there also ; for there- 
fore came I forth. 

39. And he preached in their synagogues 
throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. 

40. And there came a leper to him, beseeching 
him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto 
him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 

41. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put 
forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto 
him, I will : be thou clean. 

42. And, as soon as he had spoken, immediately 
the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 

43. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith 
sent him away ; 

44. And saith unto him, See thou say nothing 
to any man ; but go thy way, show thyself to the 
priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which 
Moses commanded for a testimony unto them. 

45. But he went out, and began to publish it 
much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch 
that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, 
but was without in desert places; and they came 
to him from every quarter. 



The mercy of Jesus always responded to the cry of faith. 
The most wretched and forsaken creatures kindled in him only 
the feeling of compassion. He could touch the leper without 
contamination, for his touch was healing ; and, since he was 
tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, he can 
lay his touch upon our sinful hearts, and make them clean and 
whole. 

Though Jesus knew that his gospel would supersede the 
ritual of Moses, he made no violent innovations upon the es- 
tablished worship ; but, avoiding the popularity his miracles 
might have won for him as a reformer, he required the leper to 
conform to the law, in order thus to turn his thoughts to the re- 
ligious aspect of his healing, and awaken gratitude toward 
God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 2, 44, 50. 



Bless the Lord, our souls ! who forgiveth all 
our iniquities, and healeth all our diseases. 
Lord, our heavenly Father ! who hast safely 
brought us to the beginning of this day, defend 
us in the same with thy mighty power, through 
our merciful and faithful High Priest, Jesus Christ 
our Lord. In his name, who in the days of his 
flesh prayed for us, and who hath taught us to 
pray, do we draw nigh unto thee, adoring thee for 
thine infinite majesty; giving thanks unto thee 
for thy great goodness ; acknowledging thy mercy 
in the gospel ; confessing our sins, and supplicat- 
ing thy favor in all things which thou seest to be 
necessary as well for the body as the soul. "We 



beseech thee, Lord, make this family thy care ; and 
grant us grace to walk before thee as obedient chil- 
dren. While in the world, may we not be of the 
world, but shine as lights, holding forth the Word of 
life. Sanctify our tastes, our affections, our desires, 
to the intent that we may bring every thought into 
captivity unto the obedience of Christ. 

We commend unto thy gracious care all who are 
dear to us by ties of kindred and affection. We 
pray thee to satisfy the poor with bread, to heal 
the sick, to comfort the dying, to deliver the op- 
pressed, to establish peace and righteousness, and 
fill the earth with thy glory, through Jesus Christ 
our Saviour, Amen. 



182 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Psalm xxxii. — 1. Blessed is he whose trans- 
gression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 

2. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord im- 
puteth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is 



lo guile. 



3. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old 
through my roaring all the day long. 

4. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon 
me : my moisture is turned into the drought of 
summer. 

5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine 
iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my 
transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest 
the iniquity of my sin. 

7. Thou art my hiding-place : thou shalt pre- 
serve me from trouble ; thou shalt compass me 
about with songs of deliverance. 

Mark ii. — 1. And again he entered into Caper- 
naum after some days ; and it was noised that he 
was in the house. 

2. And straightway many were gathered to- 
gether, insomuch that there was no room to receive 
them ; no, not so much as about the door: and he 
preached the word unto them. 

3. And they come unto him, bringing one sick 
of the palsy, which was borne of four. 



4. And, when they could not come nigh unto 
him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he 
was ; and, when they had broken it up, they let 
down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 

5. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto 
the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 

6. But there were certain of the scribes sitting 
there, and reasoning in their hearts, 

7. Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies ? 
Who can forgive sins but God only ? 

8. And immediately, when Jesus perceived in 
his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, 
he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in 
your hearts ? 

9. Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the 
palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee ; or to say, Arise, 
and take up thy bed, and walk ? 

10. But that ye may know that the Son of man 
hath power on earth to forgive sins (lie saith to 
the sick of the palsy), 

11. I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, 
and go thy way into thine house. 

12. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, 
and went forth before them all ; insomuch that 
they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, 
We never saw it on this fashion. 



The form of house then common in the villages of Pales- 
tine was a low, square building-, one-story high, with a yard 
or court in the interior, over which was a flat covering, or roof, 
made either of boards or of course matting, that could be 
easily removed. This roof was commonly reached by a stair- 
way from the court. Jesus probably stood in the court ; and 
the throng of people would not allow of access to him on the 
ground-floor. The paralytic was stretched on a thick quilt, 
which was the common style of bed : a section of the roof was 
lifted off, and he was let down directly in front of Jesus ; the 
crowd, of course, giving way before such a spectacle. " The 
whole affair was the extemporaneous device of plain peasants, 
accustomed to open their roofs, and let down grain, straw, 
and other articles, as they still do in that country." Such 



faith as this Jesus would honor by his miraculous healing. 
But first he would make a deeper use of the incident, es- 
pecially as he was surrounded by cavillers. Ever placing the 
spiritual above the temporal, and making the miracle tribu- 
tary to grace, he first pronounced over the sick man the for- 
giveness of sins. The bystanders, justly regarding this as the 
prerogative of God only, accused him of blasphemy. In face 
of this charge, he accepted their interpretation of his words ; 
and, to prove that he had this divine right, he restored the para- 
lytic by a word. But would God work a miracle to confirm a 
blasphemous usurpation of his prerogative ? Assuredly Jesus 
was divine ! Then let it be our joy that we can go to him for 
what he himself declared his greatest blessing, — the forgiveness 
of sin. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 1, 97, 177. 



We thank thee, heavenly Father, for the good- 
ness and mercy that have followed us all the days 
of our life. Thou hast watched over our going-out 
and our coming-in. We have been delivered from 
many dangers, seen and unseen. Thou bast been 
our refuge from evil, and our strength in trouble. 
Continue to bless us, O Father ! Let all things 
work together for our good. Give us thankful and 
submissive hearts, that we may recognize all our 
mercies as thy gifts, and may bow to thy holy will 
when thou dost see fit to send sorrow upon us. 

We bring thee thanks this morning for thy favor 
in the past night : thou hast refreshed us with sleep, 
hast kept us from harm, hast brought us with new 
vigor to the light of this day. We beseech thee, 
guide us in all our duties, prosper the work of our 
minds and of our hands, and grant us in all things 



the joy of thine approval. [May these children be 
diligent in their duties, and gentle and loving in 
their conduct !] We commend our friends to thy 
care. 

Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, who 
dost comfort thy children in all their tribulation, 
we humbly beseech thee of thy goodness to succor 
and sustain all those who are in trouble, sorrow, 
need, sickness, or any other adversity; granting 
them strong consolation and good hope, and the 
abiding grace of thy Spirit. We beseech thee to 
hear us for the poor, the destitute, and the tempted, 
that thou wouldst succor and comfort them. 

Our prayers are before thee ; our hope is in thy 
mercy. May we as a family, with all whom we 
love, dwell forever in the light of thy presence, 
through Jesus Christ our only Saviour ! Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



183 



FRIDAY. 



Mark ii. — 13. And he went forth again by the 
sea-side ; and all the multitude resorted unto him, 
and he taught them. 

14. And, as he passed by, he saw Levi, the son 
of Alpheus, sitting at the receipt of custom, and 
said unto him, Follow me ; and he arose, and fol- 
lowed him. 

15. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at 
meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat 
also together with Jesus and his disciples ; for 
there were many, and they followed him. 

16. And, when the scribes and Pharisees saw 
him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto 
his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh 
with publicans and sinners ? 

17. When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, 
They that are whole have no need of the physi- 
cian, but they that are sick : I came, not to call the 
righteous, but sinners to repentance. 



18. And the disciples of John and of the Phari- 
sees used to fast; and they come and say unto 
him, Why do the disciples of John and of the 
Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not ? 

19. And Jesus said unto them, Can the children 
of the bride-chamber fast while the bridegroom is 
with them ? As long as they have the bridegroom 
with them, they cannot fast. 

20. But the days will come when the bride- 
groom shall be taken away from them, and then 
shall they fast in those days. 

21. No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on 
an old garment ; else the new piece that filled it 
up taketh away from the old, and the rent is 
made worse. 

22. And no man putteth new wine into old 
bottles ; else the new wine doth burst the bottles, 
and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be 
marred : but new wine must be put into new bottles. 



Unlike most of the disciples who made up the family of 
Jesus, and who were plain fishermen, Matthew was a man of 
business, and of sufficient means to own a house and pro- 
vide a feast. But he forsook every thing for Christ. His of- 
fice as tax-gatherer of the Roman government rendered him 
odious to the Jews, and the Pharisees carped at Jesus for asso- 
ciating with publicans and sinners. The answer of Christ did 
not concede that the Pharisees were truly "righteous:" it 
showed that their assumption of righteousness would render his 
mission to them unavailing ; whereas those whom they classed 
as sinners might be ready to accept his grace. That grace is 
always ready for the humble, penitent soul. 

The Pharisees prided themselves upon a righteousness that 
kept fast-days and other outward observances with great strict- 
ness ; and the disciples of John followed the ascetic habits of 



their master. But the religion of Christ, springing from love, 
was of a more free and cheerful tone. He would not patch it 
upon the thread-bare formalism of the Pharisees ; he would 
not attempt to infuse its active spiritual life into the dull, 
worn routine of ceremonies : it would burst such a system 
as the fermentation of new wine bursts the leathern sacks 
worn thin by use. As the late Dean of Canterbury well 
interprets the proverb, " Old things, old types, old ceremonies, 
old burdens, sacrifices, priests, sabbaths, and holy-days, all 
are passed away : behold, all things are become new." Calmly 
forecasting his own departure, our Lord inspired his disciples 
with courage and hope. The thought of Christ as our present 
Saviour should dispel from our religion all tinge of asceticism 
or gloom. The world needs the example of a cheerful piety to 
win it to the Church : the joy of the Lord is our strength. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 50, 89, 165. 



Most merciful God, by whose command the sun 
has arisen, and our eyes have been opened to be- 
hold its light, let the Sun of righteousness now 
rise upon our souls with healing in his wings. 
Thou hast raised us from our beds in bodily health : 
oh ! raise us from spiritual slumber to a life of holy 
watchfulness and earnest activity. Using thy 
daily mercies with thankfulness and moderation, 
let our chief desire and concern be, that all the 
experiences of life — our sorrows and our joys, our 
hopes and our fears — may make us cheerful in thy 
service, and meet for thy heavenly kingdom. 

We thank thee for the rest of the past 
night. Prepare us for the duties and events of 
this day ; help us to receive its mercies gratefully ; 
sanctify to us all its privileges ; and enable us to 
bear its trials with meekness and resignation, that, 
when all its hours are numbered, we may feel that 
the Lord hath been with us of a truth. 

We beseech thee to make us faithful in all the 
relations of life. Give us the wisdom that cometh 
from above, — that wisdom which is pure and 
peaceable, full of mercy and of good fruits. [May 



the children of this family grow up before thee in 
gentleness, in purity, in loving obedience and de- 
votion !] Have compassion on all those who are in 
trouble or adversity, and support them with the 
consolations of thy Word and Spirit. Have mercy 
on the multitudes who know thee not ; reclaim 
them from their errors, and gather them into the 
fold of the Good Shepherd. Guide into the way 
of truth all such as have erred ; establish and con- 
firm the doubting ; bring the perplexed and be- 
wildered into a plain path ; and be a very present 
help to all thy people. Bless the missionary work 
in our own and other lands; strengthen the la- 
borers amid all their discouragements ; and crown 
their labors with abundant success, that the whole 
earth may be filled with thy glory. 

We commend unto thee our dear friends. May 
they all be numbered with thy saints ! Grant to 
them all needful temporal good ; but, above all, 
give them the abounding joy of thy love in Christ. 
Now, Lord, bless our waiting souls, lift up upon us 
the light of thy countenance, and give us peace, 
for our Redeemer's sake. Amen. 



184 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Ephesians i. — 1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus 
Christ by the will of God, to the saints which 
are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ 
Jesus : 

2. Grace be to you, and peace, from God our 
Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with 
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in 
Christ ; 

4. According as he hath chosen us in him before 
the foundation of the world, that we should be 
holy and without blame before him in love ; 

5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of 
children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to 
the good pleasure of his will, 

6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, 
wherein he hath made us accepted in the Be- 
loved : 

7. In whom we have redemption through his 
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the 
riches of his grace ; 



The history of redemption, as unfolded in the Scriptures, is 
the crowning example of the unity of plan under varieties of 
form, and the unity of development through progressive 
changes. In these respects, the Bible is in wonderful accord 
with science. The recovery of man was announced on the 
day of his apostasy; though, by the very terms of that an- 
nouncement, this recovery would involve a long conflict be- 
tween the seed of the woman and the serpent. But the 
method of that recovery was a mystery, obscurely hinted at 
by prophets who knew not what the Spirit that was in them 
did testify ; more and more pronounced through symbols and 
the later prophecies ; at length, in the fulness of times, un- 
veiled in the incarnation of Christ ; but still a mystery of the 



8. Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all 
wisdom and prudence ; 

9. Having made known unto us the mystery of 
his will, according to his good pleasure, which he 
hath purposed in himself; 

10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of 
times he might gather together in one all things 
in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are 
on earth ; even in him : 

11. In whom also we have obtained an inherit- 
ance, being predestinated according to the pur- 
pose of him who worketh all things after the coun- 
sel of his own will ; 

12. That we should be to the praise of his glory, 
who first trusted in Christ. 

13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard 
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation ; 
in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed 
with that Holy Spirit of promise, 

14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance 
until the redemption of the purchased possession, 
unto the praise of his glory. 



divine love for the ever-unfolding glories of eternity. And all 
this wondrous plan is referred back to the purpose of God be- 
fore the foundation of the world, — ever the same plan in the 
religion which the Bible reveals; ever the same purpose in 
Divine Providence, unfolding and fulfilling this plan ; ever the 
same development in history, as this great purpose of re- 
demption moves onward through the ages towards its con- 
summation in the final accord of the physical and the moral 
universe, through the triumph of God over evil, of salvation 
over sin. Surely we who have part in such a redemption, 
and whose inheritance in this glory is sealed by the Holy 
Spirit of promise, should be holy and without blame before 
Him who hath blessed us with these infinite riches of Ins grace. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 50, 142. 



Lord, our heavenly Father ! we have nothing 
to bring to thee but our wants, and such poor re- 
turn of love and gratitude and praise as these 
hearts can render for thy goodness. As thou dost 
cause our lives to overflow with thy mercies, so do 
thou fill our hearts to overflowing with thy Spirit, 
that we may thank thee and praise thee as we 
ought. The morning calls us again to praise thee 
for thy loving-kindness in the night-season ; and 
every day renews the tokens of thy bounty. Every 
good gift cometh down from thee, the Father of 
lights ; and though we are so changeful in our love, 
so inconstant in our service, with thee there is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind us 
to thyself, our Father ! by the mighty attraction 
of thy love. May the love of Christ constrain us 
to live ever unto thee ! 

We pray thee keep us this day from temptations, 
evil, and sin. Prosper us in our lawful undertak- 
ings. May we be upright in our dealings, true and 



kind in our speech, gentle and patient in our 
spirit, pure and holy in our walk ! May we do 
good to all as we shall have opportunity, and so ex- 
hibit in our lives the graces of the gospel, that Ave 
shall win others to the love of Christ ! And we 
pray that multitudes may be won to the Saviour; 
that thy Church may increase ; that missions may 
prosper ; that thy Word may be given to all peo- 
ple, and the knowledge of the Lord may fill the 
earth as the waters fill the sea. Have compassion, 
C Lord ! upon the poor, the outcast, the oppressed ; 
upon the sick, the sorrowing, and the dying. May 
thy good providence supply the wants of the needy ! 
may thy good Spirit comfort the hearts of all who 
are in trouble ! We thank thee for our home, and 
pray thee to bless us with all things that we need 
as a family. Bless the absent who are dear to us ; 
and bring them, together with us, we beseech thee, 
unto thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



185 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Ephesians i. — 15. Wherefore I also, after I 
heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love 
unto all the saints, 

16. Cease not to give thanks for you, making 
mention of you in my prayers ; 

17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 
Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of 
wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him : 

18. The eyes of your understanding being en- 
lightened ; that ye may know what is the hope of 
his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his 
inheritance in the saints, 

19.. And what is the exceeding greatness of his 
power to us-ward who believe, according to the 
working of his mighty power, 

20. Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised 
him from the dead, and set him at his own right 
hand in the heavenly places, 

21. Far above all principality and power and 
might and dominion, and every name that is 
named, not only in this world, but also in that 
which is to come ; 

22. And hath put all things under his feet, and 



gave him to be the head over all things to the 
church, 

23. Which is his body, the fulness of him that 
filleth all in all. 

Ephesians ii. — 1. And you hath he quickened 
who were dead in trespasses and sins ; 

2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to 
the course of this world, according to the prince of 
the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh 
in the children of disobedience : 

3. Among whom also we all had our conversa- 
tion in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling 
the desires of the flesh and of the mind ; and were 
by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great 
love wherewith he loved us, 

5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quick- 
ened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved) ; 

6. And hath raised us up together, and made us 
sit together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus ; 

7. That in the ages to come he might show the 
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness to- 
ward us, through Christ Jesus. 



The redemption of man is a fact of such stupendous mo- 
ment, that, to comprehend it, one must be taught of God. As 
human philosophy failed to conceive the way of salvation, so 
human wisdom is inadequate to interpret it. The eyes with- 
in must be enlightened, the spirit of wisdom must be imparted 
from above, that we may discern the ineffable glory of Christ, 
and measure the greatness of his power. We are fain to study 
the resurrection of Christ as a fact of our human earthly his- 
tory. But this resurrection was the most potential fact in the 
history of the moral universe. His resurrection was his en- 
thronement over all powers and all worlds through all the ages. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



His resurrection was the lifting of his Church, as his body, to 
the central position of interest and power in the affairs of this 
world, and in the issues of the world to come. His resurrec- 
tion was our quickening from sin, and our exaltation to a life 
in God. All gracious experiences within our souls, all blessed 
hopes for our humanity, all glorious promises for the here- 
after, date from the resurrection of Christ. Come, thou Spirit 
of all light and truth ! and teach us that knowledge of Christ 
which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered 
into the heart of man. 



Prayer. 

God, the Father of glory, who didst raise thy 
Son Jesus Christ from the dead, and didst set him 
at thine own right hand in the heavens! in his 
name we this morning approach thy throne. 
Withdraw our thoughts and our hearts from this 
lower world. Purify and raise our affections. 
Let the light and life and love of heaven flow into 
our souls. Take us into the deep calm of thine 



[Nos. 79, 107. 



own nature. Fill us with the Spirit of truth and 
grace, in closest fellowship with thyself. 

O God of mercy ! we adore thee for the redeem- 
ing life and atoning death of thy Son Jesus Christ 
our Saviour ; and, conscious of our own lost and 
helpless state, we cast ourselves on thy boundless 
compassion and love. We bow at thy footstool, 
and with contrition do confess our manifold trans- 
gressions. Enter not into judgment with thy ser- 
vants. Take the burden of sin from our hearts, 
the guilt of sin from our consciences, and the dark- 
ness of sin from our minds. Seal us with thy Spirit ; 
and finally, after this life, bring us to everlasting 
joy and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 



God of the sabbath and of the sanctuary, go with 
us to thy house of prayer, and there manifest 
thyself unto us in the fulness of thy grace. 
Clothe thy ministers with salvation, and let thy 
chosen people be glad. Bless thy whole Church, 
and fill the earth with thy glory. Succeed with 
the demonstration of thy Spirit all the efforts which 
shall this day be made to enlighten man and to en- 
large the kingdom of thy Son. 

Graciously be with those whose sabbath shall be 
spent in the chamber of solitude and sickness. Let 
the consolations of thy Spirit abound to the chil- 
dren of sorrow and suffering and bereavement ; and 
grant to those appointed unto death a hope full of 
glory. Thankful for the mercies of the night, we 
cheerfully commit ourselves to thee. 

Thou that dwellest between the cherubim ! 
shine forth. Let thy glory appear unto thy ser- 
vants, and grant us the foretaste of eternal joy. 
And this we beg through Jesus Christ, our only 
Saviour and Mediator; who, with thee and the 
Holy Ghost, liveth evermore. Amen. 



186 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm xvi. — 1. Preserve me, God! for in 
thee do I put my trust. 

2. my soul! thou hast said unto the Lord, 
Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to 
thee, 

3. But to the saints that are in the earth, and 
to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. 

4. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten 
after another god: their drink-offerings of blood will 
I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. 

5. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance 
and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 

6. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant 
places ; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 

7. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me coun- 
sel : my reins also instruct me in the night-seasons. 

8. I have set the Lord always before me : be- 
cause lie is at my right hand, I sball not be moved. 

9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory re- 
joiceth : my flesh also shall rest in hope. 

10. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell ; 
neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see cor- 
ruption. 



11. Thou wilt show me the path of life : in thy 
presence is fulness of joy ; at thy rigbt hand there 
are jdeasures forevermore. 

Psalm xvii. — 5. Hold up my goings in thy 
paths, that my footsteps slip not. 

6. I have called upon thee ; for thou wilt hear 
me, God ! Incline thine ear unto me, and hear 
my speech. 

7. Show thy marvellous loving-kindness, thou 
that savest by thy right hand them which put their 
trust in thee from those that rise up against them ! 

8. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me 
under the shadow of thy wings, 

9. From the wicked that oppress me, from my 
deadly enemies who compass me about ; 

14. From men which are tby hand, Lord ! 
from men of the world, which have their portion 
in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy 
hid treasure : they are full of children, and leave 
the rest of their substance to their babes. 

15. As for me, I will behold thy face in right- 
eousness : I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with 
thy likeness. 



Satisfaction in God, the feeling that he is all in all for this 
life and the life to come, is the theme of these psalms ; and, 
through all the variations of life, it finds a response in every 
pious heart. God is acknowledged as the source of all present 
good, and the only promise of good in the future, — the "por- 
tion" of life, the "hope" of the soul. The meaning of ver. 
2 of Ps. xvi. is much clearer as the best scholars now read it : 
"My good [i.e., my happiness] is nought beyond thee." All 
the good that I possess, my intelligence, my home, my com- 
forts, my heritage, every thing in my lot, is from the Lord ; and 
he himself is my supreme portion and joy. And, because I 
thus rejoice in the Lord, I take delight in the saints, the godly 
upon earth, and have no sympathy with those who follow 



other gods. My confidence and delight in God are such, that 
I see nothing to fear in the hereafter. Faith gives me victory 
over death. My soul shall not be left in the darkness of slieol: 
even my body shall be rescued from the grave. This promise, 
which was literally fulfilled in the resurrection of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, shall also be fulfilled in all that believe in him. 
There is nothing but happiness in religion, — peace, safety, and 
joy in life, hope and triumph in death, and then the fulness 
of joy in the presence of God. Nothing in this world can 
satisfy : riches, honors, pleasures, possessions, fail to fill our 
spiritual nature ; but the spirit that is renewed in the likeness 
of God, and that seeks after righteousness, shall be forever 
satisfied in the presence of God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 37, 98. 



Whom have we in heaven but thee, God ! and 
there is none upon earth that we desire besides 
thee. Father of mercies, we render humble and 
hearty thanks for thy goodness vouchsafed to us 
this day. Thou hast watched over us with more 
than a father's care, and hast blessed us with more 
than a father's love. We have received the cup 
of blessing at thy hand. Thou hast supplied our 
need, nourished and sustained our bodies, pre- 
served the powers of our minds, guarded and 
directed our steps, been with us in going to thy 
sanctuary, and blessed us with the means of grace. 
And now, at the close of the day, we meet to offer 
our evening sacrifice of praise. May the fire of 
heaven descend upon our hearts, purifying, quick- 
ening, transforming our whole nature, and so fit- 
ting us all for thy holy will ! 

Pardon, God ! the sins of the day ; and, by thy 
gospel which we have heard, oh ! lift us into higher 
light and life and joy. 



We bless thee for the silence and quiet of night ; 
for hours of rest by which we are strengthened and 
refreshed for the duties of each returning day. As 
a family, we commend ourselves to thy care and 
keeping. Bless thou us, God ! and we shall be 
blessed. Ever make thy face to shine upon us. 
Lift up the light of thy countenance upon those 
whom we love, and upon thy whole Church. Pros- 
per thy Word this day preached and taught. Bless 
all mankind. Pitifully look upon the poor, the 
tried, the tempted, the forsaken, the oppressed, 
and all the children of sorrow; and have mercy 
upon all prisoners and captives. 

And now, our Father ! grant that we, being 
made thy children by adoption and grace, may 
daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit, and at last 
rise to the life immortal, through Jesus Christ our 
only Saviour; to whom, with thee and the Holy 
Ghost, be glory and thanksgiving throughout all 
ages. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



187 



MONDAY. 



Matthew xiii. — 24. Another parable put lie 
forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven 
is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in 
his field; 

25. But, while men slept, his enemy came and 
sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 

26. But when the blade was sprung up, and 
brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares 
also. 

27. So the servants of the householder came and 
said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in 
thy field ? from whence, then, hath it tares ? 

28. He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. 
The servants said unto him, "Wilt thou, then, that 
we go and gather them up ? 

29. But he said, Nay ; lest, while ye gather up 
the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 

30. Let both grow together until the harvest : 
and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, 
Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them 
in bundles to bum them ; but gather the wheat 
into my barn. 

37. He answered and said unto them, He that 
soweth the good seed is the Son of man ; 

38. The field is the world ; the good seed are the 
children of the kingdom ; but the tares are the 
children of the wicked one ; 

39. The enemy that sowed them is the devil ; 



Dean Alford, in his commentary on this parable, states that 
a field belonging to himself, at Gaddesby in Leicestershire, 
England, was maliciously sown with charlock over the wheat. 
This act of malice is quite common in the East : one who has 
a grudge against a neighbor will sow his ploughed land with 
darnel, or other weeds so nearly resembling the wheat, that 
their presence is not detected until they have accomplished 
their work of destruction. By this parable, our Lord ac- 
counts, in part at least, for the origin of evil, and defines God's 
method of dealing with it in this world. Sin is not a thing of 
his providing : he did not plant it in his field ; and he no more 
desires it than the farmer wants tares among his wheat. The 
whole work of creation was good as God made it. Sin began 
in the rebellion and apostasy of Satan and his angels, who 



the harvest is the end of the world ; and the reap- 
ers are the angels. 

40. As, therefore, the tares are gathered, and 
burned in the fire ; so shall it be in the end of this 
world. 

41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, 
and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things 
that offend, and them which do iniquity ; 

42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire : 
there shall be wailing, and gnashing of teeth. 

43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the 
sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath 
ears to hear, let him hear. 

Revelation xiv, — 13. And I heard a voice from 
heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the 
dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, 
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their 
labors; and their works do follow them. 

14. And I looked, and behold a white cloud ; 
and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of 
man, having on his head a golden crown, and in 
his hand a sharp sickle. 

15. And another angel came out of the temple, 
crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, 
Thrust in thy sickle, and reap : for the time is come 
for thee to reap ; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 

16. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his 
sickle on the earth ; and the earth was reaped. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God 
Almighty. Just and true are all thy ways, thou 
King of saints. We would praise thee and wor- 
ship thee ever, world without end. We commit 
ourselves to thy love and faithfulness. In thee 
would we trust at all times. Confident in thy 
promises, and in the help of thy Spirit, may we 
not fear what man can do unto us ! 

We beseech thee, Lord ! to keep us this day. 
May thy blessing be upon our persons, upon our 
labors, upon our substance, and upon all that be- 
longs to us ! Enable us to resist the temptations 
of the world, the flesh, and the Devil ; to follow the 
motions of thy good Spirit ; to be serious and holy 
in our lives, true and just in our dealings, watch- 



abused their moral freedom against their Creator. Sin was 
introduced into this world by the temptation of the Enemy, 
who sowed in the minds of our first parents the suggestions 
of evil, which they permitted to take root, and choke the prin- 
ciple of obedience. Even within the Church, the visible king- 
dom of God, the Enemy is busy sowing envy, strife, formal- 
ism, hypocrisy, unbelief, among the disciples of Christ. But, 
inasmuch as sin enters through moral freedom, — which, by 
its very nature, is capable of being perverted to evil, — it must 
be counteracted by moral means ; and these need time for their 
full effect. Violent interference would subvert the order of 
the moral system, which, both in its conception and its end, is 
altogether good. The future state will clear up all mystery, 
and forever separate the good from the evil. 



[Kos. 5, 81, 104. 



Prayer. 

ful over our thoughts, words, and actions, diligent 
in our business, and temperate in all things. Give 
us grace that we may honestly improve all the tal- 
ents thou hast committed to our trust, and that no 
worldly business, no worldly pleasures, may ever 
divert us from the thoughts of the life to come. 
Remember with thy loving-kindness all dear to us, 
and satisfy them with thy grace. Bless all men 
with thy saving mercy. Stay, we beseech thee, the 
iniquities of our times. Purify thy Church from 
worldliness, from error, from unbelief. Oh ! give 
to thy saints the kingdom under the whole heaven ; 
and, when the Son of man shall come, oh ! make us 
to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlast- 
ing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



188 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Matthew xiii. — 44. Again, The kingdom of 
heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the 
which, when a man hath found, he hideth, and 
for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, 
and buyeth that field. 

45. Again, The kingdom of heaven is like unto 
a merchant-man seeking goodly pearls ; 

46. Who, when he had found one pearl of great 
price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 

47. Again, The kingdom of heaven is like unto 
a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of 
every kind ; 

48. Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, 
and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, 
but cast the bad away. 

49. So shall it be at the end of the world : the 
angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from 
among the just, 

50. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire : 
there shall be wailing, and gnashing of teeth. 

51. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood 
all these things ? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 



The burying of treasure was common in Palestine, where 
our modern methods of investment were unknown, and where 
the frequency of wars, and the depredations of organized bands 
of robbers, rendered all property insecure. A few years ago, 
some workmen, digging over a garden in Sidon, found several 
copper pots, which contained over eight thousand gold coins, 
worth, in all, about fifty thousand dollars. As these coins were 
of the time of Alexander and his father Philip, the presump- 
tion is that the treasure was hidden by one of Alexander's 
officers, with a view to his own advantage after the death of 
his master. Such findings are by no means uncommon, and 
treasure-hunting is a passion of the people. In the bazaars of 
the East one sees the merchant of jewels with his portable 
cases, which he has stocked in travelling from market to 



52. Then said he unto them, Therefore every 
scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of 
heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, 
which bringeth forth out of his treasure things 
new and old. 

53. And it came to pass, that, when Jesus had 
finished these parables, he departed thence. 

54. And, when he was come into his own country, 
he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that 
they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this 
man this wisdom and these mighty works ? 

55. Is not this the carpenter's son ? Is not his 
mother called Mary ? and his brethren, James and 
Joses and Simon and Judas ? 

56. And his sisters, are they not all with us ? 
Whence, then, hath this man all these things ? 

57. And they were offended in him. But Je- 
sus said unto them, A prophet is not without 
honor, save in his own country and in his own 
house. 

58. And he did not many mighty works there, 
because of their unbelief. 



market. A single gem, or a pearl of uncommon size and 
purity, may be a fortune in itself. These two parables repre- 
sent different individuals finding the grace of the gospel : the 
first coming upon it unexpectedly, but discerning its value and 
making sure of it ; the other going in quest of truth and peace, 
and finding this inestimable treasure. The third parable de- 
scribes the promiscuous results of preaching the gospel, and 
the mixed elements that are gathered into the Church. But 
while some seek the gospel, and prize its blessed truths above 
all possessions, others reject the teachings of Christ, cavil at his 
doctrine, thrust aside his grace, and, by unbelief, fail utterly of 
the great salvation which he hath wrought, and which he 
offers freely to whoever will receive him. To every one of us 
is offered the heavenly treasure, the priceless pearl. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 1, 97, 202. 



Thou only, Lord ! makest us to dwell in safety. 
We lie down at night under the shadow of thy 
wings ; we awake in the morning to the light of 
thy love. We thank thee for another night of rest 
and comfort ; for another day of life, health, and 
hope. We praise thee that thou didst create us 
with powers of knowing and of loving, and hast 
made this world so full of wonders and beauties 
to feed our minds with knowledge, and to stir our 
hearts with love and joy. May the glory of the 
heavens, the richness and bounty of the earth, as 
adapted to our wants, fill us with admiration of thy 
power, thy wisdom, thy goodness ! and may the 
voices of gladness with which all Nature celebrates 
thy praise move our souls to bless and praise thee 
also ! Lord ! may we be found faithful to thee 
in the duties of this day ! and, amid its temptations 
and its trials, do thou sustain us, comfort us, keep 
us, and grant us grace in all we do to seek thy 
glory. May this household, which thou hast so 



blessed, serve thee, not at this altar only, but in all 
the walks of life ! As we engage in the business of 
the world, as we go into society, wherever we are, 
and whatever we do, may we remember thee, and 
do thy will ! Oh ! grant that every member of this 
family may be a child of God, a humble, faithful 
follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bless all dear 
to us who are absent from us. Do thou, O Lord ! 
dwell by thy Spirit in the hearts and the minds 
of all our friends. We supplicate thy mercy for the 
needy, the afflicted, the bereaved, and sorrowing. 
Oh ! grant to all the consolations of thy gospel. 

Build up thy Church, O Lord ! Fill our land 
with pure religion. Bless the industry of the peo- 
ple ; and may its fruit be consecrated to the 
good of men ! And we beseech thee to bring all 
lands under the power and glory of thy kingdom. 
In thy great mercy, Lord ! forgive our sins, and 
bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, through 
Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



189 



WEDNESDAY. 



Isaiah xii. — 1. And in that day thou shalt say, 
Lord ! I will praise thee : though thou wast 
angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and 
thou comfortedst me. 

2. Behold, God is my salvation ; I will trust, and 
not he afraid : for the Lord JEHOVAH is my 
strength and my song ; he also is become my sal- 
vation. 

3. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of 
the wells of salvation. 

4. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord ; 
call upon his name ; declare his doings among the 
people ; make mention that his name is exalted. 

5. Sing unto the Lord ; for he hath done excel- 
lent things : this is known in all the earth. 

6. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion ; for 
great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. 

John vii. — 37. In the last day, that great day 
of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any 
man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 

38. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath 
said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 

39. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which 
they that believe on him should receive ; for the 
Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus 
was not yet glorified.) 

40. Many of the people, therefore, when they 
heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the 
Prophet. 

" On every day of the Feast of Tabernacles, at the time of 
the morning sacrifice, a priest brought into the fore-court, in 
a golden vessel, water from the spring of Siloah, which rises 
within the mount on which the temple stood, and poured it, 
mingled with the sacrificial wine, into two bowls which stood 
upon the altar, and in which there was an opening by which 
it made its escape. During the performance of this rite, the 
priests caused trumpets and cymbals to be sounded, and the 
words of Isa. xii. 3 were sung, — ' With joy shall ye draw 
water out of the wells of salvation.' With high probabil- 
ity, just at the point of time when the priest was carrying 
that sacred water through the fore-court, and the people were 
abandoning themselves to jubilant mirth at the sight of this 



41. Others said, This is the Christ. But some 
said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee ? 

42. Hath not the scripture said, That Christ 
cometh of the seed of David, and out of the 
town of Bethlehem, where David was ? 

43. So there was a division among the people 
because of him. 

44. And some of them would have taken him ; 
but no man laid hands on him. 

45. Then came the officers to the chief priests 
and Pharisees ; and they said unto them, Why 
have ye not brought him ? 

46. The officers answered, Never man spake like 
this man. 

47. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye 
also deceived ? 

48. Have any of the rulers, or of the Pharisees, 
believed on him ? 

49. But this people, who knoweth not the law, 
are cursed. 

50. Nicodemus saith unto them (lie that came 
to Jesus by night, being one of them), 

51. Doth our law judge any man before it hear 
him, and know what he doeth ? 

52. They answered and said unto him, Art thou 
also of Galilee ? Search, and look ; for out of 
Galilee ariseth no prophet. 

53. And every man went unto his own house. 



symbol, Jesus stood forth in the midst of the multitude, and 
cried aloud, that in him was actually imparted what was there 
expressed in symbol." 

To the woman of Samaria he had spoken of the inex- 
haustible life-power of his grace within the heart : he now 
speaks of a fulness that overflows with blessing to others. 
Both are characteristics of the life imparted by Christ : it 
refreshes the heart with an endless joy; it expands it with 
an illimitable love. Not only the common people of the Jews, 
but even the Roman soldiers, were impressed with something 
more than human in such teachings. How base appears the 
jealousy of the Pharisees in seeking to silence such words of 
mercy ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 3, 42, 162. 



What shall we render unto thee, Lord ! for all 
thy benefits ? Every day we live upon thy bounty ; 
every night we rest under the shadow of thy wing. 
We will take the cup of salvation, and call upon 
the name of the Lord. But, above all other mer- 
cies, we acknowledge thy grace in that thou didst 
send thy Son to be the Saviour of the world. 
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 

Lord ! for Christ's sake have mercy upon us, and 
take away our sins ; and grant that we may prove 
our gratitude by a loving obedience to thy will. For 
the rest and refreshment of the past night, for the 
health and comfort with which we greet another 
day, for the endearments and delights of home, for 
means of occupation and support, of improvement 



and usefulness, for all the favors of thy hand, so 
multiplied unto us, we render thee most hearty 
thanks. Freely as we receive may we also give ! 
May thy mercy abound toward all classes and con- 
ditions of men, and thy salvation fill the whole 
earth ! 

Bless this household in each and every mem- 
ber. [Especially do we commend unto thee the 
children, praying that in the morning of life they 
may learn to trust in Jesus as their Saviour, and to 
follow him as ready and loving disciples.] Oh, may 
the dove of heavenly peace ever abide in our dwell- 
ing ! Bless all dear to us ; and bring us all at 
length unto our Father's house, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



190 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Luke X. — 25. And, behold, a certain lawyer 
stood up and tempted him, saying, Master, what 
shall I do to inherit eternal life ? 

28. He said unto him, What is written in the 
law ? how readest thou ? 

27. And he, answering, said, Thou shalt love the 
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy 
soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy 
mind ; and thy neighbor as thyself. 

28. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered 
right : this do, and thou shalt live. 

29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto 
Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 

30. And Jesus, answering, said, A certain man 
went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell 
among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, 
and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half 
dead. 

31. And by chance there came down a certain 
priest that way ; and, when he saw him, he passed 
by on the other side. 



32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the 
place, came and looked on him, and passed by on 
the other side. 

33. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, 
came where he was ; and, when he saw him, he had 
compassion on him, 

34. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, 
pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own 
beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of 
him. 

35. And on the morrow, when he departed, he 
took out two pence, and gave them to the host, 
and said unto him, Take care of him ; and whatso- 
ever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will 
repay thee. 

36. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, 
was neighbor unto him that fell among the 
thieves ? 

37. And he said, He that showed mercy on 
him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou 
likewise. 



The way from Jerusalem down to Jericho lay through a 
rocky wilderness, which is still infested with robhers, and often 
unsafe for travellers without an armed escort. Jerome says, 
that, in his time, " a part of the road was so infamous for 
murders as to be called the red or bloody way ; and there 
was a fort there, garrisoned by Roman soldie/s, to protect 
travellers." In the parable, the sympathy is in the reverse 
order of the sanctity. The priest, who represented the high- 
est form of outward sanctity, paid no heed whatever to this 
suffering fellow-creature. The Levite, who, though belonging 
to the service of the temple, was less sacred than the priest, 
halted long enough to look at the sufferer, but did nothing for 
his relief. The Samaritan, who, in the e3'es of the priest and 
the Levite, was a Gentile and an outcast, ministered to his 
necessities with the most gentle and provident compassion ; 
making sure of his safety, his comfort, and his recovery. The 
lesson is one for every-day life, — teaching us that God " will 
have mercy, and not sacrifice ; " and that the truest confession 



of love to him is made by deeds of love done to our fellow- 
men in his name. 

The promptness, the gentleness, and the thoroughness with 
which the Samaritan rendered this service added much to its 
value as an act of philanthropy. He did not stop to remind 
himself of the harsh and contemptuous treatment that the 
Samaritans so often received from the Jews. He did not try to 
satisfy his conscience by reporting the ease at the next caravan- 
sary, and sending up relief. As soon as he saw a man welter- 
ing in his blood, he went to him ; soothed his wounds, and 
stanched them ; gave him his time and his means ; carried him 
to a place of rest, and watched over him that night ; provided 
for his wants, and left him in safe keeping; giving a sum of 
money, which, considering the value of money and the cost of 
living at that time, was ample. How grateful to his own heart 
was this deed of kindness as he took up his own journey, ex- 
posed to the same perils of the way ! The roughest path of 
life can be made smooth by paving it with deeds of kindness. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 59, 86, 118. 



O Thou who never slumberest nor sleepest ! we 
have lain down and slept, and have risen again, 
because thou, Lord, hast sustained us. Thou hast 
kept us from the alarm of sickness and death, 
from deeds of darkness and the hand of violence. 
Thankful for the mercies of the night, we commit 
ourselves unto thee with all our wakeful powers, 
humbly beseeching thee to guide us in ways of 
truth and righteousness for thy name's sake. 
Send unto us, we pray thee, such prosperity as 
thou seest to be best for us ; and, above all, grant 
that our souls, being freed from sin, may prosper 
and be in peace, through the grace of Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Oh, may his mind be in us ! and may 
we be made like unto him! — holy, harmless, un- 
defiled, and separate from sinners. Oh ! help us 
to give up all things for Christ ; to know the joy 
of losing ourselves in him, the sweetness of bear- 



ing the cross for Him who hath borne our sorrows. 
May we have the charity of the gospel, and do 
good in little things, by the word, the look, the 
act of kindness, in the Saviour's name ! Teach us 
to see in our fellow-men the children of our Father 
in heaven, and to feel their wants and sorrows as 
our own. May our philanthropy be pure, free, 
broad, patient, self-sacrificing, and generous ! 

We thank thee, O Lord ! for the friends thou 
hast given us, and pray that these may all be 
joined with us in fellowship of thy redeemed. We 
supplicate thy favor for the poor and needy, the 
sick, the afflicted, the dying; for any who are 
suffering by pestilence, famine, or war ; for all sorts 
and conditions of men ; that thou wouldst be 
pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy 
saving health unto all nations, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



191 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm !v. — 1. Give ear to my prayer, God ! 
and hide not thyself from my supplication. 

2. Attend unto me, and hear me : I mourn in 
my complaint, and make a noise ; 

3. Because of the voice of the enemy, because 
of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast 
iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. 

4. My heart is sore pained within me ; and the 
terrors of death are fallen upon me. 

5. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon 
me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 

6. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a 
dove ! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. 

7. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain 
in the wilderness. 

8. I would hasten my escape from the windy 
storm and tempest. 

16. As for me, I will call upon God ; and the 
Lord shall save me. 

17. Evening arid morning, and at noon, will I 
pray, and cry aloud ; and he shall hear my voice. 

22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he 
shall sustain tbee : he shall never suffer the right- 
eous to be moved. 

Luke xi. — 5. And he said unto them, Which 
of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him 



at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me 
three loaves ; 

6. For a friend of mine in his journey is come 
to me, and I have nothing to set before him ? 

7. And he from within shall answer and say, 
Trouble me not : the door is now shut, and my chil- 
dren are with me in bed ; I cannot rise and give thee. 

8. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and 
give him because he is his friend, yet, because of 
his importunity, he will rise and give him as many 
as he needeth. 

9. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be 
given you ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it 
shall be opened unto you. 

10. For every one that asketh receiveth ; and 
he that seeketh findeth ; and to him that knock- 
eth it shall be opened. 

11. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that 
is a father, will he give him a stone ? or, if he ask 
a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent ? 

12. Or, if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him 
a scorpion ? 

13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give 
good gifts unto your children, how much more 
shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit 
to them that ask him ! 



This was our Lord's application of his own prayer. Hav- 
ing taught his disciples how to pray, he exhorted them to 
make prayer a real, living matter of experience. By a para- 
ble drawn from the necessities of men, and an illustration 
drawn from the affections of men, he sought to bring prayer 
into a constant and natural connection with the daily life. A 
benighted traveller comes, late, tired, and hungry, to the house 
of a friend. He open his doors ; but there is nothing to eat in 
the house : so he hurries to a neighbor, and begs enough 
bread for the emergency. The latter, though he has the bread, 
dislikes the trouble of getting up, and refuses ; but the peti- 
tioner in turn refuses to go away, and keeps up such a knock- 
ing and calling, that, to get rid of him, the churlish neighbor 
gives him what he wants. If selfish man can thus be won 
by importunity to give, much more will our loving and boun- 
tiful Father give to them that ask him. 



No earthly father will mock his hungry child by offering 
him what is hurtful or useless when the child is crying for 
bread. But why does our heavenly Father lay this stress upon 
the ashing? Because such giving can come only to the sense 
of want. The supreme gift of the Holy Spirit, which includes 
all real good, to be appreciated, and so to be of any value, must 
come to a longing of the soul itself. The asking expresses 
dependence; gives reality to faith; brings us near to God; 
renders the blessing more precious, and renders us the more 
grateful in the enjoyment of it. Through prayer we have 
immediate access to the Fountain of spiritual life ; and, since 
the will of God is our sanctification, if we fail to grow in 
grace, and to have spiritual power over the world, it is for 
lack of earnest, urgent, believing prayer. The importu- 
nity that cries evening, morning, and at noon, will be 
heard. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



fNos. 12, 15, 194. 



Thou who wast tempted in all points like as 
we are, yet without sin, and who for our sakes didst 
endure such contradiction of sinners against thy- 
self! keep us, we pray thee, from all adversities 
which may happen to the body, and from all evil 
thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul. 
Help us, Lord! in our inward conflicts with 
doubts and fears and sins ; help us in our conflicts 
with the temptations and evils of the world ; and, 
oh ! help us in our wrestlings with unseen powers 
of evil. Lord ! increase our faith. Our hope is 
in thee; our strength is from thee alone: dwell 
in us by thy grace ; fill us with thy Spirit. This 
very day, may we gain new victories over evil ! 
May we resist temptations in business to swerve 



from the truth, to take advantage of others, to 
act dishonorably, to be covetous and unjust ! May 
we resist temptations in society to envy and evil- 
speaking, to worldliness and frivolity ! May we 
in all things do that which is right in the sight 
of God ! [May these children grow up, dear Sa- 
viour, in thy strength arid love, safe from the 
power of evil !] 

We thank thee for another night of rest, another 
day of mercy and of hope. Bless all dear to us ; 
our friends and neighbors. Succor, Lord ! the 
poor and needy, the sick, the tempted, the dying. 
Lord Jesus ! be with us in our last conflict, and 
make us more than conquerors over death; and to 
thy name be glory forever. Amen. 



192 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Isaiah lii. — 1. Awake, awake, put on thy 
strength, Zion ! put on thy beautiful garments, 
Jerusalem, the holy city ! for henceforth there 
shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised 
and the unclean. 

2. Shake thyself from the dust ; arise, and sit 
down, Jerusalem ! loose thyself from the bands 
of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion ! 

3. For thus saith the Lord : Ye have sold your- 
selves for nought ; and ye shall be redeemed with- 
out money. 

4. For thus saith the Lord God: My people 
went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there ; 
and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. 

5. Now, therefore, what have I here, saith the 
Lord, that my people is taken away for nought ? 
They that rule over them make them to howl, saith 
the Lord ; and my name continually every day is 
blasphemed. 

6. Therefore my people shall know my name : 
therefore they shall know in that day that I am 
he that doth speak ; behold, it is I. 

7. How beautiful upon the mountains are the 
feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that pub- 
lisheth peace ; that bringeth good tidings of good, 
that publisheth salvation ; that saith unto Zion, 
Thy God reigneth ! 

8. Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice ; with 



The Lord here identifies himself with his Church : they 
are his people ; they bear his name ; and, when they are dis- 
honored and persecuted, he feels that his name is blasphemed. 
For their sins he may suffer his people to be rebuked and 
chastened : if they will sell themselves to the world, they 
shall learn how empty and worthless is the bargain they have 
made ; if they will deliver themselves to sinful pleasures, they 
shall learn how hard a yoke they have taken upon their neck. 
But, through all their bondage and affliction, the Lord still 
looks upon them with a loving eye, and cherishes toward them 
his purpose of grace. Jerusalem was desolate, her temple in 
ruins, her walls in the dust, her children in captivity. But 
the prophet already sees her re-established in strength and 



the voice together shall they sing: for they shall 
see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again 
Zion. 

9. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste 
places of Jerusalem : for the Lord hath comforted 
his people ; he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 

10. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm 
in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends 
of the earth shall see the salvation of our 
God. 

11. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, 
touch no unclean thing ; go ye out of the midst of 
her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the 
Lord. 

12. For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go 
by flight ; for the Lord will go before you, and 
the God of Israel will be your rearward. 

13. Behold, my servant shall deal prudently; 
he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very 
high. 

14. As many were astonied at thee (his visage 
was so marred more than any man, and his form 
more than the sons of men) ; 

15. So shall he sprinkle many nations : the 
kings shall shut their mouths at him ; for that 
which had not been told them shall they see, 
and that which they had not heard shall they con- 
sider. 



beauty ; redeemed, purified, exalted ; a wonder and a glory in 
the earth. Her watchmen, standing upon her walls, descry 
upon the mountains the messenger of peace. With one 
voice they take up the good tidings, and echo and re-echo it, 
until the regions wasted by war, even to the remotest corners 
of the land, resound with joy and salvation. But, in order to 
this final triumph of the Church, she must purify herself of 
all dishonor and uncleanness. As Christ her Leader came in 
lowliness and contumely, his very visage marred and his 
person despised ; so must his people walk in the path of lowly, 
holy consecration, that he may lead them to the victory of 
righteousness over kings and nations. 



Appropriate Hymns,} 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 164, 186, 191. 



We adore thee, Lord our God ! that thou hast 
not only revealed to us a heaven to come, but 
hast assured us that there are yet good things in 
store for this earth which we inhabit, and which 
has so long groaned under the curse of sin. We 
pray that thou wilt shorten these days of igno- 
rance, wickedness, and folly, and hasten the reign 
of the Lord Jesus. Help us, Lord our God ! 
that we may not merely pray, but may also labor 
to the utmost to spread thy gospel and extend 
thy dominion. 

Oh ! fill us with the love of Him who went about 
doing good. May we glorify thee by bringing forth 
much fruit ! Thou hast commanded and encour- 
aged us, Lord ! to make prayers and intercessions 



for all men. We commend to thee the members 
of this family, present or absent. May all be par- 
takers of thy grace ! Help us rightly to fulfil the 
duties of our several stations, always so exercising 
ourselves as to have a conscience void of offence 
towards God and towards men. 

We commend ourselves to thy merciful protec- 
tion and kindness throughout this day. Preserve 
us from all evil ; and, in all our thoughts and 
words and actions, may we remember that thou, 
God, seest us. 

And unto Him who hath been with us all our 
life long — 'Our Creator, our Preserver, our Bene- 
factor, and our Redeemer, Father, Son, and Holy 
Spirit — be glory both now and forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



193 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Psalm cxlvi. — 5. Happy is he that hath the 
God of Jacob for his help ; whose hope is in the 
Lord his God ; 

6. Which made heaven and earth, the sea, and 
all that therein is; which keepeth truth forever; 

7. Which executeth judgment for the oppressed ; 
which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord loos- 
eth the prisoners : 

8. The Lord openeth the eyes of the Wind: the 
Lord raiseth them that are bowed down : the Lord 
loveth the righteous : 

9. The Lord preserveth the strangers; he re- 
lieveth the fatherless and widow : but the way of 
the wicked he turneth upside down. 

10. The Lord shall reign forever, even thy God, 
Zion ! unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord. 

John ix. — 1. And, as Jesus passed by, he saw a 
man which was blind from his birth. 

2. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, 
who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was 
born blind? 

3. Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, 
nor his parents ; but that the works of God should 
be made manifest in him. 

4. I must work the works of him that sent me, 
while it is day : the night cometh, when no man 
can work. 

5. As long as I am in the world, I am the light 
of the world. 

6. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the 



The pool of Siloam lies at the foot of the temple-mount, 
south-east of the city, just at the mouth of the ancient Tyro- 
pceon valley ; and is fed in part from a spring or fountain in 
the mountain itself, under the grand mosque. It was formerly 
believed to possess medicinal properties ; but the sending of 
the blind man to wash in the pool, like the application of sali- 
va to his eyes, was intended to awaken faith, which has been 
aptly styled " the conductor of the miraculous power." The 
Jews referred physical infirmities and calamities to moral 
causes ; and, since this man was born blind, the disciples were 



ground, and made clay of the spittle ; and he 
anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 

7. And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of 
Siloam (which is, by interpretation, Sent). He went 
his way, therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 

8. The neighbors therefore, and they which be- 
fore had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not 
this he that sat and begged ? 

9. Some said, This is he ; others said, He is like 
him ; but he said, I am he. 

10. Therefore said they unto him, How were 
thine eyes opened ? 

11. He answered and said, A man that is called 
Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said 
unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash ; and 
I went and washed, and I received sight. 

12. Then said they unto him, Where is he ? He 
said, I know not. 

13. They brought to the Pharisees him that 
aforetime was blind. 

14. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus 
made the clay and opened his eyes. 

15. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how 
he had received his sight. He said unto them, He 
put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 

16. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This 
man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sab- 
bath day. Others said, How can a man that is a 
sinner do such miracles ? And there was a division 
among them. 



disposed to charge his blindness to some sin of his parents. 
Jesus disowned a theology that would fasten even - specific 
sorrow upon a specific sin, and taught the broader faith, that, 
in the providence of God, suffering and sorrow may stand re- 
lated to some wise and beneficent end, and serve to illustrate 
his glory in the final good of his creatures. The method of this 
healing affords a beautiful analogy of our spiritual enlighten- 
ment. Under the teaching of Him who is the Light of the 
world, a believing use of the means of grace will cause us to 
come forth seeing:. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 9, 176. 



blessed Saviour ! fulfil to us, we beseech thee, 
thine own promise, that, where two or three are 
gathered together in thy name, there thou wilt be 
in the midst of them. As in the beginning of thy 
gospel thou didst bless the church in the house, oh ! 
make this house thy church through our living 
communion with thyself. Make our hearts to re- 
joice whilst we wait upon thee, and whilst we hear 
the welcome messages of thy grace. 

Almighty God, assist and prosper the labors of 
thy ministers. May they declare all thy counsel ! 
Touch their lips with a live coal from off thine 
altar. Cause them deeply to feel the truths which 
they proclaim, and fervently to love that Saviour of 
whose grace they testify. 

Bless the young who shall be gathered this day 



for instruction in our Sunday schools. Let the 
seed of thy truth take root in many a grateful 
heart; and grant that every teacher may himself 
be taught of thee. Through the word of thy lips, 
Lord ! grant that many a child may be kept 
from the paths of the destroyer. 

We bless thee for the mercies of the past week, — 
for health and comfort, for food and raiment, for 
friends and knowledge, and all that thou givest us 
so richly to enjoy. Our hearts go up to thee, the 
Father of lights, in grateful adoration. 

Lord our God ! be with us throughout the day. 
Graciously help us so to keep thy sabbath on earth, 
that we may be the more ready and prepared for 
an eternal sabbath above. Hear us, we pray thee, 
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



194 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm XX. — 1. The Lord hear thee in the day of 
trouble ; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee ; 

2. Send thee help from the sanctuary, and 
strengthen thee out of Zion ; 

3. Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy 
burnt-sacrifice ; 

4. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and 
fulfil all thy counsel. 

5. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the 
name of our God we will set up oar banners : the 
Lord fulfil all thy petitions. 

6. Now know I that the Lord saveth his 
anointed : he will hear him from his holy heaven 
with the saving strength of his right hand. 

7. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses ; 
but we will remember the name of the Lord our 
God. 

8. They are brought down and fallen ; but we 
are risen, and stand upright. 

9. Save, Lord : let the king hear us when we call. 
I Peter V. — 1. The elders which are among 

you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness 
of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of 
the glory that shall be revealed : 

2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, 
taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, 



If Peter was the predecessor and type of modern popes, 
this exhortation is in strange contrast to their pretensions. 
Instead of commanding the presbyters as their superior, he 
exhorts them as one of their own number, who needs the same 
grace and counsel with themselves. That he had beheld the 
glory of Christ in the transfiguration, and been an eye-wit- 
ness of his sufferings, gave a special warrant to his testimony ; 
but he did not rest this upon official supremacy. None must 
assume to lord it over the heritage of God. On the other 
hand, such exhortations to humility came with especial grace 
from one whose self-confidence had brought him to so sad a 
fall. Humility and hope, dependence and faith, go together. 
When we cease to set ourselves foremost, and learn to commit 
our interests to God, then a sensitive pride and a carking care 
alike vanish. The word " care," in verse 7, as applied to men, 



but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready 
mind; 

3. Neither as being lords over GooVs heritage, 
but being ensamples to the flock. 

4. And, when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye 
shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 

5. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto 
the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to 
another, and be clothed with humility ; for God 
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 

6. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the migh- 
ty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time : 

7. Casting all your care upon him ; for he careth 
for you. 

8. Be sober, be vigilant ; because your adver- 
sary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, 
seeking whom he may devour : 

9. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing 
that the same afflictions are accomplished in your 
brethren that are in the world. 

10. But the God of all grace, who hath called 
us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after 
that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, 
stablish, strengthen, settle you. 

11. To him be glory and dominion for ever and 
ever. Amen. 



denotes that which divides the mind, and hence distracts it with 
doubts, fears, anxieties, — a distressed state of feeling, the 
sense of being burdened, the apprehension of evil. But, as 
applied to God, it is another word, though rendered in our 
English Bible by the same : it denotes thinking upon one, 
having regard for him, with a view to taking care of him. 
We are exhorted to lay aside our anxieties, and to rest in his 
loving care. A true faith, a humble trust in God, will remove 
the burden of cares by annulling the spirit of anxiety. We 
are exhorted to throw off upon God, in filial confidence, all 
our care, and to gain stability within ourselves by resting 
implicitly upon him ; and this stability of mind will give us 
steadfastness against evil. To be humble is to be vigilant, 
peaceful, strong, victorious. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 11, 15, 32. 



Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who hast 
graciously opened for us sinners a way by which we 
may approach thee with acceptance, we thank thee 
for all thine unnumbered gifts and mercies ; but, 
above all, for thine unspeakable love in the redemp- 
tion of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Lord ! give us grace to live as thy people ; to walk 
before thee in newness of life; and to seek those 
things which are above, where Christ sitteth at 
thy right hand. Deliver us from over-carefulness 
about earthly things. Strengthen our confidence 
in thy providence and thy grace ; and dispose 
us to seek first thy kingdom and righteousness, 
knowing that all things needful for this life shall 
be added unto us. 

Grant thy Holy Spirit, O Lord! to all thy min- 



isters. Fill them with light and wisdom, with 
zeal and love; and give thy Word power and 
unction from their lips. Remember the Sunday 
school. blessed Jesus ! feed thy lambs with 
thine own truth and grace. Visit this house, 
we beseech thee, with thy salvation. Thankful 
for the mercies of the day, we commit ourselves, 
Lord ! and all that concerns us, to thy gracious 
care. Make all the dealings of thy providence 
to work for our good. If thou shouldst appoint 
trials and afflictions for us, make us patient and 
submissive to thy holy will. If we enjoy comfort 
and prosperity, make us humble and thankful. 
Lead us safely through this world of sin, and 
bring us at last to thy heavenly kingdom, for the 
sake of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



195 



MONDAY. 



John ix. — 24. Then again called they the man 
that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the 
praise : we know that this man is a sinner. 

25. He answered and said, Whether he be a 
sinner or no, I know not : one thing I know, that, 
whereas I was blind, now I see. 

26. Then said they to him again, What did he 
to thee ? how opened he thine eyes ? 

27. He answered them, I have told you already, 
and ye did not hear : wherefore would ye hear it 
again ? Will ye also be his disciples ? 

28. Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art 
his disciple ; but we are Moses' disciples. 

29. We know that God spake unto Moses : as 
for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 

30. The man answered and said unto them, 
Why, herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know 
not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened 
mine eyes. 

31. Now, we know that God heareth not sinners ; 
but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth 
his will, him he heareth. 

32. Since the world began was it not heard that 
any man opened the eyes of one that was born 
blind. 



This miracle was tested at every point. The man was 
well known to have been blind from his birth ; the neighbors 
identified him ; and his parents, being summoned, testified to 
the same fact. The man himself was cross-questioned in 
every way, but gave uniformly the same answer, — that Jesus 
had opened his eyes. As yet, he had no idea who his bene- 
factor was : but he reasoned conclusively from the facts of 
the case ; he knew he had been blind ; he knew that he now 
saw ; he knew that such a miracle could be wrought only by 
one who had the divine spirit of love and power, who was 



33. If this man were not of God, he could do 
nothing. 

34. They answered and said unto him, Thou 
wast altogether born in sins ; and dost thou teach 
us ? And they cast him out. 

35. Jesus heard that they had cast him out ; 
and, when he had found him, he said unto him, 
Dost thou believe on the Son of God ? 

36. He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, 
that I might believe on him ? 

37. And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast 
both seen him, and it is he that talketh with 
thee. ' 

38. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he wor- 
shipped him. 

39. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come 
into this world ; that they which see not might 
see, and that they which see might be made 
blind. 

40. And some of the Pharisees which were with 
him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we 
blind also ? 

41. Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye 
should have no sin : but now ye say, We see ; 
therefore your sin remaineth. 



himself " of God." In this frame of mind he was already a 
believer, and was prepared to confess and honor Christ in his 
full character and glory as soon as these were made known to 
him. What a beautiful symbol of conversion ! Setting 
aside all speculative questions, the soul that Jesus has 
awakened by his truth, and enlightened by his Spirit, testifies, 
" Whereas I was blind, now I see ; " and declares, " Lord, 
I believe." Christ, by his light, is thus testing our hearts. 
Let us beware, lest, in the pride of our understanding, we 
blind ourselves to the true light, and grope on in our sin. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 9, 122, 187. 



Thou only, Lord ! makest us to dwell in safety. 
We lie down at night under the shadow of thy 
wings ; we awake in the morning to the light of 
thy love. We thank thee for another night of rest 
and comfort ; for another day of life, health, and 
hope. We praise thee that thou didst create us 
with powers of knowing and of loving, and hast 
made this world so full of wonders and beauties 
to feed our minds with knowledge, and to stir our 
hearts with love and joy. May the glory of the 
heavens, the richness and bounty of the earth, as 
adapted to our wants, fill us with admiration of thy 
power, thy wisdom, thy goodness ! and may the 
voices of gladness with which all Nature celebrates 
thy praise move our souls to bless and praise thee 
also ! Lord ! may we be found faithful to thee 
in the duties of this day ! and, amid its temptations 
and its trials, do thou sustain us, comfort us, keep 
us, and grant us grace in all we do to seek thy 
glory. May this household, which thou hast so 



blessed, serve thee, not at this altar only, but in all 
the walks of life ! As we engage in the business of 
the world, as we go into society, wherever we are, 
and whatever we do, may we remember thee, and 
do thy will ! Oh ! grant that every member of this 
family may be a child of God, a humble, faithful 
follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bless all dear 
to us who are absent from us. Do thou, Lord ! 
dwell by thy Spirit in the hearts and the minds 
of all our friends. We supplicate thy mercy for the 
needy, the afflicted, the bereaved, and sorrowing. 
Oh ! grant to all the consolations of thy gospel. 

Build up thy Church, Lord ! Fill our land 
with pure religion. Bless the industry of the peo- 
ple ; and may its fruit be consecrated to the 
good of men ! And we beseech thee to bring all 
lands under the power and glory of thy kingdom. 
In thy great mercy, Lord ! forgive our sins, and 
bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, through 
Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



196 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Genesis xxvii. — 6. And Rebekah spake unto 
Jacob ber son, saying, Bebold, I beard tby father 
speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 

7. Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, 
that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord, be- 
fore my death. 

9. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence 
two good kids of the goats ; and I will make them 
savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth : 

10. And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that 
he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his 
death. 

14. And he went, and fetched, and brought 
them to his mother ; and his mother made savory 
meat, such as his father loved. 

15. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her 
eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, 
and put them upon Jacob, her younger son ; 

16. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats 
upon his bands and upon the smooth of his neck ; 

17. And she gave the savory meat and the 
bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of 
her son Jacob. 

18. And he came unto his father, and said, My 
father. And he said, Here am I : who art thou, 
my son? 

19. And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau, 
thy first-born; I have done according as thou badest 
me : arise, I pray thee, sit, and eat of my venison, 
that thy soul may bless me. 

20. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that 



The honesty of the Bible, in narrating, without extenua- 
tion, the failings and sins of God's own people, is a token both 
of the historic truth and the divine wisdom of the record. The 
fact that God turns the wrong-doings of men to the further- 
ance of his own plans is never used to justify, or even to pal- 
liate, the sin. In this unhappy affair, all the parties were 
wrong. It was known to Isaac that Jacob was announced to 
be the heir of the promise ; but his partiality for Esau led him 
to attempt to forestall Divine Providence by giving his bless- 
ing in secret. Esau had rashly sold his birthright for a mess 
of pottage ; but he should have regarded his oath to his broth- 
er, and have accepted the consequences. Jacob had taken a 
mean advantage of his necessity, and showed a disposition to 



thou hast found it so quickly, my son ? And he 
said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me. 

21. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I 
pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether 
thou be my very son Esau, or not. 

22. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father: 
and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's 
voice ; but the hands are the hands of Esau. 

23. And he discerned him not, because his hands 
were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands : so he 
blessed him. 

24. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau ? 
And he said, I am. 

25. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will 
eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless 
thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did 
eat ; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 

26. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come 
near now, and kiss me, my son. 

27. And he came near, and kissed him ; and he 
smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, 
and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell 
of a field which the Lord hath blessed : 

28. Therefore God give thee of the dew of 
heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of 
corn and wine : 

29. Let people serve thee, and nations bow down 
to thee ; be lord over tby brethren, and let thy 
mother's sons bow down to thee : cursed be every 
one that cursetb thee, and blessed be he that 
blesseth thee. 



oven-each him. Though he shrank, at first, from the decep- 
tion which his mother proposed, — lest his father should dis- 
cover the cheat, and give him his curse instead of his bless- 
ing, — yet the temptation proved too strong; and, consenting 
to the first step, he was led from one fraud to another, until 
he even invoked the name of God to a lie : so easy is it to 
slide from sin to sin ! But Rebekah was the chief offender. 
She plotted the deception -of Jacob, the imposition upon her 
aged and blind husband, the wrong to her first-born. She 
attempted to make sure a divine promise by a pious fraud ; 
but she brought strife and bitterness into the household, 
and sorrow upon herself and her favorite son. Selfishness 
always brings sorrow, even when it puts on the guise of love. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 115, 124, 136. 



thou Spirit of truth and holiness ! we pray 
thee to keep us from every sin. May we be mind- 
ful of thy presence as a holy guardianship from 
wrong ! and may we so delight in God, that we 
shall live above the power of temptation and evil, 
and, while diligent in business, be fervent in spirit, 
serving the Lord ! Help us to be true and faithful, 
just and kind, gentle and loving, pure and holy. 
May we, as a family, live without partiality and 
without hypocrisy ! [May these children delight 
in one another's happiness, and be free from envy 
and deceit !] 



We thank thee for another night of rest, and 
pray that this day we may be free from worldly 
care. May all things work together for good! and 
do thou, 6 Lord ! bring good out of evil. 

Bless the Church in this community with thy 
reviving grace ; visit our land with thy salvation ; 
and fill the whole earth with thy praise. 

Finally, we pray thee, bring us to thyself in joy 
and glory everlasting ; bring us to the realization 
of thy presence, that we may be satisfied with thy 
likeness. And to the Father, the Son, and the 
Holy Spirit, be glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



197 



WEDNESDAY. 



Genesis xxvii. — 30. And it came to pass, as 
soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, 
and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the pres- 
ence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother 
came in from his hunting. 

31. And he also had made savory meat, and 
brought it unto his father ; and said unto his 
father, Let my father arise and eat of his son's 
venison, that thy soul may bless me. 

32. And Isaac his father said unto him, Who 
art thou ? And he said, I am thy son, thy first- 
born, Esau. 

33. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and 
said, Who ? where is he that hath taken venison, 
and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before 
thou earnest, and have blessed him ? yea, and he 
shall be blessed. 

34. And, when Esau heard the words of his 
father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter 
cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me 
also, my father ! 

35. And he said, Thy brother came with subtle- 
ty, and hath taken away thy blessing. 

36. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? 
for he hath supplanted me these two times : he 
took away my birth-right ; and, behold, now he 
hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast 
thou not reserved a blessing for me ? 

37. And Isaac answered, and said unto Esau, 
Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his 
brethren have I given to him for servants ; and 



In those early times, and especially in the families of the 
patriarchs, the parental blessing was believed to have the force 
of a prophecy. Esau, to be sure, had parted with his right to 
the blessing as the elder son, and his marriage to an idolater 
shewed that he was indifferent to the religious ties and hopes 
bound up in " the blessing of Abraham." The Scriptures 
speak of him as a " profane " or reckless person, deserving con- 
demnation. Yet, when he saw what he had lost, he was filled 
with anguish, remorse, and rage, and begged and strove to re- 
cover a privilege that he had so lightly thrust away. What a 



with corn and wine have I sustained him : and 
what shall I do now unto thee, my son? 

38. And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou 
but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me 
also, my father! And Esau lifted up his voice, 
and wept. 

39. And Isaac his father answered, and said unto 
him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of 
the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above ; 

40. And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt 
serve thy brother : and it shall come to pass, when 
thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break 
his yoke from off thy neck. 

41. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing 
wherewith his father blessed him : and Esau said in 
his heart, The days of mourning for my father are 
at hand ; then will I slay my brother Jacob. 

42. And these words of Esau her elder son were 
told to Bebekah ; and she sent and called Jacob 
her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy 
brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort him- 
self, purposing to kill thee. 

43. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice ; and 
arise, flee thou to Laban my brother, to Haran, 

44. And tarry with him a few days, until thy 
brother's fury turn away ; 

45. Until thy brother's anger turn away from 
thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to 
him : then I will send, and fetch thee from thence. 
Why should I be deprived also of you both in one 
day? 



warning to youth not to trifle with mercies, which, once re- 
jected, may never return ! 

Jacob received the promise of temporal abundance, of supe- 
riority among the nations, and of lordship over his brethren. 
These promises were fulfilled in the history of his descendants. 
The prediction concerning Esau, in verse 39, should read, 
" Thy dwelling shall be away from the fatness of the earth." 
He should lead a roving, warlike life, alternately in subjection 
and in revolt ; and such has been the history of his posterity. 
The Bedouin of to-day fitly represents this " desert-ranger." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 95, 103. 



O Lord Jesus ! we do hunger for thy Word ; we 
do thirst for thy Spirit. Weak, empty, perishing, 
in ourselves, we cry unto thee for the bread of 
heaven, for the water of life. With longings for 
good that this world can never satisfy, we turn to 
thy fulness that we also may be filled. Confess- 
ing our folly in forsaking thee, mourning our sin 
in grieving thee, we come with broken and con- 
trite hearts, and entreat thee to grant us forgive- 
ness, comfort, and peace. Oh ! strengthen us to re- 
sist temptation, to overcome evil, to renounce the 
world. 

Most merciful God, who in Jesus Christ thy Son 
hast revealed thyself as our reconciling Father, 



grant us grace, we beseech thee, to be followers of 
God as dear children. Have compassion, O Lord ! 
upon the erring, the outcast, and the sorrowing; 
deliver the persecuted and the oppressed ; have 
mercy upon all prisoners and captives. Grant us 
grace to endure with patience any trials and afflic- 
tions that may come upon us, and to conquer the 
world by faith. And do thou, Lord ! forgive our 
enemies, and forgive us as we forgive them. Lord 
our Preserver, who hast kept us through the perils of 
the night ! keep us from evil this day and always ; 
and finally bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. 
Amen. 



198 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Genesis xxviii. — 10. And Jacob went out from 
Beer-sheba, and went towards Haran. 

11. And be lighted upon a certain place, and 
tarried there all night, because the sun was set ; and 
he took of the stones of that place, and put them 
for his pillows, and lay down in that place to 
sleep. 

12. And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set 
up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven ; 
and behold, the angels of God ascending and de- 
scending on it. 

13. And behold, the Lord stood above it, and 
said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, 
and the God of Isaac : the land whereon thou 
liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. 

14. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the 
earth ; and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, 
and to the east, and to the north, and to the south : 
and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families 
of the earth be blessed. 

15. And behold, I am with thee, and will keep 
thee in all places whither thou goest, and will 
bring thee again into this land ; for I will not leave 



thee until I have done that which I have spoken 
to thee of. 

16. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he 
said, Surely the Lord is in this place ; and I knew 
it not. 

17. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful 
is this place ! this is none other but the house of 
God, and this is the gate of heaven. 

18. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, 
and took the stone that he had ~put for his pillows, 
and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the 
top of it. 

19. And he called the name of that place Beth- 
el ; but the name of that city was called Luz at 
the first. 

20. And Jacob vowed avow, saying, If God will 
be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, 
and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 

21. So that I come again to my father's house 
in peace, then shall the Lord be my God ; 

22. And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, 
shall be God's house : and of all that thou shalt 
give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee. 



The first penalty upon Jacob for his fraud on his brother 
was banishment from his home and his mother. He fled 
from the rage of Esau. His course lay in a north-easterly di- 
rection to Succoth, near which was the ford of Jordan, just 
above the mouth of the River Jabok. The scene of this vision 
was near the present village of Beitin, about four hours 
north of Jerusalem, among the mountains of Ephraim. The 
season favored sleeping in the open air, and Jacob had no tent. 
Spiritual communications do not depend upon outward con- 
ditions ; and to the solitary wanderer lying on the ground, 
with a stone for his pillow, the angels of God drew nigh. 
By this vision, he, a fugitive, was put in possession of the land 
promised to his fathers, and was declared to be in the line of suc- 
cession under the covenant care of God. The spiritual expan- 



sion of the promise is prominent. The faults of Jacob were 
not extenuated nor allowed : no doubt these had already 
wrought in him the bitterness of repentance. God had taken 
him in training for good ; and, though grace had in him a 
long conflict with evil, it triumphed in the end. Only thi - ough 
that grace can we conquer ourselves. The vision aroused in 
Jacob the religious sentiment which his covetousness had for 
a time repressed. The sense of the nearness of God filled him 
with awe, incited him to adoration, pledged him to gratitude. 
Marking the spot with a memorial-stone, and consecrating it 
with a vow, he went on his way rejoicing. That place is ever 
nearest heaven where God's presence is felt ; and God's pres- 
ence is felt wherever the soul looks up to him in humble, grate- 
ful, admiring love. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 8, 42, 125. 



We lift up our eyes unto the hills, whence Com- 
eth our help : our help cometh from the Lord, which 
made heaven and earth. Thine angels, O Lord ! 
have encamped round about us in the night-sea- 
son, and thou hast given them charge concern- 
ing us to defend us from all evil. We open our 
eyes to the remembrance of thy mercy, to the con- 
sciousness of thy presence, to the sense of our 
dependence. Only our sins separate us from thee, 
our loving Father ; and we beseech thee to blot 
these out for thy name's sake, and to receive us in 
Christ as thy redeemed and reconciled children. 
Deliver us, we pray thee, from the consequences of 
our own folly and transgression, and give unto us 
the spirit of true repentance. Help us, Lord! 
this day, to walk worthy of thy love, and, as obedi- 
ent children, to do thy will. 

[May the children of this family remember thee 



they all acknowledge and serve thee !] Keep us, 
Lord ! we pray thee, from all evil and sin this day. 
In our intercourse with others, may we be true and 
just, loving and patient, gentle and kind, and so 
may we commend unto all the gospel of thy grace ! 
Preserve us from envy and jealousy; from covet- 
ousness and deceit ; from the spirit of selfishness ; 
from any and every act that would injure others, 
or would grieve and offend the Spirit of all truth. 

May thy favor be upon the community in 
which we dwell, upon thy Church, upon our land ! 
Give peace in our time, Lord ! and incline 
the hearts of our rulers to that which is just 
and lawful in thy sight. Have mercy upon the 
poor, the afflicted, the solitary, the bereaved : 
and cause that the grace of thy gospel shall go 
forth everywhere to heal the sins and sorrows of 
all mankind. Finally bring us unto thine ever- 



in the days of their youth ! May they love one \ lasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord 
another, and seek one another's good ! and may I Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



199 



FRIDAY. 



Genesis xxix. — 1. Then Jacob went on his 
journey, and came into the land of the people of 
the east. 

2. And he looked, and behold, a well in the field ; 
and lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; 
for out of that well they watered the flocks : and a 
great stone was upon the well's mouth. 

3. And thither were all the flocks gathered ; and 
they roiled the stone from the well's mouth and 
watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon 
the well's mouth in his place. 

4. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, 
whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are 
we. 

5. And he said unto them, Know ye Laban, the 
son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 

6. And he said unto them, Is he well ? And they 
said, He is well ; and behold, Rachel his daughter 
cometh with the sheep. 

7. And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither 
is it time that the cattle should be gathered to- 
gether : water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. 

8. And they said, We cannot until all the flocks 
be gathered together, and till they roll the stone 
from the well's mouth ; then we water the sheep. 

9. And, while he yet spake with them, Rachel 
came with her father's sheep ; for she kept them. 

10. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel 
the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and 
the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Ja- 
cob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's 



mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's 
brother. 

11. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his 
voice, and wept. 

12. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her 
father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son; 
and she ran and told her father. 

13. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the 
tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to 
meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and 
brought him to his house. And he told Laban all 
these things. 

14. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my 
bone and my flesh ; and he abode with him the 
space of a month. 

15. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou 
art my brother, shouldest thou, therefore, serve me 
for nought? Tell me, what shall thy wages be? 

16. And Laban had two daughters : the name of 
the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger 
was Rachel. 

17. Leah was tender-eyed; but Rachel was 
beautiful and well-favored. 

18. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve 
thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 

19. And Laban said, It is better that I give her 
to thee than that I should give her to another 
man : abide with me. 

20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel ; 
and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the 
love he had to her. 



It is an Eastern idiom for a definite journey, that one "car- 
ries his feet; " for journeying at random, that "his feet carry 
him." Jacob carried his feet upon his long and unknown 
way, having a definite end in view. At last, he found himself 
in the country from which his grandfather Abraham had 
started on his pilgrimage of faith, and near the house from which 
his mother had set out upon her more romantic journey. A 
well being a valuable and sometimes a disputed property, it was 
frequently covered to debar strangers from using it. At this 
well the flocks of several owners were watered together for an 
equal share. When Jacob heard that Eachel was coming, he 



wished the herdsmen well out of the way ; but as soon as she 
appeared, not regarding their presence, he gave her a some- 
what impetuous greeting as her cousin, and the beautiful shep- 
herdess ran home with the news of his arrival. Laban gave 
Jacob his confidence and a cordial welcome. As he was pen- 
niless, and could not hope to marry without providing a 
dowry, he hired himself out for Rachel's sake ; but her love 
sweetened his toil, and shortened the years. After all, Laban 
requited him with deception, giving him Leah, and making 
him serve for Rachel seven years more ; and this was another 
penalty for Jacob's fraud upon his brother. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 21, 32, 137. 



Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies, for 
the mercies of the past night ; for shelter, safety, 
comfort, rest, and peace. How precious are thy 
thoughts unto us, God ! how great is the sum of 
them! When we awake, we are still with thee. 
So would our hearts rise to thee, Lord ! with the 
morning light, with the incense of prayer and 
praise ; yea, we would present our bodies unto thee 
a living sacrifice. May this, our reasonable service, 
be made holy through the blood of Jesus ! Help 
us this day to live unto thee, and in all our 
works and ways to do that which is well-pleas- 
ing in thy sight. Prosper, we beseech thee, the 



labor of our hands, our studies, our various call- 
ings ; bless to us the means of knowledge and 
improvement ; make us thoughtful of others, con- 
siderate of the poor and afflicted, wise and ready 
unto every good word and work. We commend 
unto thee our kindred and friends, beseeching thee 
to grant them the promise of the life that now 
is ; and, in the world to come, life everlasting. We 
pray for thy holy Church universal, for the coming 
of light and peace and salvation in the latter-day 
glory to all the earth, through Christ our Lord ; 
and to thy name be power and glory and dominion 
' world without end. Amen. 



200 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Genesis xxxii. — 9. And Jacob said, God of 
my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, 
the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy 
country and to thy kindred, and I will deal well 
with thee ! 

10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mer- 
cies and of all the truth which thou hast showed 
unto thy servant ; for with my staff I passed over 
this Jordan, and now I am become two bands. 

11. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of 
my brother, from the hand of Esau ; for I fear him, 
lest he will come and smite me, and the mother 
with the children. 

12. And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, 
and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which 
cannot be numbered for multitude. 

24. And Jacob was left alone ; and there 
wrestled a man with him until the breaking of 
the day. 

25. And, when he saw that he prevailed not 
against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh ; 
and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint as 
he wrestled with him. 



26. And he said ; Let me go ; for the day break- 
eth. And he said, I will not let thee go except 
thou bless me. 

27. And he said unto him, What is thy name ? 
And he said, Jacob. 

28. And he said, Thy name shall be called no 
more Jacob, but Israel ; for as a prince hast thou 
power with God and with men, and hast pre- 
vailed. 

29. And Jacob asked him,, and said, Tell 7ne, I 
pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is 
it that thou dost ask after my name? And he 
blessed him there. 

30. And Jacob called the name of the place 
Peniel ; for I have seen God face to face, and my 
life is preserved. 

31. And, as he passed over Penuel, the sun rose 
upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 

32. Therefore the children of Israel ate not of 
the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow 
of the thigh, unto this day ; because he touched 
the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that 
shrank. 



Jacob had emancipated himself from his long dependence 
upon Laban, and, with his numerous household and flocks, was 
returning to Canaan. As he approached the Jordan, his sin 
against his brother returned to plague him. His route lay 
across the northern frontier of the region occupied by the roving 
tribes of Esau ; and he had reason to dread his brother's long- 
threatened revenge. Jacob's company, though large, was not 
in fighting-condition ; and Esau was approaching with a band 
of four hundred warriors. Jacob sought to conciliate him with 
friendly and even obsequious messages, and with most liberal 
gifts ; but, while using the policy which was so marked a 
trait in his character, he sought guidance and help from God. 



With humility and gratitude he ascribed all his prosperity to 
the divine favor; with meekness and faith he cast himself 
upon the divine promise ; and then, with an importunity and 
a persistence which ever since have been the pattern of believ- 
ing prayer, he prevailed with God. 

His brother met him with a cordial magnanimity ; and the 
feud of twenty years was buried in a covenant of peace, which 
was soon after sealed at their father's grave. Whatever our 
straits, whatever our faults, whatever our perils, whatever our 
deserts, let us cling to God as our one constant friend, and prove 
the power of prayer to bring him to us " face to face " for our 
salvation. It is the effectual fervent prayer that availeth much. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 48, 56, 188. 



Father of mercies, accept our humble thanksgiv- 
ing for all the tokens of thy love. We thank thee 
for thy watchful care over us during the past night, 
and for the light and the comfort of this morning. 
For life and health and reason, for the bounties of 
thy providence, for our individual and domestic 
blessings, for all that mingles in the cup of life to 
make life happy, we offer our grateful praise. Thou 
hast led us in all our past days, and hast ordered 
our way in mercy. Oh ! guide us with the wisdom 
that is from above. Give us heart and courage 
for the duties of this day. Keep us in our going- 
out and our coming-in. Preserve us from all dan- 
ger and evil, from accident, and from sudden death. 
Plentifully endue us with thy grace, that we may 
walk worthy of our high calling, and in all tilings 
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. Let not 
sin have dominion over us. Save us, we beseech 
thee, from the consequences of our own misdoings, 
and help us to walk uprightly. Oh ! give us the 
spirit of believing and prevailing prayer, and the 
victory of faith. 



Ever keep this household in thy love. [Oh, may 
these children be preserved from all harm, from all 
evil, from all sin, and made happy in thy love ! 
May they shun the way of folly, and choose the 
fear of the Lord !] 

The blessings which we ask for ourselves, let it 
please thee, God! to extend to all who are dear 
to us by the ties of nature and affection. Lift 
upon them the light of thy countenance, and sat- 
isfy them with thy goodness. Hear us when we 
pray for the good estate of the whole catholic 
Church. Clothe thy ministers with salvation, and 
let thy chosen people rejoice. Have pity upon 
the nations, and fill the world with thy glory. 
Strengthen the sons of toil, and comfort the 
children of sorrow. Be thou the father of the 
fatherless, the judge of the widow, and the rest of 
the weary. 

Our Father in heaven, take us to the bosom of 
thy love, and keep us evermore, through Jesus 
Christ our Saviour ; to whom, with thee and the 
Holy Ghost, be glory everlasting. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



201 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Genesis xxxv. — 1. And God said unto Jacob, 
Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there, and make 
there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee 
when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. 

2. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to 
all that were with him, Put away the strange gods 
that are among you, and be clean, and change your 
garments : 

3. And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el ; and 
I will make there an altar unto God, who answered 
me in the day of my distress, and was with me in 
the way which I went. 

4. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange 
gods which were in their hand, and all their ear- 
rings which were in their ears ; and Jacob hid them 
under the oak which was by Shechem. 

5. And they journeyed; and the terror of God 
was upon the cities that were round about them, 
and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 

6. So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land 
of Canaan (that is, Beth-el), he and all the people 
that icere with him. 

7. And he built there an altar, and called the 
place El-beth-el, because there God appeared unto 
him when he fled from the face of his brother. 



8. But Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died ; and 
she was buried beneath Beth-el, under an oak; 
and the name of it was called AUon-bachuth [that 
is, the oak of weeping]. 

9. And God appeared unto Jacob again when 
he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. 

10. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob : 
thy name shall not be called anj^ more Jacob, but 
Israel shall be thy name ; and he called his name 
Israel. 

11. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty : 
be fruitful and multiply ; a nation and a company 
of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come 
out of thy loins. 

12. And the land which I gave Abraham and 
Isaac, to thee I will give it ; and to thy seed after 
thee will I give the land. 

13. And God went up from him in the place 
where he talked with him. 

14. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place 
where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone ; 
and he poured a drink-offering thereon, and he 
poured oil thereon. 

15. And Jacob called the name of the place 
where God spake with him Beth-el. 



On returning to Canaan, Jacob had established himself in 
the beautiful Vale of Shechem, where he bought the well which 
to this day bears his name. But a quarrel arose between his 
sons and the men of Shechem ; and the patriarch moved south- 
ward to Bethel, — the place hallowed by his vision of the 
ladder, when he lay there, a solitary fugitive, with a stone for 
his pillow. Rachel had brought with her "for good luck" 
the amulets and charms that were used in her father's house. 
No doubt the servants had many things of the same sort, and 
some of the household had been led to adopt such as they 
found in use at Shechem. Ear-rings having images of the 



gods were used as amulets. Jacob purified and reformed his 
household from these practices of idolatry, and restored them 
to the true worship of Jehovah. God would have us keep in 
remembrance his former mercies by memorials of his grace. 
When one who has grown rich in the city returns to his 
birthplace in the country, and rebuilds the dilapidated clrarch 
or schoolhouse, or founds a library, an academy, an asylum, 
he is following the example of Jacob in building an altar to 
the Lord, who answered him in the day of his weakness, and 
was with him in the way which he went. One may thus make 
himself a very patriarch of blessing to after-generations. 



Appropriate Hyiixs,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 2, 17, 42. 



Almighty God, who hast revealed unto us what schools, all missionary labor, all the efforts of thy 



eye had not seen, nor ear heard, and what had 
never entered into the heart of man to conceive, 
we bless thee for the manifestation of thyself in 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Oh ! for his sake hear us, 
and take away our sins. Thankful for the mercies 
of the night and of the week now closed, we joy- 
fully commit ourselves to thee for this holy day. 



people to save the lost. Let thy kingdom come, 
and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

Holy Father, we pray for all who are in trouble 
and sorrow, that it may please thee to comfort 
them in their distress, and give them a happy 
issue out of their affliction. Have compassion on 
the poor; succor the tried and the tempted; loose 



Lord of the sabbath, bless us with thy Spirit, the chain of the captive ; hear the sigh of the 
that, through the power of his grace, we may enter prisoner; and be with those who are doomed to 
into the holiest rest, and partake of the purest joy. die. Praised be thy name for the mercies of this 
Go with us to thy house. Help us to worship in life, — for our home-comforts, our means of educa- 
the beauty of holiness. May we put away all tion, our manifold enjoyments and privileges. TTe 
idols from our hearts, all sins from our thoughts ! commend ourselves as a family, with all our kin- 
and may thy truth make us wise unto salvation dred and friends, unto thy heavenly care and bless- 
through faith in thy Son ! ing. May this family altar be to us a Beth-el, 

We commend to thee, God ! the whole catho- making this the house of God ! Accept our thanks, 
lie Church. Pour down upon thy ministry, and pardon our sins, sanctify our souls, and prepare us 
all congregations committed to their care, the for glory everlasting, through Jesus Christ, our 
healthful spirit of thy grace. Bless all Sunday only Mediator. Amen. 



202 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



John iii. — 25. Then there arose a question be- 
tween some of John's disciples and the Jews about 
purifying. 

26. And they came unto John, and said unto 
him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, 
to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same 
baptizeth, and all men come to him. 

27. John answered and said, A man can receive 
nothing except it be given him from heaven. 

28. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said 
I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 

29. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom ; but 
the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and 
heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bride- 
groom's voice : this my joy, therefore, is fulfilled. 

30. He must increase ; but I must decrease. 

31. He that cometh from above is above all: he 
that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the 
earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 

32. And what he hath seen and heard, that he 
testifieth ; and no man receiveth his testimony. 

33. He that hath received his testimony hath 
set to his seal that God is true. 

34. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the 
words of God ; for God giveth not the Spirit by 
measure unto him. 



The disciples of Jesus began to make proselytes, and to bap- 
tize them, — probably into the confession of Jesus himself as 
the Christ. The Pharisees, who had questioned the authority 
of John's baptism, now stirred up a dispute with his adherents 
touching this newer baptism, and endeavored to excite John's 
jealousy by reporting that Jesus was gaining more disciples 
than he. With a touching humility, John refers their relative 
position to the appointment of Heaven ; accepts thankfully the 
place of the forerunner and the friend of Christ ; and finds his 
own joy in testifying to the more glorious personality and office 
of Him, who, having come from heaven, is above all. 

How sacred such a friendship ! how exquisite such a de- 
votion ! Happy indeed will it be for us, if, when we have 
striven to fulfil our sphere and office in life, we can resign it 
to some younger or more fortunate, and perhaps more quali- 



35. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given 
all things into his band. 

36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlast- 
ing life ; and he that believeth not the Son shall 
not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on 
him. 

I John V. — 9. If we receive the witness of men, 
the witness of God is greater ; for this is the wit- 
ness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 

10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath 
the witness in himself: he that believeth not God 
hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the 
record that God gave of his Son. 

11. And this is the record, that God hath given 
to us eternal life ; and this life is in his Son. 

12. He that hath the Son hath life ; and he 
that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 

13. These things have I written unto you that 
believe on the name of the Son of God ; that ye 
may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye 
may believe on the name of the Son of God. 

20. And we know that the Son of God is come, 
and hath given us an understanding, that we may 
know him that is true ; and we are in him that is 
true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the 
true God, and eternal life. 



fied person, and, free from envy, rejoice in the prosperity of 
the work in his hands. Sooner or later we must learn to 
say, "He must increase; but I must decrease." The lesson 
will be easier if we early learn it at the feet of Christ, — 
first by cultivating the spirit of Him, who, that he might 
redeem us, " made himself of no reputation ; " and next by 
consecrating our lives, in all their purposes, events, and re- 
sults, to his blessed and ever-glorious will. The fulness of 
the divine spirit, of divine power and grace, is in Christ. 
Uniting ourselves to him by faith, we can give up all things 
for his sake ; for, the more we lose of this life, the more 
shall we prize the life everlasting. Withholding ourselves 
from him, we do but bring upon our own souls a loss for 
which there is no compensation here, and no remedy in the 
hereafter. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 21, 28, 99. 



O Thou who art the light and the life of the 
world ! have compassion, we pray thee, upon those 
who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of 
death ; and as thou didst at the first, by the preach- 
ing of thine apostles, cause the light of thy gospel 
to shine throughout the world, be pleased to make 
thy ways known upon earth, thy saving health unto 
all nations. Bless thy servants who have gone into 
distant lands to proclaim the message of salvation. 
Endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them 
with thy heavenly grace ; prosper them in all their 
labors ; and give them souls as their reward. And, 
thou Lord of the harvest ! we pray thee to send 
fortli more laborers into thy harvest. May they 
both sow the seed and reap the fruit of their labors ! 

We bring to thee, Lord ! the homage of our 



hearts ; blessing thee for the mercies of the day, 
and desiring to worship thee ever in spirit and 
in truth. We praise and adore thee for thy great 
mercy in Jesus Christ our Saviour : oh ! do thou 
for his sake take away our sins, and sanctify us by 
thy truth and thy Spirit. Keep us ever humble, 
ever faithful ; doing all for the love of Christ, and 
giving unto Christ all honor and glory. Bless to 
us the reading and hearing of thy Word, the wor- 
ship and order of thine house. Bless the assem- 
blies of thy people, the communion of thy saints, 
the instruction of children, the visiting and teach- 
ing of thy servants among the poor, by the wayside, 
and from house to house. Command thy blessing 
upon Zion, — even life forevermore. Hear us for 
Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



203 



MONDAY. 



Matthew xii. — 38. Then certain of the scribes 
and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we 
would see a sign from thee. 

39. But he answered and said to thern, An evil 
and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and 
there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of 
the prophet Jonas. 

40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights 
in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of man be 
three days and three nights in the heart of the 
earth. 

41. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment 
with this generation, and shall condemn it : because 
they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, be- 
hold, a greater than Jonas is here. 

42. The queen of the south shall rise up in the 
judgment with this generation, and shall condemn 
it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the 
earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, 
a greater than Solomon is here. 

43. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a 
man, he walketk through dry places, seeking rest, 
and findeth none. 



44. Then he saith, I will return into my house 
from whence I came out; and, when he is come, he 
findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 

45. Then goeth he and taketh with himself 
seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and 
they enter in and dwell there ; and the last state 
of that man is worse than the first. Even so 
shall it be also unto this wicked generation. 

46. While he yet talked to the people, behold, 
his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring 
to speak with him. 

47. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother 
and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak 
with thee. 

48. But he answered and said unto him that 
told him, Who is my mother? and who are my 
brethren ? 

49. And he stretched forth his hand toward his 
disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my 
brethren ! 

50. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father 
which is in heaven, the same is my brother and 
sister and mother. 



The multiplication of miracles would not multiply con- 
versions. The miracle addresses itself primarily to the exter- 
nal senses, excites wonder and awe, awakens inquiry, may 
convince the understanding, and, where its effects are benefi- 
cent, may touch the heart ; but conversion proceeds from 
the heart, and manifests itself through the will in the out- 
ward life. These scribes and Pharisees had seen miracles 
enough, but had resisted their testimony, and had even at- 
tributed them to the power of Satan. They now demanded 
some such wonder as Satan himself had suggested in the 
temptation, — that Jesus should leap from the pinnacle of the 
temple, and. sail down as from heaven. He would not minis- 
ter to their captious, cavilling spirit, but, under the figure of 



the prophet Jonah, predicted his own death and resurrection. 
He then pointed out their guilt in resisting the accumulated 
evidence of the divinity within himself and the higher light 
of his teachings. The tendency of men who resist truth is 
from bad to worse : the course of error and unbelief is ever 
downwards. But, while Jesus thus rebuked apostasy, he 
turned with loving tenderness toward those who sought the 
will of God. Nearer than the closest earthly ties is the affec- 
tion of Jesus for his disciples ; and, though we see no wonders 
of his hand, we may share his heart through a loving conse- 
cration to our Father which is in heaven. When we consider 
the tender love of Jesus for his mother, what an ineffable joy 
and glory are opened by this promise to those who do his will ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 144, 145, 151. 



We come to thee this morning, heavenly Father, 
with hearts full of thankfulness for the mercies of 
the night. We have rested in safety and in peace 
under the shadow of thy wing. Thou hast kept us 
quiet from the fear of evil : nor sickness nor death, 
nor tempest nor fire, nor any calamity, hath over- 
taken us or our dwelling. How sure are the mercies 
of thy covenant, Lord ! All thy promises in Christ 
Jesus are Yea and Amen. Fulfil unto us, we be- 
seech thee, these thy mercies and promises, and 
cause that this day we may rejoice in thy salvation. 

Bless to us thy Word which we have now read. 
Oh ! sanctify us by thy truth ; and, while we re- 
ceive its instruction and comfort in our hearts, 
may we carry out its precepts in our lives, and 
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
things ! May we be just and true, loving and kind, 
gentle, forbearing, and forgiving, and so shine as 
lights in the world, holding forth the Word of life ! 
May every day witness some new victory over evil 



desires and passions within us, and over the evil 
that is in the world ! By feeding upon thy Word, 
the bread of heaven, may we grow up into Him 
who is our Life and Head, even Christ ! [Oh ! may 
these children grow in grace as they grow in years 
and in knowledge ! May they shun evil compan- 
ions and evil ways, and walk in the way of thy 
commandments !] Keep all dear to us even as the 
apple of thine eye. Bless our neighbors, and send 
thy Spirit upon this whole community. Bless our 
rulers, and the schools and churches in our land. 
May all who rule, and all who teach, be led and 
taught by thee ! Have pity upon the poor and the 
sorrowing ; upon homes made desolate by famine, 
pestilence, or war. Stay thy judgments, Lord ! 
and send peace and salvation to all people. Mer- 
cifully forgive our sins, and bring us unto the per- 
fection of knowledge, of holiness, and of blessed- 
ness, in Jesus Christ our Lord ; to whom be glory 
forever. Amen. 



204 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Jonah ii. — 1. Then Jonah prayed unto the 
Lord his God out of the fish's belly, 

2. And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction 
unto the Lord, and he heard me ; out of the belly 
of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. 

3. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the 
midst of the seas ; and the floods compassed me 
about : all thy billows and thy waves passed over 
me. 

4. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight ; yet 
I will look again toward thy holy temple. 

5. The waters compassed me about, even to the 
soul : the depth closed me round about ; the weeds 
were wrapped about my head. 

6. I went down to the bottoms of the moun- 
tains ; the earth with her bars was about me for- 
ever : yet hast thou brought up my life from cor- 
ruption, Lord my God ! 

7. When my soul fainted within me, I remem- 
bered the Lord ; and my prayer came in unto thee, 
into thine holy temple. 

Matthew xiv. — 22. And straightway Jesus con- 
strained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go 
before him unto the other side, while he sent the 
multitudes away. 

23. And, when he had sent the multitudes 
away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray ; 



Impetuous, querulous, bold, and timid, by turns, Jonah 
was the very prototype of Peter. When God subjected him 
to the highest test of obedience, his faith faltered ; and this 
brought him into peril of his life ; but, in his extremity, faith 
rallied to deliver him. It was so with Peter. 

There are occasions in life when to doubt is to fail. Doubt 
is the vertigo that disorders our mental vision, and blinds the 
judgment ; so that, the higher we try to rise, the more likely 
are we to fall. Doubt is the paralysis of the will, that ren- 
ders our moral decisions and efforts tremulous and uncertain, 
and causes us to stumble and fall in the very effort to walk. 
So long as Peter fixed his faith steadily upon Christ, he could 
quit the vessel without fear, step forth upon the sea, and walk 
upon the raging waves : but the instant he began to question 
what he was doing, and the probability of going forward, he 
began to sink ; for he lost hold of that spiritual power which 
had counteracted gravity, and there was nothing left to keep 

Appropriate Hymns,] 



and, when the evening was come, he was there 
alone. 

24. But the ship was now in the midst of the 
sea, tossed with waves ; for the wind was contrary. 

25. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus 
went unto them, walking on the sea. 

26. And, when the disciples saw him walking on 
the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit ; 
and they cried out for fear. 

27. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, 
saying, Be of good cbeer; it is I; be not afraid. 

28. And Peter answered him, and said, Lord, if 
it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 

29. And he said, Come. And, when Peter was 
come down out of the ship, he walked on the 
water to go to Jesus. 

30. But, when he saw the wind boisterous, he 
was afraid; and, beginning to sink, he cried, say- 
ing, Lord, save me ! 

31. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his 
hand, and caught him, and said unto him, thou 
of little faith ! wherefore didst thou doubt ? 

32. And, when they were come into the ship, 
the wind ceased. 

33. Then they that were in the ship came and 
worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the 
Son of God. 



him up. He, the stout fisherman, the brave swimmer, who 
for his whole life had been at home upon that sea, cried in ter- 
ror, " Lord, save me, or I perish ! " The energy of faith was 
palsied for action ; but the earnestness of faith revived for 
trusting. Jesus, who mingled tenderness with rebuke, recog- 
nized the reality and sincerity of his faith, while he reproved 
him for its feebleness ; for " little faith " is a different thing 
from faithlessness. The essence of faith is an unfaltering 
trust in Christ, and its strength lies in its simplicity as an un- 
divided act. In looking to Jesus for salvation, we must look 
to him wholly ; in looking for succor, we must cast all our 
care on him, and take him at his word ; in serving his cause, 
we must obey him implicitly. In every danger, he is nigh. 
No night so dark but he can see us ; no storm so loud 
but he can hear us : and, though the sorrows of death com- 
pass us, we shall still hear his voice, saying, " It is I ; be not 
afraid." 



Prayer. 

Thou only, Lord ! makest us to dwell in safety. 
We lie down at night under the shadow of thy 
wings ; we awake in the morning to the light of 
thy love. We thank thee for another night of rest 
and comfort ; for another day of life, health, and 
hope. Lord ! may we be found faithful to thee 
in the duties of this day ! and, amid its temptations 
and its trials, do thou sustain us, comfort us, keep 
us, and grant us grace in all we do to seek thy 
glory. May this household, which thou hast so 
blessed, serve thee, not at this altar only, but in all 
the walks of life ! As we engage in the business of 
the world, as we go into society, wherever we are, 



and whatever we do, may we remember thee, and viour. Amen. 



[Nos. 26, 57, 168. 

do thy will ! Bless all dear to us who are absent 
from us. Do thou, Lord ! dwell by thy Spirit in 
the hearts and the minds of all our friends. We 
supplicate thy mercy for the needy, the afflicted, 
the bereaved, and the sorrowing. 

Build up thy Church, Lord ! Fill our land 
with pure religion. Bless the industry of the peo- 
ple ; and may its fruit be consecrated to the good 
of men ! May our rulers be faithful and just, walk- 
ing in thy fear ! And we beseech thee to bring all 
lands under the power and glory of thy kingdom. 
Lord ! forgive our sins, and bring us unto thy 
heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Sa- 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



205 



WEDNESDAY. 



Isaiah XXXV. — 1. The wilderness and the soli- 
tary place shall he glad for them ; and the desert 
shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 

2. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice, even 
with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall 
be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and 
Sharon ; they shall see the glory of the Lord, and 
the excellency of our God. 

3. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm 
the feeble knees. 

4. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be 
strong ; fear not : behold, your God will come with 
vengeance, even God with a recompense ; he will 
come and save you. 

5. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, 
and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 

6. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and 
the tongue of the dumb sing ; for in the wilderness 
shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 

Matthew xv. — 21. Then Jesus went thence, 
and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 

22. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out 
of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, 
Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David ! 
my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 

23. But he answered her not a word. And his 



disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her 
away ; for she crieth after us. 

24. But he answered and said, I am not sent but 
unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

25. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, 
Lord, help me. 

26. But he answered and said, It is not meet to 
take the children's bread and to cast it to dogs. 

27. And she said, Truth, Lord ; yet the dogs 
eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' 
table. 

28. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, 
woman ! great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as 
thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole 
from that very hour. 

29. And Jesus departed from thence, and came 
nigh unto the Sea of Galilee ; and went up into a 
mountain, and sat down there. 

30. And great multitudes came unto him, having 
with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, 
maimed, and many others, and cast them down at 
Jesus' feet ; and he healed them : 

31. Insomuch that the multitude wondered, 
when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to 
be whole, the lame to walkj and the blind to see ; 
and they glorified the God of Israel. 



The territory of Phoenicia — a narrow plain which lav along 
the Mediterranean, north of the White Promontory — was 
never annexed to Palestine, but always remained a pagan 
country. The two famous seaports of Tyre and Sidon, about 
twenty miles apart, were often brought into connection with the 
history of the Jews. This, however, was the only instance in 
which our Lord set foot upon pagan soil. His personal mis- 
sion was to the Jews, and through them to all mankind. The 
woman here spoken of, Mark calls " a Greek, a Syro-Phceni- 
cian by nation;" that is, one born in Phoenicia, or Canaan, 
but speaking the Greek language : hence she was a type of 
the Gentile world, burdened with afflictions, hearing of Christ, 



seeking his grace. Her persistence in her petition is a won- 
drous example of faith, — a faith all the more earnest and con- 
fiding, because of the humility of the suppliant, and her sense 
of utter need and helplessness. Jesus tested her by what 
seems, at first, a strange severity; but the lesson he would 
teach was, that his mercy, to be appreciated, must be yearned 
for as the indispensable good. This woman, not having been 
trained in the Jewish faith, might have had only a vague no- 
tion of Christ as a worker of miracles ; but Jesus drew her out 
until her whole soul was concentrated in this one desire, this 
one hope. Even so should we pray, if we would have our prayer 
take hold upon Christ's power, and our desire become his will. 



Appropriate Htiixs,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 1, 99, 102. 



O Lord, our heavenly Father ! we have nothing 
to bring to thee but our wants, and such poor re- 
turn of love and gratitude and praise as these 
hearts can render for thy goodness. As thou dost 
cause our lives to overflow with thy mercies, so do 
thou fill our hearts to overflowing with thy Spirit, 
that we may thank thee and praise thee as we 
ought. The morning calls us again to praise thee 
for thy loving-kindness in the night-season ; and 
every day renews the tokens of thy bounty. Every 
good gift cometh down from thee, the Father of 
lights ; and though we are so changeful in our love, 
so inconstant in our service, with thee there is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind us 
to thyself, our Father! by the mighty attraction 
of thy love. May the love of Christ, who died for 
us that we might live, constrain us to live ever 
unto thee ! 



We pray thee keep us this day from temptation, 
evil, and sin. Prosper us in our lawful undertak- 
ings : may we be upright in our dealings, true and 
kind in our speech, gentle and patient in our 
spirit, pure and holy in our walk ! May we do 
good to all as we shall have opportunity, and so ex- 
hibit in our lives the graces of the gospel, that we 
shall win others to the love of Christ ! And we 
pray that multitudes may be won to the Saviour; 
that thy Church may increase ; that missions may 
prosper ; that thj r Word may be given to all peo- 
ple, and the knowledge of the Lord may fill the 
earth as the waters fill the sea. We thank thee 
1 for our home, and pray thee to bless us with all 
things that we need as a family. Bless the absent 
j who are dear to us ; and bring them, together with 
us, we beseech thee, unto thy heavenly kingdom, 
I through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 




THURSDAY. 



I Corinthians ii. — 1. And I, brethren, when I 
came to you, came not with excellency of speech 
or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of 
God. 

2. For I determined not to know any thing 
among you, save Jesus Christ, and him cruci- 
fied. 

3. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, 
and in much trembling. 

4. And my speech and my preaching was not 
with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in dem- 
onstration of the Spirit, and of power ; 

5. That your faith should not stand in the wis- 
dom of men, but in the power of God. 

6. Howbeit, we speak wisdom among them 
that are perfect ; yet not the wisdom of this 
world, nor of the princes of this world, that come 
to nought : 

7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mys- 
tery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained 
before the world unto our glory ; 

8. Which none of the princes of this world knew ; 
for, had they known it, they would not have cruci- 
fied the Lord of glory. 

9. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor 
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of 



man, the things which God hath prepared for them 
that love him. 

10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his 
Spirit : for the Spirit searcheth all things ; yea, the 
deep things of God. 

11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, 
save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so 
the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit 
of God. 

12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the 
world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we 
might know the things that are freely given to us 
of God. 

13. Which things also we speak, not in the 
words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which 
the Holy Ghost teacheth ; comparing spiritual 
things with spiritual. 

14. But the natural man receiveth not the 
things of the Spirit of God ; for they are foolish- 
ness unto him : neither can he know them, because 
they are spiritually discerned. 

15. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things; 
yet he himself is judged of no man. 

16. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, 
that he may instruct him ? But we have the mind 
of Christ. 



In a capital where philosophy and eloquence were in high 
repute, Paul adhered to the simplicity of the gospel, hoth in the 
statement of doctrine and in his manner of preaching. Phi- 
losophy had failed to fathom " the wisdom of God " in the 
plan of man's redemption : poetry had not imagined, nor 
could human eloquence describe, " the things which God hath 
prepared for them that love him." From the nature of the 
case, the knowledge of such truths must come by revelation. 
But, though these things in themselves transcend the native 
powers of human thought and expression, the Spirit of God 
has inspired their utterance in words clear and simple to who- 
ever will understand them. Yet, simple as are the teachings 
of the Bible, the man whose heart is upon earthly things, 



whose life is made up of what the senses and appetites may 
yield him, — the "natural" or psychical man, as Paul desig- 
nates him, — cannot appreciate them, either in their meaning 
or their power. Only when one follows the leadings of his 
higher nature, and subjects the world and the flesh to reason, 
conscience, and the love of God, — in a word, to the " spiritual " 
faculty within him, — will he discern, approve, and enjoy these 
blessed; saving truths. The chief hinderance to the understand- 
ing of the Bible is moral, not intellectual. Faith must lead 
the way ; and, when this centres in Jesus Christ and him cru- 
cified, it finds in him the highest expression of the wisdom 
and the love of God, — the most wondrous unveiling of spirit- 
ual truth, and the most exhilarating promise of future glory. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 4, 60, 158. 



God, who hast prepared for those who love 
thee such good things as pass man's understand- 
ing ! pour into our hearts such love toward thee, 
that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain 
thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire ; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. May we believe 
all that thou hast spoken, and set our affections 
upon things above ! 

We thank thee, Lord ! for the precious com- 
fort that remains to us concerning dear friends 
who have departed in the faith ; that to them 
heaven is even now a reality ; that they have no 
more want, nor sorrow, nor care, nor sin. Oh, may 
heaven be a reality to our faith ! and may the hope 
of it, yea, the assurance of it, as our home, lift us 
above all the temptations and trials of this present 
world ! Give to us strength for labors, courage 



for conflicts, patience under afflictions, fidelity to 
duty, and faith that shall endure to the end, and 
shall make us more than conquerors over death. 
May the true life be now begun in our souls ! and 
daily may we live in thee ! 

We praise thee, Lord ! for the blessings of the 
present time ; for another night of rest ; for another 
morning of mercy and hope. Oh, may we this day 
love thee more, know thee more, and serve thee bet- 
ter, than ever before ! In all that is given us to do 
may we glorify thy name ; in all that we are called 
to bear may we accept thy holy will ! So may we 
daily live to thee : and, when the things of earth 
shall pass away, make us to be numbered with 
thy saints in glory everlasting, through Jesus 
Christ our Saviour; to whom be all honor and 
glory, world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



207 



FRIDAY. 



I Corinthians iii. — 5. Who is Paul, and who -is 
Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even 
as the Lord gave to every man ? 

6. I have planted ; Apollos watered : but God 
gave the increase. 

7. So, then, neither is he that planteth any 
thing, neither he that watereth ; but God that 
giveth the increase. 

8. Now, he that planteth and he that watereth 
are one ; and every man shall receive his own re- 
ward, according to his own labor. 

9. For we are laborers together with God : ye 
are God's husbandry ; ye are God's building. 

10. According to the grace of God which is given 
unto me, as a wise master-builder I have laid the 
foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let 
every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 

11. For other foundation can no man lay than 
that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

12. Now, if any man build upon this foundation 
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 



The modesty and humility of Paul in every thing that re- 
lated to himself were as remarkable as his boldness and zeal 
where the doctrine that he preached, the cause of his Lord, or 
his commission as an ambassador for Christ, was concerned. 
His was no feigned humility, that would excuse him from 
labor and responsibility upon the plea that he had no fitness 
or no influence. He knew what he could do as a planter or 
builder ; and he spoke of this freely, and, when circumstances 
called for it, with decision. But he always ascribed to the 
grace of God both his qualifications for his work, and his suc- 
cess in it ; and, free from all trace of jealousy or envy, he gave 
to others their meed of praise. 



13. Every man's work shall be made manifest : 
for the day shall declare it, because it shall be re- 
vealed by fire ; and the fire shall try every man's 
work, of what sort it is. 

14. If any man's work abide which he hath 
built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 

15. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall 
suffer loss : but he himself shall be saved ; yet so 
as by fire. 

Psalm cxxvi. — 5. They that sow in tears shall 
reap in joy. 

6. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing 
precious seed, shall doubtless come again with re- 
joicing, bringing his sheaves with him. 

Psalm cxxvii. — 1. Except the Lord build the 
house, they labor in vain that build it ; except the 
Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in 
vain. 

2. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up 
late, to eat the bread of sorrows ; for so he giveth 
his beloved sleep. 



But the same thought that made him humble exalted him ; 
for, since he worked only by the help of divine grace, he thus 
became a " laborer together with God." Such is the dignity 
that our Lord puts, not only upon the minister and the mis- 
sionary, but upon the Bible-reader, the Sunday-school teacher, 
the private Christian in every walk of life who seeks to do his 
work in his spirit and to his name. But, to enjoy this divine 
aid and approval, we must be careful where we build, and what 
we build. There is but one foundation that can stand ; and 
all our beliefs and all our works must be built upon Christ, 
and in the spirit of Christ, if they would stand the searching 
test of the last day. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 16, 99, 159. 



Heavenly Father, in whose favor is life, we 
render thanks for thy protecting care during the 
night, and for the manifold mercies of this morn- 
ing. We adore thee for life and health, and the 
bounties of thy providence. So fill us with thy 
grace, that we may worthily show forth thy praise 
in our bodies and our spirits, which are thine. 

Keep us this day in thy fear and love. Grant 
that we may fall into no sin ; and that, in the hour 
of temptation and of evil, we may overcome through 
the power of faith and by the grace of thy Spirit. 
Let integrity and uprightness preserve us in all 
our dealings and in all our doings. Let no pros- 
pect of gain, and no fear of loss, ever tempt us to 
depart from thy truth. In all the duties, perplex- 
ities, and struggles of life, inspire us with child- 
like trust in thy faithfulness and love. Let thy 
grace be sufficient for us, and thy strength be 
perfected in our weakness. Grant us all needful 
light and guidance. Order our footsteps in thy 
ways. Help us to do justly, and to love mercy. 
Let the blood of Christ, who, through the eternal 



Spirit, offered himself without spot unto thee, purge 
our consciences from dead works, that we may 
henceforth serve thee in newness and righteous- 
ness of life. May we be built upon Christ, the sure 
foundation ! and may we build in truth and right- 
eousness ! 

Gracious God, we commend to thy fatherly 
blessing our family, our kindred, and our friends. 
May it please thee to sanctify us all, and preserve 
us unto thy heavenly joy ! Have compassion upon 
the poor and the needy. Lift upon thy suffering 
and sorrowing children the light of thy counte- 
nance, and pour into their hearts the balm of con- 
solation. Break the rod of the oppressor, and let 
the captive go free. Bless and prosper thy Church, 
and give unto thy Son the kingdom promised in 
thy Word. 

O God, whose nature and property it is ever to 
have mercy ! in the pitifulness of thy love forgive 
our sins, hear our prayers, accept our persons, and 
do more for us than we ask or think, through Jesus 
Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Psalm xi. — 1. In the Lord put I my trust: 
how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your 
mountain ? 

2. For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make 
ready their arrow upon the string, that they may 
privily shoot at the upright in heart. 

3. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the 
righteous do ? 

4. The Lord is in his holy temple ; the Lord's 
throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids 
try, the children of men. 

5. The Lord trieth the righteous ; but the 
wicked and him that loveth violence bis soul hateth. 

6. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire 
and brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this shall 
be the portion of their cup. 

7. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness ; 
his countenance doth behold the upright. 

Psalm xii. — 1. Help, Lord; for the godly 
man ceaseth ; for the faithful fail from among the 
children of men. 

2. They speak vanity every one with his neigh- 
bor; with flattering lips and with a double heart 
do they speak. 

3. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and 
the tongue that speaketh proud things ; 

4. Who have said, With our tongue will we pre- 
vail ; our lips are our own ; who is lord over us ? 



These psalms are all in the same key, — trust in the Lord 
in times of danger and trial. Adopting the view of Tho- 
luck, and inverting the order of the first two, we have a con- 
nection in time as well as in thought. Psalm xii. was written 
while David was at the court of Saul, which was daily becom- 
ing more and more corrupt. He sees that fraud and flattery- 
pave the way to promotion. He knows that he is the object 
of envy, and surrounded by hypocrites and maligners. But, 
though he is thus hemmed about by the ungodly who arc plot- 
ting his destruction, he will not lose heart " so long as the 
gate of prayer is open." By that he can always escape to his 
Refuge and Helper. 

Psalm xi. was written when David, driven out by the jeal- 
ousy of Saul, was hunted " as when one doth hunt a partridge 
in the mountains." For years he was a fugitive in the 
mountains of Judah bordering upon the Dead Sea, flitting 
from height to height as a bird pursued by the marksman ; but, 



5. For the oppression of the poor, for the sigh- 
ing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord ; 
I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at 
him. 

6. The words of the Lord are pure words ; as 
silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven 
times. 

7. Thou shalt keep them, Lord! thou shalt 
preserve them from this generation forever. 

8. The wicked walk on every side when the 
vilest men are exalted. 

Psalm cxxi. — 1. I will lift up mine eyes unto 
the hills, from whence cometh my help. 

2. My help cometh from the Lord, which made 
heaven and earth. 

3. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved : he 
that keepeth thee will not slumber. 

4. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither 
slumber nor sleep. 

5. The Lord is thy keeper ; the Lord is thy 
shade upon thy right hand. 

6. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the 
moon by night. 

7. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil ; 
he shall preserve thy soul. 

8. The Lord shall preserve thy going-out and 
thy coming-in from this time forth, and even for- 
evermore. 



though the wicked seemed to triumph, he never lost his confi- 
dence in God. " Though justice, faith, and truth may seem 
to have fled from the earth, Jehovah will never suffer the 
boundaries which separate right from wrong to be effaced. 
He continues holy and unchangeable on his heavenly throne, 
and is able in a moment to reverse the most desperate condi- 
tion of his servants." 

Psalm cxxi. is of later date, and by another hand. The 
troubled soul looks for help to the hill of Zion where Jehovah 
dwells. " The weak in faith are prone to imagine, at the de- 
lay of divine deliverance, that God has forgotten them ; " but 
he never ceases his watch, never withdraws his care. It is a 
token of the inspiration of the Psalms, that, however they may 
have been prompted by the circumstances of the writers, they 
come home to our personal experiences, and utter our thoughts 
and feelings as if coined out of the conflicts and the desires, 
the sorrows and the hopes, of our own hearts. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 17, 35, 37. 



Thou only, Lord, makest us to dwell in safety : 
therefore will we lie down in peace, and sleep. 
We commit ourselves to thy keeping; for the dark- 
ness and the light are both alike to thee. Oh ! keep 
us this night under the shadow of thy wings ; grant 
us the sleep which thou givest to thy beloved. 

O Lord Jesus, who hast invited the weary and 
heavy-laden to come unto thee that thou mayest 
give them rest ! grant us, we pray thee, rest from 
all care and trouble, from all sin and sorrow ; and 
prepare us by thy grace for that holy and blessed 
rest which remaineth for the people of God. 



We thank thee for this holy day, — its sacred 
memories, its blessed communion of prayer and 
praise, its comforting sacraments, its teachings 
and promises, and its immortal hopes. 

Bless thy Word, Lord ! to all who have heard 
it : to the young, for their guidance ; to the aged, 
for their comfort; to all, for their instruction in 
righteousness. And, Lord ! send, we pray thee, 
thy Word to those who have it not. Let thy salva- 
tion be known in all the earth ; and hasten the 
coming of thy kingdom. And unto thy name be 
I honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY JN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



John iii. — 1. There was a man of the Pharisees 
named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews : 

2. The same came to Jesus by night, and said 
unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher 
come from God ; for no man can do these miracles 
that thou doest, except God be with him. 

3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, 
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born 
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 

4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man 
be born when he is old ? can he enter the second 
time into his mothers womb, and be born ? 

5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto 
thee, Except a man be born of water and of the 
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh ; and 
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must 
be born again. 

8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou 
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell 
whence it cometh, and whither it goeth : so is 
every one that is born of the Spirit. 

9. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, 
How can these things be ? 

10. Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou 
a master of Israel, and knowest not these things ? 

11. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak 
that we do know, and testify that we have seen ; 
and ye receive not our witness. 



Christ here laid down the uniform condition of admission 
into his kingdom. Natural birth, position, advantages, can- 
not determine this ; outward reformation, education, intellect- 
ual and moral culture, will not suffice for this ; baptism, con- 
firmation, church-membership, are not its equivalent. Every 
man must be renewed in the spirit of his mind, by re- 
nouncing selfishness, the love of this world, and every form 
of sin, and consecrating himself, as his supreme purpose and 
his highest delight, to the service of God, in a holy and 
blameless life. This inward renewal is required of all alike, 
because, in the light of God's holy law, all are sinners in heart 
and deed. This renewal is made possible to all, because 



12. If I have told you earthly things, and ye 
believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of 
heavenly things ? 

13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven 
but he that came down from heaven, even the Son 
of man which is in heaven. 

14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the 
wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted 
up; 

15. That whosoever believeth in him should not 
perish, but have eternal life. 

16. For God so loved the world, that he gave 
his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth 
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

17. Eor God sent not his Son into the world to 
condemn the world, but that the world through 
him might be saved. 

18. He that believeth on him is not condemned ; 
but he that believeth not is condemned already, 
because he hath not believed in the name of the 
only-begotten Son of God. 

19. And this is the condemnation, that light - is 
come into the world, and men loved darkness 
rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the 
light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds 
should be reproved. 

21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, 
that his deeds may be made manifest that they 
are wrought in God. 



Christ came to deliver men from sin through his sacrifice 
upon the cross ; and to turn to him in faith, to renounce the 
the evil of our lives, and trust, love, and serve the Lord Jesus 
as our Saviour, is to be thus renewed. This renewal is urged 
upon all ; since for this the Holy Spirit seeks us, draws us, 
quickens us, and, if we do heartily yield to his grace, will 
renew and sanctify us. The love of God meets us in his 
truth, reaches forth to us through his Son, follows after us by 
his Spirit ; and, with all these influences of mercy to draw us 
into his kingdom, nothing can keep us out but our own unbe- 
lief. The responsibility of our eternal future rests wholly 
with ourselves. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Xos. 10, 17, 93. 



Oh ! grant us grace, Father in heaven, to hear 
thy Word, and to obey it. We would make haste, 
and delay not, to keep thy commandments. Thou 
hast a right, Lord ! to our time, our gifts, our 
hearts, our persons ; to all that we are, and all that 
we have : for thou hast created us, and hast re- 
deemed us with the precious blood of thy Son. 
We would begin this sabbath in thy fear : help us 
in all things to please and honor thee. 

We give thee thanks for the mercies of the night, 
and for all the mercies of our past lives, — for home 
and its blessings ; for friends, and all the ministries 
of love ; for health, knowledge, comfort, and pros- 
perity ; but, above all things, for thy grace in the 



gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we ever be 
ready to acknowledge him the Son of God, the 
Saviour of the world ! May men in the high places 
of power and influence consecrate themselves to 
him ! may the poor and lowly trust in him ! may 
children sing hosannas to the Son of David ! Show 
forth this day, Lord ! thy glory in the sanctuary. 
For all thy mercies in the gospel, we bless and 
magnify thy glorious name ; humbly beseeching 
thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise 
and thanksgiving for His sake who lay down in 
the grave, and rose again for us, — thy Son, our 
Saviour Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory and do- 
minion, world without end. Amen. 



210 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm cxviii. — 22. The stone which the build- 
ers refused is become the head stone of the corner. 

23. This is the Lord's doing : it is marvellous 
in our eyes. 

24. This is the day which the Lord hath made : 
we will rejoice and be glad in it. 

25. Save now, I beseech thee, Lord ! Lord ! 
I beseech thee, send now prosperity. 

26. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of 
the Lord : we have blessed you out of the house 
of the Lord : 

27. God is the Lord, which hath showed us light : 
bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns 
of the altar. 

28. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee ; 
thou art my God, I will exalt thee. 

29. Oh ! give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is 
good : for his mercy endureth forever. 

Ephesians ii. — 8. For by grace are ye saved, 
through faith; and that of not yourselves: it is 
the gift of God : 

9. Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

10. For we are his workmanship, created in 
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath 
before ordained that we should walk in them. 

11. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time 
past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncir- 
cumcision by that which is called the Circumcision 
in the flesh made by hands ; 

12. That at that time ye were without Christ, 



The commonwealth of Israel was the outward type of that 
spiritual community of which God is the head, and in which 
holiness is the life. * By means of this was figured the govern- 
ment of God over a people obedient to his law, and devoted 
to his praise. The Gentiles, who followed other gods, were 
aliens from that commonwealth, and could have no part in its 
promises or blessings, except as they should become proselytes 
unto the house of Israel. But when, on the one hand, the 
theocracy had served its purpose as a type, and, on the other, 
the Jews had begun to boast this as their salvation, the walls 
of the material city were broken down, and the true spiritual 



being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and 
strangers from the covenants of promise, having 
no hope, and without God in the world : 

13. But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who some- 
time were far off are made nigh by the blood of 
Christ. 

14. For he is our peace, who hath made both 
one, and hath broken down the middle wall of 
partition between us ; 

15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, 
even the law of commandments contained in ordi- 
nances, for to make in himself of twain one new 
man, so making peace ; 

16. And that he might reconcile both unto God 
in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity 
thereby ; 

17. And came and preached peace to you which 
were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 

18. For through him we both have access by one 
Spirit unto the Father. 

19. Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and 
foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and 
of the household of God ; 

20. And are built upon the foundation of the 
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being 
the chief comer-stone; 

21. In whom all the building, fitly framed to- 
gether, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord : 

22. In whom ye also are builded together for a 
habitation of God through the Spirit. 



Jerusalem came forth as the household of God, embracing all 
believers. This commonwealth has its temple, — a temple 
built of living stones. The prophets, who had taught of the 
coming of Christ, and the apostles, who witnessed for his doc- 
trine, his death, and his resurrection, joined in laying their 
faith upon Christ himself as the chief corner-stone. On that 
same foundation all true believers are established ; in that same 
faith they are builded together : so that, without distinction of 
name, race, or country, all who believe constitute one house- 
hold, in which God "himself abides, pervading every heart 
with his Spirit. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



[Nos. 104, 196, 199. 



Thou, Lord, only makest us to dwell in safety : 
therefore will we lie down in peace, and sleep. 
Keep us this night under the shadow of thy wings ; 
grant us the sleep which thou givest to thy be- 
loved; or, if wakeful hours shall be allotted us, 
may we remember thee upon our bed, and medi- 
tate upon thee in the night-watches ! 

Lord Jesus, who hast invited the weary and 
heavy-laden to come unto thee that thou mayest 
give them rest ! grant us, we pray thee, rest from 
all care and trouble, from all sin and sorrow; and 
prepare us by thy grace for that holy and blessed 
rest which remaineth for the people of God. 

We bless thee for our fellowship with thy 
saints ; and we pray for the whole Church of God, 



and 



Prayer. 

that it may be one in spirit and life, in faith 
hope. 

We thank thee for this holy day, — its sacred 
memories, its blessed communion of prayer and 
praise, its comforting sacraments, its teachings 
and promises, and its immortal hopes. May thy 
Word abide with us to teach and sanctify us ! 

And bless thy Word, also, to all who have heard 
it : to the young, for their guidance ; to the aged, 
for their comfort ; to all, for their instruction in 
righteousness. And, Lord ! send, we pray thee, 
thy Word to those who have it not. Let thy salva- 
tion be known in all the earth ; and hasten the 
coming of thy kingdom. And to thy name be 
honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



211 



MONDAY. 



Genesis xxxvii. — 5. And Joseph dreamed a 
dream, and he told it his brethren ; and they hated 
him yet the more. 

6. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, 
this dream which I have dreamed: 

7. For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the 
field; and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood up- 
right; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, 
and made obeisance to my sheaf. 

8. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou in- 
deed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have do- 
minion over us? And they hated him yet the more 
for his dreams and for his words. 

9. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told 
it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a 
dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon 
and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 

10. And he told it to his father, and to his breth- 
ren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto 
him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? 
Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed 
come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth ? 

11. And his brethren envied him ; but his father 
observed the saying. 

12. And his brethren went to feed their father's 
flock in Shechem. 



13. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy 
brethren feed the flock in Shechem ? Come, and I 
will send thee unto them. And he said to him, 
Here am I. 

14. And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see 
whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with 
the flocks ; and bring me word again. So he sent 
him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to 
Shechem. 

18. And when they saw him afar off, even before 
he came near unto them, they conspired against 
him to slay him. 

19. And they said one to another, Behold, this 
dreamer cometh ! 

20. Come now, therefore, and let us slay him, 
and cast him into some pit ; and we will say, Some 
evil beast hath devoured him ; and we shall see 
what will become of his dreams. 

21. And Reuben heard it, and he delivered 
him out of their hands, and said, Let us not kill 
him. 

22. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, 
but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, 
and lay no hand upon him ; that he might rid him 
out of their hands, to deliver him to his father 
again. 



Though his mother's partiality for himself over Esau had 
brought him so much trouble in his earlier life, Jacob now 
fell into the same snare, and made a favorite of Joseph, the 
child of his old age. The vanity of the boy was encouraged 
by the coat of many colors in which his father decked him ; 
and this made him an object of envy to his brethren. This 
spirit was kindled even to hatred by the childish exultation 
with which he told his dreams. His father, however, suspect- 
ing nothing, did not hesitate to put Joseph in the power of 
his brethren at a distance from home. 



Jacob still retained his tract of land in the well-watered 
Vale of Shechem ; and, when the pasturage around Hebron 
had dried up, he sent his flocks up to Shechem, about four 
days' journey. Joseph found them still farther to the north, — 
at a point near the southern edge of the great fertile Plain of 
Esdraelon. He went among his brethren in the innocence of 
his heart ; but the spirit of malice which they had indulged for 
years was now ripe for murder. So fearfully do evil passions 
grow, choking natural affection, honor, truth, and, for a time, 
even conscience itself. Let us beware of the beginnings of envy. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prajrer. 



[Nos. 56, 63, 91. 



Our Father in heaven, we come to thee with 
wants which thou knowest far better than we, and 
for blessings which thou art more ready to give 
than we to ask. Thou hast kept us in the watches 
of the night from every trouble, sorrow, and alarm ; 
thou hast given us refreshing sleep. And now we 
bless thee for the day, for life and health, for 
food and raiment, for home and friends, for means 
of education and of enjoyment, for means of oc- 
cupation and of support, for means of improve- 
ment in the knowledge of thyself from thy works 
and thy Word, and for opportunities of doing 
good to others. Oh ! grant us grace that we 
may use to thy glory the lives which thou didst 
give, and which thy mercy doth continually 
spare. 

We acknowledge, Lord! our unworthiness 
and our sinfulness, and beseech thee to pardon our 
transgressions and heal our infirmities. Help its 
this day to live aright. In the business of life 



may we be diligent, faithful, true ! and do thou, 
Lord, prosper the labor of our hands. In our in- 
tercourse with others, may we manifest the gentle- 
ness, the sincerity, the charity, of the gospel of 
Christ ! May we be patient under trials, meek 
under injuries, firm against temptation, bold for 
the truth, zealous for thy cause ! May we be kind 
to the poor, helpful to the suffering, gentle toward 
all men ! [Give unto these children, Lord ! 
grace to serve thee in the morning of life, and in 
their thoughts and words, their studies and their 
play, always to please their Father in heaven.] 
Remember with thy mercy all our friends ; visit 
with thy grace the homes of all who are dear to 
us. Build up, Lord ! thy Church ; prosper thy 
kingdom in our land, and throughout the world. 
Ever guide, keep, and bless us. Bring us to the 
close of the day in peace, and to the close of life 
in a hope full of immortality, through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



212 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Genesis XXXvii. — 23. And it came to pass, 
when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that 
they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of 
many colors that was on him. 

24. And they took him, and cast hiin into a pit : 
and the pit was empty ; there was no water in it. 

25. And they sat down to eat bread ; and they 
lifted up their eyes and looked, and behold a com- 
pany of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their 
camels bearing spicery and balm and rnyrrb, going 
to carry it down to Egypt. 

26. And Judah said unto his brethren, What 
profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his 
blood? 

27. Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, 
and let not our hand be upon him ; for he is our 
brother and our flesh : and his brethren were con- 
tent. 

28. Then there passed by Midianites, merchant- 
men ; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of 
the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for 
twenty pieces of silver; and they brought Joseph 
into Egypt. 

29. And Reuben returned unto the pit : and, 



behold, Joseph was not in the pit ; and he rent his 
clothes. 

30. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, 
The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? 

31. And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a 
kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood ; 

32. And they sent the coat of many colors, and 
they brought it to their father, and said, This 
have we found: know now whether it be thy son's 
coat or no. 

33. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's 
coat ; an evil beast hath devoured him : Joseph is 
without doubt rent in pieces. 

34. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sack- 
cloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many 
days. 

35. And all his sons and all his daughters rose 
up to comfort him ; but he refused to be comforted ; 
and he said, For I will go down into the grave 
unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for 
him. 

36. And the Midianites sold him into Egypt 
unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain 
of the guard. 



Though the brethren of Joseph were agreed in wishing 
to rid themselves of such a competitor for the family honors, 
Reuben and Judah had enough of pity or of compunction 
to wish to save his life. Reuben contrived to have him cast 
into an empty cistern, intending afterwards to rescue him ; 
and now Judah managed to preserve his life by proposing 
to sell him into slavery. There was much commerce between 
Egypt and Asia. The spices and resins so much used in 
Egypt for embalming were brought from the East. Slaves, 
too, were always in demand. The route of caravans crossing 
the Jordan at Beisan lay near Dothan ; so that these Ishmael- 
itish traders naturally passed that way. Thus every incident 
of the narrative is verified by the geographical features of the 
country, and by the commercial customs of the times. The 



natural way in which these incidents are given, and the per- 
fect accuracy of all such allusions, mark the story as an 
authentic record of fact. 

Crime begets crime. Envy brought forth malice, deceit, 
lying, the intent of murder, and the kindred crime of man- 
stealing. Such a fountain of iniquity is the heart of man ! 
What a dreadful secret had these ten men to carry all their 
lives ! And poor old Jacob ! — his final retribution for the de- 
ception practised upon his brother comes in this cruel decep- 
tion, that shall carry him mourning down into the grave ! 
God, indeed, had better thoughts for him; but the guilt of 
men remains the same, however God may overrule it for good. 
As we cannot charge upon God our own evil-doings, neither can 
we credit ourselves with the good which God brings out of evil. 



Appropriate Hymns,] PrayGr 

O God, our heavenly Father ! we come to thee in 
our need ; for thou alone art able to succor us : we 
come to thee in our weakness ; for thou alone canst 
give us strength : we come to thee in our sins ; for 
thou alone canst pardon, heal, and save us. Have 
mercy upon us, O Lord ! for the sake of thy Son, 



[Nos. 147, 166, 171. 



our Saviour Jesus Christ ; and suffer us never to 
fall away from thee. 

Thou art good, and doest good continually ; and 
thy tender mercies are over all thy works. Thou 
didst create us to be blessed in each other and in 
thyself ; to dwell in love, and so to dwell in God : 
oh ! keep us ever in thy love. We praise thee for 
thy watchful providence over us in our persons, in 
our family, in our home, in all that pertains to our 
well-being ; and we beseech thee grant unto us, 
this day, health and prosperity, and preserve us 
from all harm and danger. Keep us from all 
impatience and anger, from envy and jealousy, 



from every evil lust. Keep our hearts from the 
thought of evil, and our lips from speaking guile ; 
keep our feet from falling, our eyes from tears, 
our souls from death. Grant us grace to be 
faithful in all the offices and relations of life. 
May we study to be helpful to each other, be 
patient of each other's infirmities, and rejoice in 
each other's prosperity ! Let no selfishness dis- 
turb our peace. [May parents and children, 
brothers and sisters, all be joined together in the 
household of faith !] And may the love that 
blesses our earthly home interpret to us the love 
of our Father in heaven, and draw us toward the 
better home ! We make supplication for all men ; 
beseeching thee, the Father of all, to dispense unto 
all thy mercies according to their several condi- 
tions and necessities, and to show forth thy salva- 
tion in all the earth, through Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



213 



WEDNESDAY. 



Genesis xl. — 1. And it came to pass after 
these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt 
and his baker had offended their lord the king of 

Egypt. 

2. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his 
officers, against the chief of the butlers, and 
against the chief of the bakers ; 

3. And he put them in ward in the house of the 
captain of the guard, into the prison, the place 
where Joseph ivas bound. 

6. And Joseph came in unto them in the morn- 
ing, and looked upon them ; and, behold, they were 
sad. 

7. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were 
with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, 
Wherefore look ye so sadly to-day ? 

8. And they said unto him, We have dreamed a 
dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And 
Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations be- 
long to God? Tell me them., I pray you. 

9. And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, 
and said to him, In my dream, behold a vine was 
before me ; 

10. And in the vine were three branches : and 
it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot 
forth ; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe 
grapes : 

11. And Pharaoh's cup wo.s in my hand ; and I 
took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's 
cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 

12. And Joseph said unto him, This is the inter- 
pretation of it : The three branches are three days : 

13. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up 
thine head, and restore thee unto thy place ; and 



The incidents here mentioned are in striking accordance 
with the customs of Egypt. Upon the tombs may be seen 
pictures of growing grapes, of wine-presses, and of servants 
giving the wine-cup at the feast ; pictures also of bakers and 
pastry-cooks at their work, and of servants carrying the 
dishes from the oven in willow-baskets on their heads. Joseph, 



thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, 
after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 

14. But think on me when it shall be well with 
thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, 
and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring 
me out of this house : 

15. For indeed I was stolen away out of the 
land of the Hebrews ; and here also have I done 
nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. 

16. When the chief baker saw that the interpre- 
tation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in 
my dream ; and, behold, / had three white baskets 
on my head : 

17. And in the uppermost basket there was of 
all manner of bake-meats for Pharaoh ; and the 
birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 

18. And Joseph answered, and said, This is the 
interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three 
days : 

19. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up 
thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a 
tree ; and the birds shall eat thj r flesh from off thee. 

20. And it came to pass the third day, which 
was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto 
all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the 
chief butler and of the chief baker among his 
servants. 

21. And he restored the chief butler unto his 
butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pha- 
raoh's hand: 

22. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph 
had interpreted to them. 

23. Yet did not the chief butler remember 
Joseph, but forgat him. 



who had been put into prison without a trial, upon the in- 
famous accusation of his master's wife, was doomed to 
another sad experience through the ingratitude of the butler 
whom he befriended. But God would make all things work 
for his good. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 40, 65, 67. 



Gracious God, who never failest to help and 
govern them that put their trust in thee, be near 
to each of us in the greatness of thy power. Help 
us ever to act as seeing thee who art invisible, 
that, being filled with light and strength from 
above, we may practise whatsoever things are 
true, and honest, and just, and pure, and lovely, 
and of good report ; and that in the doing of these 
things we may be filled with that peace which 
passeth all understanding. Let us yield to no 
temptation, neither fall before the force of any 
evil. Inspire us with humility. Let us not be 
high-minded, but fill us with holy, loving, child- 
like fear. Guide us by thy counsel, and preserve 
us unto thine eternal glory. 



We render thanks to thee for the comfort of rest 
and sleep, and for a home undisturbed by fear or 
sorrow. We pray for all men. Pity such as are 
in darkness and in error, and lead them into 
the way of truth. Bring the wickedness of the 
wicked to an end, and let the just be established. 
Bless the education of the young, the instruc- 
tion of the ignorant, the visitation of the sick. 
Comfort all in sorrow, and prepare the dying for 
the rest and the joy of heaven. 

Holy Father, command thy blessing on each 
member of this family, and take us into union with 
thyself ; and so let the light of heaven fall upon 
our path, that we may finally come into the life 
eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



214 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Genesis xli. — 14. Then Pharaoh sent and 
called Joseph, and they Drought him hastily out 
of the dungeon ; and he shaved himself, and 
changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 

17. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my 
dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river : 

18. And, behold, there came up out of the river 
seven kine, fat-fleshed and well-favored ; and they 
fed in a meadow : 

19. And, behold, seven other kine came up after 
them, poor, and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed, 
such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for 
badness : 

20. And the lean and the ill-favored kine did eat 
up the first seven fat kine ; 

21. And, when they had eaten them up, it could 
not be known that they had eaten them, but they 
were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I 
awoke. 

22. And I saw in my dream ; and, behold, seven 
ears came up in one stalk, full and good : 

23. And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and 
blasted with the east wind, sprang up after them ; 

24. And the thin ears devoured the seven good 
ears : and I told this unto the magicians ; but there 
was none that could declare it to me. 

25. And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream 
of Pharaoh is one : God hath showed Pharaoh 
what he is about to do. 

26. The seven good kine are seven years ; and the 
seven good ears are seven years : the dream is one. 



27. And the seven thin and ill-favored kine that 
came up after them are seven years ; and the seven 
empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be 
seven years of famine. 

28. This is the thing which I have spoken unto 
Pharaoh : What God is about to do he showeth 
unto Pbaraoh. 

29. Behold, there come seven years of great 
plenty throughout all the land of Egypt : 

30. And there shall arise after them seven years 
of famine ; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in 
the land of Egypt ; and the famine shall consume 
the land : 

31. And the plenty shall not be known in the 
land by reason of that famine following; for it 
shall be very grievous. 

32. And for that the dream was doubled unto 
Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established 
by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 

33. Now, therefore, let Pharaoh look out a man dis- 
creet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 

34. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint 
officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of 
the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 

35. And let them gather all the food of those good 
years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of 
Pharaoh ; and let them keep food in the cities. 

36. And that food shall be for store to the land 
against the seven years of famine which shall be 
in the land of Egypt, that the land perish not 
through the famine. 



Had Joseph been released from prison when the butler 
promised it, he might not have been thought of again, — might 
even have quit Egypt for his native land ; but now the butler 
brought him to the notice of the king. It was according to 
the custom of the court that he should shave his beard and 
head before being presented to Pharaoh. The dream reflected 



the peculiar features of the country. The river was the life 
of the land ; the kine were a natural symbol of fruitfulness ; 
the east wind, or Kamsin, suddenly wilts vegetation wherever 
it strikes it. The practical wisdom of Joseph marked him for 
statesmanship of a high order : his years of solitary meditation 
and of communion with God had not been in vain. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Praver. 



[Nos. 20, 47, 81. 



Heavenly Father, we bless thee for the light of 
the morning : oh ! lift upon us the light of thy 
countenance, that we may see thy glory in the sun, 
may feel thy presence in the breath of life, may 
discern thy hand in all the good that comes to us, 
may meet thy grace in thy holy Word. Oh for a 
heart to love thee, to praise thee, to serve thee, as 
we ought ! Thou didst create us for thy glory ; 
thou hast enriched us with thy bounty ; thou 
hast redeemed us with the precious blood of thy 
Son ; thou hast sent forth thy Spirit into our 
hearts to quicken us to a new life, that we might 
receive the adoption of children. Oh, may we feel 
that we are thy children, and be separate from the 
children of this world in our loves and hopes, our 
aims and joys ! Disobedient and unthankful chil- 
dren we have been ; and we confess our wayward- 
ness and our sin. Forgive us, we beseech thee, 



our Father! for Christ's sake; and help us this 
day to walk as children of the light, as children of 
heaven. 

God ! thy watchful providence is over all our 
ways. We pray thee this day to deliver us from 
temptation, to defend us from evil. [Give to the 
children grace to serve thee in the morning of 
life ; to be gentle, obedient, loving, and kind. May 
they grow up pure and holy !] Eemember all dear 
to us; bless them in their hearts and in their 
homes. Visit, Lord ! with thy grace, the com- 
munity in which we live. Bless thy Church here, 
and in our land, and throughout the world. Oh ! 
send thy salvation to all people. We beseech thee 
to comfort the poor, the sick, the sorrowing, the 
dying; and Lord! when heart and flesh shall 
fail us, be thou the strength of our heart, and our 
portion forever, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



215 



FRIDAY. 



Genesis xli. — 39. And Pharaoh said unto Jo- 
seph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, 
there is none so discreet and wise as thou art : 

40. Thou shalt be over my house, and according 
unto thy word shall all my people be ruled : only 
in the throne will I be greater than thou. 

41. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have 
set thee over all the land of Egypt. 

42. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, 
and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in 
vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about 
his neck; 

43. And he made him to ride in the second 
chariot which he had : and they cried before him, 
Bow the knee ; and he made him ruler over all 
the laud of Egypt. 

44. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pha- 
raoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his 
hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 

45. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaph- 
nath-paaneah ; and he gave him to wife Asenath, 
the daughter of Poti-pherah, priest of On: and 
Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 

46. And Joseph teas thirty years old when he 
stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt ; and Joseph 
went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went 
throughout all the land of Egypt. 

The signet-ring was a sign of special favor, and a seal of 
royal power. The highest ambition might well have been 
satisfied, with such a sudden exaltation. But far more than 
the favor of the king was to be prized that favor of Providence 
which had raised the slave-boy to be prime-minister of the most 
rich and powerful empire, and allied in marriage with the 
chief priest of the city of the sun. He did not, however, 
assume the sacred functions of the priesthood. 

Since the crops in Egypt depend upon the yearly rising- of 
the Nile, which is fed by vast lakes under the equator, which 
drain half a continent, Egypt is often flourishing when neigh- 
boring countries that depend on rain are suffering with famine. 
But when, as sometimes happens, the Nile fails to rise so as to 



47. And in the seven plenteous years the earth 
brought forth by handfuls : 

48. And he gathered up all the food of the seven 
years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid 
up the food in the cities ; the food of the field 
which was round about every city laid he up in 
the same. 

49. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of 
the sea, very much, until he left numbering ; for it 
was without number. 

53. And the seven years of plenteousness that 
was in the land of Egypt were ended. 

54. And the seven years of dearth began to 
come, according as Joseph had said : and the 
dearth was in all lands ; but in all the land of 
Egypt there was bread. 

55. And, when all the land of Egypt was fam- 
ished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and 
Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Jo- 
seph ; what he saith to you, do. 

56. And the famine was over all the face of the 
earth : and Joseph opened all the store-houses, and 
sold unto the Egyptians ; and the famine waxed 
sore in the land of Egypt. 

57. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph 
for to buy corn, because that the famine was so 
sore in all lands. 

irrigate the country, the famine in Egypt is terrible. Every 
thing is cut off at one blow. At the close of the twelfth cen- 
tury there was a famine so sore, that parents devoured their 
own children. The foresight of Joseph averted such a calami- 
ty ; and we may still see on the tombs pictures of huge grana- 
ries such as he used for storing the food of the nation. 

The title conferred upon Joseph by Pharaoh was analogous 
to such titles as the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, 
&c. There was a quarter of Memphis, the capital, which took 
its name from a temple there dedicated to a goddess who was 
styled " the Life of the World." Joseph was apparently made 
povemor of that quarter; and hence his title, " Prince of the 
World of Life." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 59, 68, 81. 



We will sing unto the Lord as long as we live ; 
we will sing praises unto our God while we have 
any being. We bless thee for the light of the 
day : Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance 
upon us. We bless thee for the breath of life : 
Lord, grant us life eternal. We bless thee for 
the continued use of onr faculties : assist us to use 
all our powers for thy glory. We thank thee for 
the shelter of our dwelling: be thou our strong 
refuge to which we may continually resort. We 
praise thee for the bread that perisheth : feed us, 
O God ! with the bread of life. We thank thee 
for the love of kindred and friends : may we have 
the friendship of Him who sticketh closer than a 
brother! We bless thee for access to thyself: 
prompt us to pray without ceasing, and in every 
thinsr to give thanks. We thank thee for the mis- 



sion of the Holy Ghost : may we never grieve the 
Holy Spirit of God ! We worship thee for thine 
unspeakable gift: may Christ be precious to our 
souls ! We bless thee for the revelation of heaven : 
God ! grant that we may be daily maturing for 
the inheritance of the saints in light. 

Prepare us for whatever shall befall us ; and 
teach us to walk with God, believing that all 
things work together for good to them that love 
thee. And do thou cause all grace to abound 
toward us, that we may abound to every good 
work. Exalt thy Church, God ! Make manifest 
thy saving power. Pity the children of sorrow. 
Heal the wounds of their hearts, and wipe away 
their tears. Overthrow the dominion of sin ; and 
let thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on 
earth as it is in heaven, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



216 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Genesis xlii. — 1. Now, when Jacob saw that 
there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, 
Why do ye look one upon another ? 

2. And he said, Behold, I have heard that 
there is corn in Egypt : get you down thither, 
and buy for us from thence ; that we may live, 
and not die. 

3. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy 
corn in Egypt. 

4. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent 
not with his brethren ; for he said, Lest peradven- 
ture mischief befall him. 

5. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn 
among those that came ; for the famine was in the 
land of Canaan. 

6. And Joseph was the governor over the land, 
and he it was that sold to all the people of the 
land ; and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed 
down themselves before him with their faces to 
the earth. 

7. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew 
them, but made himself strange unto them, and 
spake roughly unto them : and he said unto them, 
Whence come ye ? and they said, From the land 
of Canaan to buy food. 

8. And Joseph knew his brethren ; but they 
knew not him. 

9. And Joseph remembered the dreams which he 
dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies : 
to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 



Joseph might be pardoned a little pride at seeing his dream 
of supremacy over his brethren thus strangely fulfilled : yet, 
in this first interview, he exhibits great self-control ; and his 
assertion of his power is simply a device to secure the bringing 
of his father. He avails himself of the custom of hostages ; 
and, by accusing his visitors of a hostile purpose, he gains a 
point for the possession of Benjamin. Though he used the 
device of speaking in the Egyptian tongue, it is a wonder that 
the suspicions of his brethren were not aroused by his saying, 
"I fear God." Evidently they regarded Joseph as dead. 

But why had he left his father so long in ignorance of his 
welfare ? At the first, while a servant and a prisoner, he may 



10. And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but 
to buy food are thy servants come. 

11. We are all one man's sons ; we are true 
men • thy servants are no spies. 

12. And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the 
nakedness of the land ye are come. 

13. And they said, Thy servants are twelve 
brethren, the sons of one man in the land of 
Canaan ; and, behold, the youngest is this day 
with our father, and one is not. 

14. And Joseph said unto them, That is it that 
I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies. 

15. Hereby ye shall be proved : by the life of 
Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, excej>t your 
youngest brother come hither. 

16. Send one of you, and let him fetch your 
brother, and ye shall be kejtt in prison, that your 
words may be proved, whether there be any truth 
in you ; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely ye 
are spies. 

17. And he put them all together into ward 
three days. 

18. And Joseph said unto them the third day, 
This do, and live ; for I fear God : 

19. If ye be true men, let one of your brethren 
be bound in the house of your prison : go ye, carry 
corn for the famine of your houses : 

20. But bring your youngest brother unto me ; 
so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not 
die. And they did so. 



have had no means of communication ; for there was no gene- 
ral postal service in those days : afterwards, his own advance- 
ment may have depended upon his keeping his origin in the 
background. In the multitude of his cares and responsibili- 
ties, he could give little thought to his early home. More- 
over, he still had reason to distrust his brethren : they would 
envy his promotion, and might seek to do him further mis- 
chief. He was only too glad to escape from a home which had 
no attractions for him, except the presence of his venerable 
father, whom he could in no way benefit. Above all, he had 
learned to wait for the unfolding of that mystery of Provi- 
dence which was now coming into the perfect light. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 59, 84, 88, 130. 



We thank thee, God ! for the blessings of the 
past night. Thou hast watched over us when we 
could not watch ourselves, and hast brought us in 
safety to the beginning of this day. 

We thank thee for the measure of health which 
we enjoy, for our family comforts, and for our many 
spiritual mercies. We bless thee, most of all, for 
the gift of a Saviour. Oh that he may be precious 
to our souls ! May we know him, and love him, 
and serve him ! Enable each one of us now before 
thee to be his true and faithful follower. 

Lord ! as we enter upon the employments of 
another day, be with us in our going-out and 
coming-in. Give thine angels charge concerning 



us. Keep us not only from outward transgres- 
sions, but also from inward and secret sins. May 
we be watchful over our hearts, and keep the door 
of our lips ! Give us grace to correct our evil tem- 
pers. May we be kind and gentle one towards 
another ; tender-hearted ; forgiving one another, 
even as thou, for Christ's sake, hast forgiven us ! 

Oh that each day may find us holier and more 
heavenly-minded, growing in grace, more con- 
formed to the image of Christ, and more meet 
for heaven ! And grant, that, when our days on 
earth are ended, we may be received into thy pres- 
ence, to dwell with thee forever, through the merits 
of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



217 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Hebrews xi. — 17. By faith Abraham, when he 
was tried, offered up Isaac ; and he that had re- 
ceived the promises offered up his only-begotten 
son, 

19. Accounting that God ivas able to raise him 
up, even from the dead; from whence also he re- 
ceived him in a figure. 

20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau con- 
cerning things to come. 

21. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed 
both the sons of Joseph ; and worshipped, leaning 
upon the top of his staff. 

22. By faith Joseph, when he died, made men- 
tion of the departing of the children of Israel, 
and gave commandment concerning his bones. 

24. By faith Moses, when be was come to years, 
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter ; 

25. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the 
people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin 
for a season ; 

26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater 
riches than the treasures in Egypt : for he had re- 
spect unto the recompense of the reward. 

27. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the 
wrath of the king ; for he endured, as seeing him 
who is invisible. 

28. Through faith he kept the passover and 
the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the 
first-born should touch them. 

29. By faith they passed through the Bed Sea 
as by dry land ; which the Egyptians essaying to 
do, were drowned. 



30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after 
they were compassed about seven days. 

32. And what shall I more say ? for the time 
would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and 
of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also, and 
Samuel, and of the prophets ; 

33. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, 
wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped 
the mouths of lions, 

34. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the 
edge of the sword, out of weakness were made 
strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight 
the armies of the aliens. 

35. Women received their dead raised to life 
again : and others were tortured, not accepting 
deliverance ; that they might obtain a better resur- 
rection : 

36. And others had trial of cmel mockings and 
scourgings ; yea, moreover, of bonds and imprison- 
ment : 

37. They, were stoned, they were sawn asunder, 
were tempted, were slain with the sword : they 
wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins ; 
being destitute, afflicted, tormented ; 

38. (Of whom the world was not worthy :) they 
wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens 
and caves of the earth. 

39. And these all, having obtained a good report 
through faith, received not the promise ; 

40. God having provided some better thing for 
us, that they without us should not be made per- 
fect. 



What history can show a line of heroes to he compared to 
these witnesses for the faith of the Bible ? What cause has 
had an attestation so courageous, so persistent, so triumphant ? 
A political cause, like that of popular liberty in England ; a 
cause combining religious and political ends, like the Refor- 
mation of the sixteenth century, — may enlist generation after 
generation, and present a long succession of heroes and mar- 
tyrs. In such causes, however, something objective and 
tangible is aimed at ; and there is likely to be a mixture 
of personal and partisan motives with devotion to a prin- 



ciple. But, in this case, the sustaining motive was a subjective 
faith ; faith in an invisible person ; faith in realities that were 
not seen; in promises that were not fulfilled; in a country, a 
kingdom, in the far-distant future. Nothing personal promptc 1 
this faith ; nothing selfish nurtured this hope. So far as this 
world is concerned, there was every thing to lose in embracing 
a faith so spiritual. These were our forerunners : they paved 
the way for us with tears and blood, awaiting our perfecting for 
the fruition of their hope. Let us enter manfully into their la- 
bors, that we may come at length to theiwest and their reward. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Praj-ei". 



[Xos. 22, 57, 85, 101. 



Holy Father, we bless thee for the faith and 
example of the godly who have gone before us. So 
enlighten, purify, and strengthen our whole nature, 
that we shall faithfully follow them. More espe- 
cially we bless thee for the perfect example of thy 
Son Jesus Christ, and beseech thee so to endue us 
with his spirit, that we may evermore walk in his 
steps, and be found faithful to him even unto death. 
Thou art the strength of all them that put their 
trust in thee. Grant us, we beseech thee, the con- 
tinual help of thy grace, that, in keeping thy com- 
mandments, we may please thee, and that, in the 
midst of dangers, we may be upheld and preserved. 



Father of mercies, we offer our humble thanks- 
giving for thy great and manifold favors bestowed 
upon us. Goodness and mercy have followed us 
all our days. For continued life and health and 
reason, for food and raiment and the comforts of 
home, for friends and kindred and social happi- 
ness, we praise thy most holy name. May it please 
thee still to be merciful to us, and bless us, and 
cause thy face to shine upon us ! Make us strong 
in faith, and joyful in hope ; and, finally, let lis 
stand before thy throne, accepted and glorified, 
through the merits of thy Son and our Saviour, 
Jesus Christ. Amen. 



218 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psa!m xlviii. — 1. Great is the Lord, and 
greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in 
the mountain of his holiness. 

2. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole 
earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the 
city of the great King. 

3. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. 

4. For, lo, the kings were assembled; they passed 
by together. 

5. They saw it, and so they marvelled ; they 
were troubled, and hasted away. 

7. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an 
east wind. 

8. As we have heard, so have we seen in the 
city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God : 
God will establish it forever. 

9. We have thought of thy loving-kindness, O 
God ! in the midst of thy temple. 

10. According to thy name, God ! so is thy 
praise unto the ends of the earth : thy right hand 
is full of righteousness. 

11. Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of 
Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. 



The group of hills upon which Jerusalem was built is de- 
scribed as holy or sacred, because there was the temple, the seat 
of Jehovah's glory ; and since Zion was the hill first occupied 
by David, and the most conspicuous quarter of the city, this 
stands for the whole. The glory of this sacred capital is here 
celebrated in the prospect of its universal supremacy. " As 
the city where the king resides is the eye and crown of a 
country, much more is Jerusalem the eye and crown of the 
land where the Lord resides in the sanctuary, worshipped by 
all Israel." Zion has this pre-eminence over all the dwellings 
of the people of God, throughout even the Holy Land. But 
not Israel alone shall thus exult in her sacred capital. The 
proud and mighty nations of the earth ; the seats of empire, 
power, commerce, and wealth; countries whose citizens were 



12. Walk about Zion, and go round about her; 
tell the towers thereof. 

13. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her 
palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation fol- 
lowing. 

14. For this God is our God for ever and ever : 
he will be our guide even unto death. 

Psalm Ixxxvii. — 1. His foundation is in the 
holy mountains. 

2. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than 
all the dwellings of Jacob. 

3. Glorious things are spoken of thee, city of 
God! 

4. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon 
to them that know me : behold Philistia and Tyre, 
with Ethiopia ; this man was born there. 

5. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that 
man was born in her; and the Highest himself 
shall establish her. 

6. The Lord shall count, when he writeth up 
the people, that this man was born there. 

7. As well the singers as the players on instru- 
ments shall be there : all my springs are in thee. 



accustomed to boast of their nativity, — should be numbered 
by Zion among her admiring dependants. Of one and another 
in distant nations it shall be said, " He was born in Zion ; " 
and her glorious King, in the census of his vast dominions, 
shall enter it as a special distinction of this and that man 
that he was born in her. No name, no honor, no posses- 
sion upon earth, can be compared with being a child and heir 
of God. It is not of the physical Jerusalem, its streets, walls, 
gates, palaces, that these glorious things are spoken, but of 
Jerusalem as representing the presence, the word, the Spirit, 
of the true God. In him are all our springs of life, of hope, of 
joy ; and his service is a delight that calls for the richest com- 
binations of music to express it. O happy souls that are born 
of God, and daily draw their bliss from the fulness of his love ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 162, 186, 197. 



Thou that dwellest in the heavens ! holy and 
reverend is thy name. Unto thee would we lift up 
our souls. As the eyes of servants look unto the 
hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden 
unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes wait 
upon the Lord our God. To whom can we go but 
unto thee ? Thou hast the words of eternal life. 
We praise and bless thy name for all thy mercy 
to us this day ; for the bounties of thy providence, 
and for the riches of thy grace ; for the supply of 
our bodily wants, and for the spiritual food which 
nourishes and refreshes our souls. We thank thee 
for the Holy Scriptures, for the preaching of the 
gospel, for the privilege of prayer, for all the ordi- 
nances and means of grace. Follow these with thy 
blessing. Lord, pardon what thy pure eyes hath 
seen amiss in us, and accept us in the Beloved. 

We commend ourselves to thy care and keeping 
for the night. Watch over us in the hours of 



darkness and helplessness. If it be thy will, may 
we have refreshing sleep, and rise renewed for the 
duties and employments of another day ! Sleep- 
ing or waking, may we be ever with thee ! Be 
with all in whom we are specially interested, 
and to whom we are bound by the ties of nature 
or of grace. Lord, bestow on them the blessings 
which we have asked for ourselves. Draw nigh 
to all who are in distress. Be a very present help 
in trouble. Send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, 
to all the suffering and the dying. Sanctify to 
them their affliction, and give them deliverance 
in thine own time and way. To live may it be 
Christ, and to die may it be gain. Our prayers 
are before thee : grant us an answer in peace. Do 
to us and for us exceeding abundantly above all 
we ask or think ; and unto thee be glory in the 
Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world 
without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



219 



MONDAY. 



Acts xiii. — 32. We declare unto you glad tid- 
ings, how that the promise which was made unto 
the fathers, 

33. God hath fulfilled the same unto us their 
children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again : 
as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art 
my Son ; this day hare I begotten thee. 

34. And as concerning that he raised him up 
from the dead, now no more to return to corrup- 
tion, he said on this wise : I will give you the sure 
mercies of David. 

35. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, 
Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see cor- 
ruption. 

36. For David, after he had served his own gen- 
eration by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was 
laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption ; 

37. But he whom God raised again saw no cor- 
ruption. 

38. Be it known unto you therefore, men and 
brethren, that through this man is preached unto 
you the forgiveness of sins ; 

39. And by him all that believe are justified 
from all things, from which ye could not be justi- 
fied by the law of Moses. 

40. Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you 
which is spoken of in the prophets : 

41. Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and per- 



ish ; for I work a work in your days, a work which 
ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare 
it unto you. 

42. And, when the Jews were gone out of the 
synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words 
might be preached to them the nest sabbath. 

43. Now, when the congregation was broken up, 
many of the Jews and religious proselytes fol- 
lowed Paul and Barnabas ; who, speaking to them, 
persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 

44. And the next sabbath day came almost the 
whole city together to hear the word of God. 

45. But, when the Jews saw the multitudes, they 
were filled with envy, and spake against those 
things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting 
and blaspheming. 

46. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and 
said, It was necessary that the word of God should 
first have been spoken to you ; but seeing ye put 
it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of 
everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles : 

47. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, 
I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that 
thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of 
the earth. 

48. And, when the Gentiles heard this, they 
were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord ; and 
as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 



This speech of Paul at Antioch seems like an echo of the 
speech which he had heard at Jerusalem from the lips of the 
martyr Stephen. The very truth asrainst which he then re- 
belled he now proclaims. He sees Jesus foretold in the pro- 
phecies of the Old Testament concerning Christ, and the 
grand spiritual meaning of the ancient prophets is interpreted 
by the coming of the Son of God. 

Two great truths were the substance of apostolic preach- 
ing, — the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and the for- 
giveness of sins through his name. His death was our re- 
demption, his righteousness is our justification ; and both are 



made sure by the fact that God raised up Jesus, and so put 
the seal of the sublimest act of divine power to his life, his 
doctrine, and his death. And, to enjoy all these benefits of 
the Saviour's coming, we have only to believe on his name ; 
to commit our souls to him for pardon, for justification, for 
eternal life. 

But it is just this acknowledgment of dependence and 
need, this humbling confession of guilt, this self-criminating 
supplication for mercy, against which the heart of man rebels. 
Surely they who despise this free abounding grace of the 
Lord Jesus will deserve his judgment. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[IS T os. TO, 90, 173. 



God of the evening and of the morning, to 
whom all times and seasons belong, we praise thee 
for thy watchful care during the past night. May 
the lives which thou hast prolonged be devoted to 
thee ! As we are not our own, but bought with a 
price, may we glorify God in our bodies and spirits, 
which are his ! May we be loving and grateful, 
willing and obedient ! Thy service is perfect free- 
dom. Thy commandments are not grievous, but 
joyous ; and, in keeping them, there is great re- 
ward. May we enjoy the happiness which thy 
faithful servants alone can feel, and ever possess 
the consciousness that we please thee ! 

We thank thee for good men who have been raised 
up in every part of the world, and in every age of 
time, to perform thy will. May their spirit rest 
upon others, and thus may the name of Christ be 



remembered throughout all generations ! and may 
thy salvation go forth unto the ends of the earth ! 

Forgive, Lord ! for the sake of Jesus Christ 
our Saviour, all the offences we have committed 
against thee. 

Hear us while we pray for our land and people. 
Bless all who are in authority. May righteousness 
exalt this nation, and pervade all the nations of the 
earth ! 

As we now separate to our different employ- 
ments, we commend each other unto thee and to 
the word of thy grace. Be our guide in perplex- 
ity, our guard in danger, and our unfailing com- 
fort amidst the sorrows and changes of life. May 
the eternal God be our refuge, and underneath us 
the everlasting arms ! Fulfil these our petitions, 
our Father ! for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen. 



220 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Acts xiv. — 8. And there sat a certain man at 
Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from 
his mothers womb, who never had walked. 

9. The same heard Paul speak ; who steadfastly 
beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to 
be healed, 

10. Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy 
feet. And he leaped and walked. 

11. And, when the people saw what Paul had 
done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the 
speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us 
in the likeness of men. 

12. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter ; and 
Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 

13. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was be- 
fore their city, brought oxen and garlands unto 
the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the 
people. 

14. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and 
Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in 
among the people, crying out, 

15. And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? 
We also are men of like passions with you, and 
preach unto you, that ye should turn from these 
vanities unto the living God, which made heaven 



In ancient times, each city had its patron divinity, whose 
statue or temple stood often outside the city walls. At 
Lystra, Jupiter was the tutelary pod ; and his worship was 
celebrated before the city gate. These pagans had a strong 
belief in supernatural beings and powers ; and Paul and Bar- 
nabas might easily have perverted this to their own interest, 
just as in all ages designing priests have taken advantage of 
the credulity of the people. But the apostles, like their Lord, 
used the power of miracle for purposes of benevolence, and to 
attest the truth, — never for histrionic effects, nor for personal 
gains. Disclaiming- all honor for themselves, Paul and Bar- 
nabas discoursed of God as he is seen in his works of creation 
and of providence, illustrating: his being, his goodness, and his 
grace. Only an abstract of their argument is given ; but this 
shows that Christianity, so far from being in opposition to 
the religion of Nature, adopts, elevates, and enforces this by 
its own teachings. The discoveries of modern science which 



and earth, and the sea, and all things that are 
therein ; 

16. Who in times past suffered all nations to 
walk in their own ways. 

17. Nevertheless he left not himself without wit- 
ness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from 
heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts 
with food and gladness. 

18. And with these sayings scarce restrained 
they the people, that they had not done sacrifice 
unto them. 

19. And there came thither certain Jews from 
Antiooh and Iconium, who persuaded the people, 
and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, 
supposing he had been dead. 

20. Howbeit, as the disciples stood around about 
him, he rose up, and came into the city ; and the 
next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 

21. And when they had preached the gospel to 
that city, and had taught many, they returned 
again to Lystra, and to Iconium and Antioch, 

22. Confirming the souls of the disciples, and 
exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that 
we must through much tribulation enter into the 
kingdom of God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 88, 140, 152. 



Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies, for 
the daily comforts of his providence and grace. 
Thy mercies, Lord ! are new every morning. 
Grant us grace daily to live unto thee, to do thy 
holy will, and to glorify thee in our bodies and 
spirits, which are thine. Suffer not the cares of life 
to distract our minds from thee ; but may we seek 
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness ! 

Give us, this day, our daily bread ; and feed our 
souls with that living bread which came down from 
heaven. May Christ be in us the hope of glory, 
and the power of an endless life ! Lord, the 
Maker and Buler of all ! we bless thee for all thy 
marvellous works and for thy ways unto the chil- 
dren of men. Thou givest us rain from heaven, 



and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food 
and gladness. Bless the earth, we pray thee, with 
abundant harvests, that there may be seed for the 
sow-er, and bread for the eater. And, most mer- 
ciful Father ! do thou visit our land with plenteous 
showers of grace, making thy Word fruitful, reviv- 
ing thy Church, and causing righteousness to flour- 
ish and abound. Bule in the hearts of our rulers, 
and turn the people unto the things of thy king- 
dom. We commend unto thee all dear to us. We 
commit our souls unto thee for this day ; beseech- 
ing thee for Christ's sake to forgive our sins, to 
keep us unspotted from the world, and pure in thy 
sight. And to the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
Ghost, be glory forever. Amen. 



'V 



illustrate, upon so wide a scale, that orderly succession of phe- 
nomena in Nature which we intuitively refer to law, are in 
perfect accord with the teachings of the Bible, which ascribe 
these same phenomena to the providence of God. The 
Bible was not written with a scientific purpose ; and therefore it 
does not use the terms and definitions of science. It aims to 
keep continually before us the great First Cause, and therefore 
makes little mention of second causes. But the very laws of 
Nature, by their uniformity, their combinations, their adapta- 
tions, reflect the wisdom and the omnipotence of God ; and the 
Scriptures describe the movements of the heavenly bodies, the 
seasons, the winds, the rains, as his ordinances. Yet the very 
men who professed to follow Nature, and were ready to wor- 
ship those whom they mistook for their divinities, turned 
upon them with rage and violence. So fickle is human na- 
ture, and so far is the spirit of wonder from the spirit of true 
faith! 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



221 



WEDNESDAY. 



Acts XV. — 5. But there rose up certain of the 
sect of the Pharisees, which believed, saying, That 
it was needful to circumcise them, and to command 
them to keep the law of Moses. 

6. And the apostles and elders came together 
for to consider of this matter. 

7. And, when there had been much disputing, 
Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and breth- 
ren, ye know how, that, a good while ago, God 
made choice among us, that the Gentiles, by my 
mouth, should hear the word of the gospel, and 
believe. 

8. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare 
them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even 
as he did unto us ; 

9. And put no difference between us and them, 
purifying their hearts by faith. 

10. Now, therefore, why tempt ye God, to put a 
yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither 
our fathers nor we were able to bear ? 

11. But we believe, that, through the grace of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as 
they. 

12. Then all the multitude kept silence, and 
gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring 
what miracles and wonders God had wrought 
among the Gentiles by them. 



13. And, after they had held their peace, James 
answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto 
me : 

14. Simeon hath declared how God at the first 
did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people 
for his name. 

15. And to this agree the words of the proph- 
ets : as it is written, 

16. After this I will return, and will build again 
the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down ; and 
I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set 
it up; 

17. That the residue of men might seek after 
the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my 
name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these 
things. 

18. Known unto God are all his works from the 
beginning of the world. 

19. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble 
not them which from among the Gentiles are 
turned to God ; 

20. But that we write unto them that they ab- 
stain from pollutions of idols, and from fornica- 
tion, and from things strangled, and from blood. 

2i. For Moses of old time hath in every city 
them that preach him, being read in the syna- 
gogues every sabbath day. 



The spirit of sect broke out in the Church at the very be- 
ginning ; and, as is apt to be the case, it magnified secondary 
points of belief and practice as essential to the Christian 
name. The Church at Antioch was composed almost entirely 
of converts from paganism: it had shown its faith by its 
missionary zeal, its practical benevolence, and its love for all 
disciples of Christ. But Jewish converts, not yet emanci- 
pated from their old ideas of the divine obligation and exclu- 
siveness of Jewish rites, had gone to Antioch, and insisted, 
that, " except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, 
ye cannot be saved." That is always the tone of bigotry, — 
" Conform to our way, or you cannot be saved." Paul and 



Barnabas carried the question up to Jerusalem, where a coun- 
cil of the Church was convened to deliberate upon it. There 
were some who insisted on the Jewish view ; but good sense 
and Christian liberality happily prevailed. The council took 
the evidence of faith, as given in character and works, to be 
sufficient, and refused to enjoin or to sanction any test of 
mere forms. This decision was the emancipation of Chris- 
tianity from legalism, formalism, and traditions ; and he 
is no true successor of the apostles who would attempt to 
restrain the freedom of the Church in the spirit and faith 
of Christ, and to put a yoke of ceremony on the neck of the 
disciples. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 76, 89, 96. 



Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures 
to be written for our learning, grant that we may 
in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and in- 
wardly digest them, that, by patience and comfort 
of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold 
fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou 
hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. May 
we receive the truth in the love of it ! and, walking 
in its light, may we ourselves shine as lights in the 
world, holding forth the word of life ! Preserve us, 
we pray thee, from pride, prejudice, and unbelief; 
from a worldly and covetous spirit ; from self-right- 
eousness, and from uncharitableness toward others ; 
from all false hopes, and from all unholy desires. 
Give unto us that wisdom from above which shall 
purify our hearts and minds, and shall make us gen- 
tle and considerate in dealing with our fellow-men. 



[We entreat thee, Lord ! so to feed the chil- 
dren of this household with the words of Jesus 
their Saviour, that they shall grow up in the nur- 
ture and admonition of the Lord. Cause them to 
shun the ways of sin, and to walk in the narrow 
way which leadeth unto life.] Be very gracious to 
our friends, our kindred, our neighbors ; and bring 
them all into thy kingdom. Oh ! let thy gospel 
go forth to enlighten and save the whole world. 

Heavenly Father, we thank thee for rest in the 
night; for the light of the morning; for health, 
comfort, and hope. Give unto us that which thou 
seest to be good for us. Defend us, O Lord ! from 
all evil ; be thou our rock, our refuge, our strong 
tower ; and, when heart and flesh shall fail us, be 
thou, God ! the strength of our heart, and our 
portion forever, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Acts xvi. — 13. And on the sabbath we went 
out of the city by a river-side, where prayer was 
wont to be made ; and we sat down, and spake 
unto the women which resorted thither. 

14. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller 
of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which wor- 
shipped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord 
opened, that she attended unto the things which 
were spoken of Paul. 

15. And when she was baptized, and her house- 
hold, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged 
me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, 
and abide there. And she constrained us. 

16. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a 
certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divina- 
tion met us, which brought her masters much gain 
by soothsaying : 

17. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, 
saying, These men are the servants of the most 
high God, which show unto us the way of salva- 
tion. 

'18. And this did she many days. But Paul, 



being grieved, turned, and said to the spirit, I 
command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to 
come out of her; and he came out the same 
hour. 

19. And, when her masters saw that the hope of 
their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, 
and drew them into the market-place unto the 
rulers, 

20. And brought them to the magistrates, say- 
ing, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trou- 
ble our city, 

21. And teach customs which are not lawful for 
us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 

22. And the multitude rose up together against 
them ; and the magistrates rent off their clothes, 
and commanded to beat them,. 

23. And, when they had laid many stripes upon 
them, they cast them into prison, charging the 
jailer to keep them safely; 

24. Who, having received such a charge, thrust 
them into the inner prison, and made their feet 
fast in the stocks. 



The conversion of Lydia was the first-fruit of the gospel 
in Europe. In answer to a vision, Paul had sailed over 
from Asia to Macedonia ; and his first sojourn was at 
Philippi, an important city, and the seat of a large Roman 
colony. Thyatira was famous for the manufacture of cloths 
of a rich purple dye, and Lydia had sought a market for 
such goods in a growing commercial city. The Jews do 
not appear to have been numerous enough at Philippi to 
have had a synagogue ; but there was in the suburbs a little 
chapel, to which a few devout women resorted on the Jewish 
sabbath for prayer. As Paul spake of Christ and his 
salvation, the heart of Lydia opened as gently as a flower 
to the sun : she drank in the air and light of a new morn- 



ing, and dedicated herself and all her house to the new 
faith. 

In contrast with this modest householder, there appeared 
at Philippi a female slave who was notorious throughout the 
city as a sorceress, whose masters represented her crazed ut- 
terances as inspired by Apollo, and made much money by 
using her as a " medium." She seems to have been possessed 
of a demon ; and, as it was important to separate Christiani- 
ty from such associations, the apostles cast out the spirit from 
her. But the miracle was lost upon hearts that were wrapped 
up in the pursuit of gain : a mob was raised, and Lynch law 
was inflicted upon the servants of Christ. This, however, was 
made to contribute to the furtherance of the gospel. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 48, 84, 93. 



Thou only, Lord ! makest us to dwell in 
safety. We lie down at night under the shadow 
of thy wings ; we awake in the morning to the 
light of thy love. We thank thee for another 
night of rest and comfort ; for another day of life, 
health, and hope. We praise thee that thou didst 
create us with powers of knowing and of loving, 
and hast made this world so full of wonders and 
beauties to feed our minds with knowledge, and 
to stir our hearts with love and joy. May the 
glory of the heavens, the richness and bounty of 
the earth, as adapted to our wants, fill us with 
admiration of thy power, thy wisdom, thy good- 
ness ! and may the voices of gladness with which 
all Nature celebrates thy praise move our souls to 
bless and praise thee also ! O Lord ! may we be 
found faithful to thee in the duties of this day ! 
and, amid its temptations and its trials, do thou 
sustain us, comfort us, keep us, and grant us grace 
in all we do to seek thy glory. May this house- 
hold, which thou hast so blessed, serve thee, not at 



this altar only, but in all the walks of life ! As 
we engage in the business of the world, as we go 
into society, wherever we are, and whatever we do, 
may we remember thee, and do thy will ! Oh ! 
grant that every member of this family may be a 
child of God ; a humble, faithful follower of the 
Lord Jesus Christ. Bless all dear to us who are 
absent from us. Do thou, Lord ! dwell by thy 
Spirit in the hearts and the minds of all our friends. 
We supplicate thy mercy for the needy, the afflict- 
ed, the bereaved and sorrowing. Oh ! grant to all 
the consolations of thy gospel. 

Build up thy Church, Lord ! Fill our land 
with pure religion. Bless the industry of the peo- 
ple ; and may its fruit be consecrated to the good of 
men ! May our rulers be faithful and just, walk- 
ing in thy fear ! And we beseech thee to bring all 
lands under the power and glory of thy kingdom. 
In thy great mercy, Lord ! forgive our sins, and 
bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, through 
Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FRIDAY. 



Acts xvi. — 25. And at midnight Paul and Silas 
prayed, and sang praises unto God ; and the pris- 
oners heard them. 

26. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, 
so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; 
and immediately all the doors were opened, and 
every one's bands were loosed. 

27. And the keeper of the prison awaking out 
of his sleep, and seeing the prison-doors open, he 
drew out his sword, and would have killed him- 
self, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 

28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, 
Do thyself no harm ; for we are all here. 

29. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and 
came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas ; 

30. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what 
must I do to be saved ? 

31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 

32. And they spake unto him the word of the 
Lord, and to all that were in his house. 

33. And he took them the same hour of the 
night, and washed their stripes ; and was baptized, 
he and all his, straightway. 



Paul and Silas had been beaten in an unmerciful manner, 
and then locked in the innermost dungeon for safe-keeping. 
Their feet were also put into the stocks, which was " an in- 
strument for torture as well as confinement : it was a heavy- 
piece of wood, with holes, into which the feet were put, so far 
apart as to distend the limbs in the most painful manner. 
Yet in this situation, with their bodies still bleeding from the 
effect of their recent chastisement, and looking forward to the 
morrow only in the expectation that it would renew their 
pains, they could still rejoice : their prison at midnight 
resounds with the voice of prayer and praise." Their souls 
took hold upon spiritual powers, and the arm of Omnipo- 
tence shook their dungeon-walls. The jailer, knowing that 
he must answer for his prisoners with his life, would have 
killed himself in his excitement and despair; but the re-assur- 



34. And, when he had brought them into his 
house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, be- 
lieving in God with all his house. 

35. And, when it was day, the magistrates sent 
the sergeants, saying, Let those men go. 

36. And the keeper of the prison told this 
saying to Paul : The magistrates have sent to 
let you go : now, therefore, depart, and go in 
peace. 

37. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten 
us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have 
cast us into prison ; and now do they thrust us out 
privily ? 5^ay verily ; but let them come them- 
selves and fetch us out. 

38. And the sergeants told these words unto the 
magistrates ; and they feared when they heard 
that they were Romans. 

39. And they came and besought them, and 
brought them out, and desired them to depart out 
of the city. 

40. And they went out of the prison, and en- 
tered into the house of Lydia ; and, when they had 
seen the brethren, they comforted them, and de- 
parted. 



ing voice of Paul showed him a greater wonder than the 
earthquake, in his prisoners declining to escape. The danger 
had roused his fears, and quickened his conscience : the com- 
posure of his prisoners, and their solicitude for his safety rather 
than their own, opened some hidden springs of feeling under 
the hardened crust of his official life. The great question of 
every sin-convicted soul, "What must I do to be saved?" 
was wrung out from his heart ; and to this rough, affrighted, 
trembling man, the answer was the same as to the gentle, lov- 
ing Lydia. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ " is the one act 
of becoming a Christian. Like Lydia, the jailer showed his 
new love b) r caring for the apostles ; and, in both cases, the 
households were included in the consecration of the head of 
the family. 



Appropriate Htmns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 108, 121, 157. 



Oh ! grant us grace, Father in heaven, to hear 
thy Word, and to obey it. We would make haste, 
and delay not, to keep thy commandments. Thou 
hast a right, Lord ! to our time, our gifts, 
our hearts, our persons; to all that we are, and 
all that we have : for thou hast created us, and 
hast redeemed us with the precious blood of thy 
Son. 

We give thee thanks for the mercies of the night, 
and for all the mercies of our past lives, — for home 
and its blessings ; for friends, and all the ministries 
of love ; for health, knowledge, comfort, and pros- 
perity ; but, above all things, for thy grace in the 
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we ever be 
ready to acknowledge him the Son of God, the 
Saviour of the world ! May men in the high places 
of power and influence consecrate themselves to 



him ! may the poor and lowly trust in him ! may 
children sing hosannas to the Son of David ! We 
commend unto thee all who are dear to us, and 
also those who are at this time afflicted or dis- 
tressed in mind, body, or estate. May it please 
thee to relieve them according to their several 
necessities, giving them patience under their suf- 
ferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflic- 
tions ! 

How shall we praise thee, God ! for thy love 
and grace to us sinners ? For all thy mercies 
we bless and magnify thy glorious name ; hum- 
bly beseeching thee to accept this our morning 
sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for His sake 
who lay down in the grave, and rose again for 
us ; to whom be glory and dominion, world with- 
out end. Amen. 



224 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



I Peter iii. — 8. Finally, be ye all of one mind, 
having compassion one of another ; love as breth- 
ren, be pitiful, be courteous ; 

9. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for rail- 
ing, but, contrariwise, blessing ; knowing that ye 
are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a 
blessing. 

10. For he that will love life, and see good 
days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his 
lips that they speak no guile ; 

11. Let him eschew evil, and do good ; let him 
seek peace, and ensue it. 

12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the right- 
eous, and his ears are open unto their prayers ; 
but the face of the Lord is against them that do 
evil. 

13. And who is he that will harm you if ye be 
followers of that which is good ? 

14. But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, 
happy are ye ; and be not afraid of their terror, 
neither be troubled ; 

15. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts ; 
and be ready always to give an answer to every 
man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is 
in you, with meekness and fear: 



16. Having a good conscience; that whereas 
they speak evil of you, as of evil-doers, they may 
be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conver- 
sation in Christ. 

17. For it is better, if the will of God be so, 
that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. 

18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, 
the just for the unjust, that he might bring us 
to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quick- 
ened by the Spirit : 

19. By which, also, he went and preached unto 
the spirits in prison ; 

20. Which sometime were disobedient, when 
once the long-suffering of God waited in the 
days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, 
wherein few (that is, eight) souls were saved by 
water. 

21. The like figure whereunto, even baptism, 
doth also now save us (not the putting-away of 
the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good 
conscience toward God), by the resurrection of 
Jesus Christ; 

22. Who is gone into heaven, and is on the 
right hand of God ; angels and authorities and 
powers being made subject unto him. 



Upon this passage chiefly rests the article in the Apostles' 
Creed, " He descended into hell," — a clause not found in the 
creed in its earliest form. Like the mention of paradise in 
the promise of our Lord to the dying thief, and again by 
Paul in describing his being " caught up into the third 
heaven," this passage gives intimations and awakens inqui- 
ries which it does not attempt to satisfy. In the matter of 
the future state, the Bible addresses nothing to curiosity ; de- 
mands every thing of faith. The Scriptures seem to teach 
that spirits continue conscious after death ; that they exist in 
separate states, being divided according to character in this 
life ; that, after the final judgment, this separation will not 



only be fixed, but will be enhanced by the augmentation of 
blessedness and of misery : and the natural and obvious read- 
ing of this passage is, " that our Lord, in his disembodied 
state, did go to the place of detention of departed spirits, and 
did there announce his work of redemption — preach salvation, 
in fact — to the disembodied spirits of those who refused to 
obey the voice of God when the judgment of the flood was 
hanging over them. The inference is not purgatory ; it is not 
universal restitution ; but it is one which throws blessed 
light on one of the darkest enigmas of the divine justice." 
Yet let it not betray any of us into forgetting that now is the 
accepted time, and now is the day of salvation. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 82, 103. 



We come to thee this morning, heavenly Father, 
with hearts full of thankfulness for the mercies of 
the night. We have rested in safety and in peace 
under the shadow of thy wing. Thou hast kept us 
quiet from the fear of evil : nor sickness nor death, 
nor tempest nor fire, nor any calamity, hath over- 
taken us or our dwelling. How sure are the mercies 
of thy covenant, Lord ! All thy promises in Christ 
Jesus are Yea and Amen. Fulfil unto us, we be- 
seech thee, these thy mercies and promises, and 
cause tli at this day we may rejoice in thy salvation. 

Bless to us thy Word which we have now read. 
Oh ! sanctify us by thy truth; and, while we re- 
ceive its instruction and comfort in our hearts, 
may we carry out its precepts in our lives, and 
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
things ! May we be just and true, loving and kind, 
gentle, forbearing, and forgiving, and so shine as 
lights in the world, holding forth the Word of life! 



May every day witness some new victory over evil 
desires and passions within us, and over the evil 
that is in the world ! By feeding upon thy Word, 
the bread of heaven, may we grow up into Him 
who is our Life and Head, even Christ! [Oh, may 
these children grow in grace as they grow in years 
and in knowledge! May they shun evil compan- 
ions and evil ways, and walk in the way of thy 
commandments!] Keep all dear to us even as the 
apple of thine eye. Bless our neighbors, and send 
thy Spirit upon this whole community. Bless our 
rulers, and the schools and churches in our land. 
May all who rule, and all who teach, be led and 
taught by thee ! Have pity upon the poor and the 
sorrowing; upon homes made desolate by famine, 
pestilence, fire, or war. Mercifully forgive our sins, 
and bring us unto the perfection of knowledge, of 
holiness, and of blessedness, in Jesus Christ our 
Lord ; to whom be glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Luke X. — 1. After these things, the Lord ap- 
pointed other seventy also, and sent them two and 
two before his face into every city and place 
whither he himself would come. 

2. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest 
truly is great, but the laborers are few : pray ye, 
therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he would 
send forth laborers into his harvest. 

3. Go your ways : behold, I send you forth as 
lambs among wolves. 

4. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes ; and 
salute no man by the way. 

5. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first 
say, Peace be to this house. 

6. And, if the son of peace be there, your peace 
shall rest upon it ; if not, it shall turn to you again. 

7. And in the same house remain, eating and 
drinking such things as they give ; for the labor- 
er is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to 
house. 

8. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they 
receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 

9. And heal the sick that are therein, and say 



unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto 
you. 

10. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they 
receive you not, go your ways out into the streets 
of the same, and say, 

11. Even the very dust of your city which 
cleaveth on us we do wipe off against you : not- 
withstanding, be ye sure of this, that the kingdom 
of God is come nigh unto you. 

12. But I say unto you, That it shall be more 
tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city. 

13. Woe unto thee, Chorazin ! woe unto thee, 
Bethsaida ! for if the mighty works had been done 
in Tyre and Sidon which have been done in you, 
they had a great while ago repented, sitting in 
sackcloth and ashes r 

14. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and 
Sidon at the judgment than for you. 

15. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to 
heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. 

16. He that heareth you heareth me ; and he 
that despiseth you despiseth me j and he that de- 
spiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 



In sending forth these primitive evangelists, our Lord held 
up to view the spirituality and urgency of their work : they 
were to avoid, as much as possible, whatever would tend to 
secularize their minds, or would give to their mission the 
semblance of worldliness. " The customary salutations," 
says Dr. W. H. Thomson, "were formal and tedious, and con- 
sumed much valuable time. If an Oriental meets an ac- 
quaintance, he must stop and make an endless number of 
inquiries, and answer as many." The disciples were to avoid 
such interviews by the way. " These would waste time, dis- 
tract attention, and in many ways hinder the prompt and 
faithful discharge of their important mission." The pro- 
hibition to go from house to house was likewise founded 



upon an Oriental custom. " When a stranger arrives in a 
village or an encampment, the neighbors, one after another, 
must invite him to eat with them. The evangelists were sent, 
not to be honored and feasted, but to call men to repent- 
ance, prepare the way of the Lord, and proclaim that the 
kingdom of heaven was at hand. They were, therefore, 
first to seek a becoming habitation to lodge in, and there 
abide until their work in that city was accomplished." In all 
this there is nothing to justify incivility, rudeness, or an un- 
social habit, on the part of ministers of the gospel ; but they 
are taught to keep their spiritual work continually promi- 
nent, and to make their intercourse with men a testimony to 
the kingdom of God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 93, 101, 110. 



Almighty God, who in times past didst speak 
unto the fathers by the prophets, we bless thee 
that in these latter days thou hast spoken unto us 
by thy Son ; that the glory which the patriarchs 
beheld afar off, and the promise which the prophets 
waited for, have been revealed in'Christ ; and, above 
all, that we have in him the forgiveness of sins 
and the life everlasting. Grant us grace, we be- 
seech thee, ever to walk in thy light, and to keep 
thy testimonies. May thy gospel this day min- 
ister to our peace and comfort, our faith and hope, 
our instruction in righteousness, our sanctification 
through obedience of the truth ! May it quicken 
souls that are dead in trespasses and sins, and 
comfort and edify thy saints ! May children hear 
the voice of Jesus their Saviour, and come unto 
him! While in thy house, may we have the 
spirit of prayer and praise, and give earnest heed 
to the things that we shall hear ! thou God of 
peace, who didst bring again the Lord Jesus from 



the dead ! grant us peace, we pray thee, through 
pardon in his blood and the hope of his resur- 
rection. May none of us neglect this great salva- 
tion ! 

O Lord ! bless all societies formed for the spread 
of thy gospel. Give wisdom to those who manage 
them, and grace and zeal to all whom they em- 
ploy. May their labors be crowned with success ! 
and may they be the means of leading many to 
the knowledge of the Saviour ! And hasten the 
time, we entreat thee, when all shall know thee, 
from the least to the greatest. 

We give thee thanks, Lord our preserver ! for 
rest and refreshment in the night : grant us, this 
day, rest from the toils and cares of life, — rest in 
thee. Fulfil unto this household, and to all believ- 
ing households, the mercies of thy covenant, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with thee, 
Father, and the Eternal Spirit ! be glory ever- 
lasting. Amen. 



226 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



I Timothy iii. — 1. This is a true saying, If a 
man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a 
good work. 

2. A bishop, then, must be blameless, the hus- 
band of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, 
given to hospitality, apt to teach ; 

3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of 
filthy lucre ; but patient ; not a brawler, not cov- 
etous ; 

4. One that ruleth well his own house, having 
his children in subjection with all gravity ; 

5. (For, if a man know not how to rule his own 
hoase, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 

6. Not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, 
he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 

7. Moreover, he must have a good report of 
them which are without, lest he fall into reproach 
and the snare of the devil. 

8. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not 
double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy 
of filthy lucre ; 

9. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure 
conscience. 



10. And let these also first be proved ; then let 
them use the office of a deacon, being found blame- 
less. 

11. Even so must their wives be grave, not 
slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 

12. Let the deacons be the husbands of one 
wife, ruling their children and their own houses 
well ; 

13. For they that have used the office of a dea- 
con well purchase to themselves a good degree, and 
great boldness in the faith which is in Christ 
Jesus. 

14. These things write I unto thee, hoping to 
come unto thee shortly ; 

15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know 
how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house 
of God, which is the church of the living God, the 
pillar and ground of the truth. 

16. And, without controversy, great is the mys- 
tery of godliness : God was manifest in the flesh, 
justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached 
unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, re- 
ceived up into glory. 



Two classes of officers appear in the permanent constitu- 
tion of the primitive churches, — overseers and deacons. The 
first are commonly called " bishops " in the English version, 
but were the same persons who are sometimes spoken of as 
" presbyters," or " elders." There is nothing in the name to 
identify it with " the office of a bishop " as this exists in any 
communion of the present day. In the Church at Philippi, for 
instance, there were several bishops ; in the Church at Ephe- 
sus there were several elders, who are also called bishops. 
These appear to have been a board of superintendents, hav- 
ing the general direction of public worship and the spiritual 
oversight of the Church ; while the deacons looked after the 
more practical affairs. For both offices there were required a 



character above reproach, sound discretion, and personal expe- 
rience in the knowledge and the grace of Christ. It is plain 
that Paul did not intend that the clergy should practise celi- 
bacy : indeed, he elsewhere condemns those who forbid to 
marry. 

But whatever the form of administration in the Church, 
whatever the number and the titles of its officers, the Church 
itself is the stay and the witness of the truth, bearing through 
all the ages her sublime, unbroken testimony to the incarna- 
tion of the Son of God, to the holiness of his person and life, 
to his resurrection and ascension, and to his gospel as the 
message of grace and salvation to be preached throughout the 
whole world. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 98, 104. 



Heavenly Father, we desire to close this, thy 
holy sabbath, with thee. Thou hast been as a pil- 
lar of cloud before us this day ; thou hast again 
spread for us a table in the wilderness ; we have 
seen again thy glory in thy temple. As the shad- 
ows of night are falling around us, do thou still 
be near us, dispersing all the darkness of sin, and 
giving us the inner light of thy presence and 
love. 

We entreat thee to forgive the sins that have 
mingled in our efforts to serve thee this day. Look 
not on us as we are in ourselves : but behold, 
God our shield ! look upon the face of thine 
Anointed. Through him may our wills be absorbed 
in thine, and thy will become our meat day by 
day ! 

We pray for a world lying in wickedness. Oh ! 
look upon the fields already white, and send forth 
laborers into the harvest. Save thy people ; bless 
thine inheritance ; feed them also, and lift them up 



forever. Bless abundantly the preaching of thy 
holy Word. Glorify thyself in the salvation of 
sinners. 

We entreat thee to take under thy merciful pro- 
tection, this night, all our beloved friends. We 
commend both present and absent ones to the gra- 
cious Shepherd of Israel. Be thou to them all as 
the shadow of a rock in a weary land. Draw near 
to the sons and daughters of sorrow; give them 
everlasting consolation and good hope through 
grace. 

We thank thee for thy many mercies still vouch- 
safed to us. Watch over us during this night. 
Grant us the sleep of thy beloved. When we 
awake, may we still be with thee ! And all that we 
ask is in the name and for the sake of Him whom 
thou hearest always ; to whom, with thee, the 
Father, and thee, O Eternal Spirit ! one God, be 
ascribed all blessing and honor and glory and 
praise, world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



227 



MONDAY. 



Genesis xlii. — 21. And they said one to an- 
other, We are verily guilty concerning our broth- 
er, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he 
besought us, and we would not hear : therefore is 
this distress come upon us. 

22. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake 
I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the 
child ; and ye would not hear ? therefore behold 
also his blood is required. 

23. And they knew not that Joseph under- 
stood them ; for he spake unto them by an inter- 
preter. 

24. And he turned himself about from them, 
and wept ; and returned to them again, and com- 
muned with them, and took from them Simeon, 
and bound him before their eyes. 

25. Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks 
with corn, and to restore every man's money into 
his sack, and to give them provision for the way ; 
and thus did he unto them. 

26. And they laded their asses with the corn, 
and departed thence. 

27. And, as one of them opened his sack to give 
his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money ; 
for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth. 

28. And he said unto his brethren, My money 
is restored ; and, lo, it is even in my sack. And 
their heart failed them, and they were afraid, say- 
ing one to another, What is this that God hath 
done unto us ? 

29. And they came unto Jacob their father unto 
the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell 
unto them, saying, 

30. The man who is the lord of the land spake 



Conscience is a terrible quickener of the memory. At 
any time she can enter its hidden and forgotten chambers, and 
kindle, as with a magnesium-light, the impressions photo- 
graphed on their walls. Joseph's brethren had never inquired 
after his fate, and probably for years had not thought of him 
at all ; but now that they were in this strait of personal dan- 
ger, and saw what anguish any risk to Benjamin must carry 
to their father, their cruelty to Joseph seemed as of yesterday ; 



roughly to us, and took us for spies of the coun- 
try. 

31. And we said unto him, We are true men ; 
we are no spies : 

32. We be twelve brethren, sons of our father : 
one is not, and the youngest is this day with our 
father in the land of Canaan. 

33. And the man, the lord of the country, said 
unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true 
men : leave one of your brethren here with me, 
and take food for the famine of your households, 
and be gone ; 

34. And bring your youngest brother unto me ; 
then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye 
are true men : so will I deliver you your brother, 
and ye shall traffic in the land. 

35. And it came to pass, as they emptied their 
sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money 
was in his sack ; and, when both they and their 
father saw the bundles of money, they were 
afraid. 

36. And Jacob their father said unto them, Me 
have ye bereaved of my ch ildren : Joseph is not, 
and Simeon is not ; and ye will take Benjamin 
away: all these things are against me. 

37. And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, 
Slay my two sons if I bring him not to thee : de- 
liver him into my hand, and I will bring him to 
thee again. 

38. And he said, My son shall not go down 
with you ; for his brother is dead, and he is left 
alone : if mischief befall him' by the way in the 
which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray 
hairs with sorrow to the grave. 



and they were tortured with remorse and fear. So impossible 
is it for men to escape from their sins. Joseph's harshness 
with his brethren was necessary to bring them to this frame 
of penitence : but it was harshness only in seeming ; for his 
soul was yearning to embrace them. The lament of Jacob 
was as the tearing out of his heart-strings ; but often the sor- 
rows that for the moment render us most desolate are but 
making room for the richest experiences of grace and joy. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 124, 160. 



Lord! make clean our hearts before thee, 
that, being renewed in the spirit of our minds, we 
may exhibit in our daily walk all the virtues and 
graces of the Christian life. 

We render thanks to thee for thy loving care in 
the night-season. We thank thee that health and 
home and friends and country are preserved to us. 
We thank thee for all thy goodness to us as a 
family. O Lord ! we beseech thee to visit us this 
day with thy loving-kindness. Give us grace to 
discharge faithfully our duties to thee and to each 
other ! May we be kind and courteous unto all men, 
honest in our dealings, truthful in our words, guile- 



less in our thoughts ! Strengthen us to bear with 
patience whatever trials or sufferings may be in store 
for us, preserve us from the sins which do most 
easily beset us, and enable us to walk worthy of our 
Christian calling, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Lord Jesus ! we long for thy coming in power 
and glory among the nations. May thy Church 
arise, and make straight the way of the Lord ! 
Have pitj' upon the poor, the sick, the dying, and 
the sorrowing. Incline thine ear to us, and hear 
us, we beseech thee ; and order all our ways, this 
and every day, according to thy will, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Genesis xliii. — 26. And, when Joseph came 
home, they brought him the present which was in 
their hand into the house, and bowed themselves 
to him to the earth. 

27. And he asked them of their welfare, and 
said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye 
spake ? Is he yet alive ? 

28. And they answered, Thy servant our father 
is in good health ; he is yet alive : and they bowed 
down their heads, and made obeisance. 

29. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his broth- 
er Benjamin, his mother's son, and said. Is this 
your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me ? 
And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. 

30. And Joseph made haste ; for his bowels did 
yearn upon his brother : and he sought where to 
weep ; and he entered into his chamber, and wept 
there. 

31. And he washed his face, and went out, and 
refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. 

32. And they set on for him by himself, and for 
them by themselves, and for the Egyptians which 
did eat with him by themselves ; because the 
Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, 
for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. 

33. And they sat before him, the first-born ac- 
cording to his birthright, and the youngest accord- 
ing to his youth ; and the men marvelled one at 
another. 

34. And he took and sent messes unto them 
from before him ; but Benjamin's mess was five 
times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, 
and were merry with him. 

Genesis xliv. — 1. And he commanded the 
steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks 
with food, as much as they can carry, and put 
every man's money in his sack's mouth ; 



It was long before Jacob could bring himself to suffer Ben- 
* jamin to go with his brethren to Egypt : but, after Joseph's 
positive injunction, they could not venture to go again for corn 
without their younger brother ; and the pressure of famine at 
length compelled their father to give his consent. They went 
laden with gifts of money, balm, and spices, and were well re- 
ceived by Joseph's steward. At sight of Benjamin, Joseph 



2. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's 
mouth of the youngest, and his corn-money : and 
he did according to the word that Joseph had 
spoken. 

3. As soon as the morning was light, the men 
were sent away, they and their asses. 

4. And when they were gone out of the city, and 
not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up ; 
follow after the men : and, when thou dost over- 
take them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye re- 
warded evil for good ? 

5. Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and 
whereby indeed he divineth ? Ye have done evil 
in so doing. 

6. And he overtook them, and he spake unto 
them these same words. 

7. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my 
lord these words ? God forbid that thy servants 
should do according to this thing. 

8. Behold, the money which we found in our 
sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of 
the land of Canaan: how, then, should we steal out 
of thy lord's house silver or gold ? 

9. With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, 
both let him die, and we also will be my lord's 
bondmen. 

10. And he said, Now also let it be according 
unto your words : he with whom it is found shall 
be my servant ; and ye shall be blameless. 

11. Then they speedily took down every man 
his sack to the ground, and opened every man his 
sack. 

12. And he searched, and began at the eldest, 
and left at the youngest ; and the cup was found 
in Benjamin's sack. 

13. Then they rent their clothes, and laded 
every man his ass, and returned to the city. 



almost betrayed himself; but it was necessary to delay the 
recognition in order to satisfy his brethren of his identity, and 
also of his good-will. 

The contempt of the Egyptians for other nations, together 
with their religious scruples, forbade them to eat with foreign- 
ers ; and Joseph was still acting out his character as an 
Egyptian prince. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Praj^er. 



[Nos. 109, 115. 



Almighty and most merciful Father, we be- 
seech thee to forgive our sins, and incline us ever 
to keep thy commandments. Every good gift 
cometh down from thee, the Father of lights ; and 
though we are so changeful in our love, so in- 
constant in our service, with thee there is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind 
us to thyself, O our Father ! by the mighty at- 
traction of thy love. We pray thee keep us this 
day from temptation, evil, and sin. May we be 
upright in our dealings, true and kind in our 



speech, gentle and patient in our spirit, pure and 
holy in our walk, and so exhibit in our lives the 
graces of the gospel, that we shall win others to the 
love of Christ ! And we pray that multitudes may 
be won to the Saviour; that thy Church may in- 
crease; that missions may prosper ; that thy Word 
maybe given to all people. We thank thee for our 
home, and pray thee to bless us with all things that 
we need as a family. Bless the absent who are 
dear to us ; and bring them, together with us, unto 
thy heavenly kingdom, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



229 



WEDNESDAY. 



Genesis xliv. — 14. And Judah and his breth- 
ren came to Joseph's house (for he was yet there) ; 
and they fell before him on the ground. 

15. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is 
this that ye have done ? wot ye not that such a 
man as I can certainly divine ? 

16. And Judah said, What shall we say unto 
my lord ? what shall we speak ? or how shall we 
clear ourselves ? God hath found out the iniquity 
of thy servants : behold, we are my lord's servants, 
both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. 

17. And he said, God forbid that I should do 
so : but the man in whose hand the cup is found, 
he shall be my servant ; and as for you, get you up 
in peace unto your father. 

18. Then Judah came near unto him, and said, 
my lord ! let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a 
word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger 
burn against thy servant ; for thou art even as 
Pharaoh. 

19. My lord asked his servants, saying, Have 
ye a father or a brother ? 

20. And we said unto my lord, We have a 
father, an old man, and a child of his old age, 
a little one ; and his brother is dead, and he alone 
is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. 

21. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him 
down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. 

22. And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot 
leave his father; for, if he should leave his father, 
his father would die. 

23. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except 
your youngest brother come down with you, ye 
shall see my face no more. 



That the art of divining was practised in Egypt is evi- 
dent from history and from the monuments ; and to steal 
the cup used for this purpose was not only a gross breach 
of hospitality, but an act of sacrilege. Yet both these 
offences seemed to be fastened upon Benjamin by the find- 
ing of the cup in his sack. Judah was more tender-hearted 
than his brethren : it was his mediation that saved Joseph's 



21. And it came to pass, when we came up unto 
thy servant my father, we told him the words of 
my lord. 

25. And our father said, Go again, and buy us 
a little food. 

26. And we said, We cannot go down : if our 
youngest brother be with us, then will we go 
down ; for we may not see the man's face except 
our youngest brother be with us. 

27. And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye 
know that my wife bare me two sons: 

28. And the one went out from me, and I said, 
Surely he is torn in pieces ; and I saw him not 
since ; 

29. And if ye take this also from me, and mis- 
chief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray 
hairs with sorrow to the grave. 

30. Now, therefore, when I come to thy servant 
my father, and the lad be not with us (seeing 
that his life is bound up in the lad's life), 

31. It shall come to pass, when he seeth that 
the lad is not with us, that he will die ; and thy 
servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy 
servant our father with sorrow to the grave : 

32. For thy servant became surety for the lad 
unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto 
thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for- 
ever. 

33. Now, therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant 
abide, instead of the lad, a bondman to my lord ; 
and let the lad go up with his brethren. 

34. For how shall I go up to my father, and the 
lad be not with me ? lest peradventure I see the 
evil that shall come on rny father. 



life when his brethren had cast him into the pit ; and now 
he was ready to make himself a slave that he might deliver 
Benjamin. How the recital of the family history must have 
wrung his soul with the remembrance of the brother whom 
he believed to be dead ! but his picture of Jacob's grief 
brought ou the crisis that Joseph had so long struggled to 
delay. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Xos. 154, 166. 



Create in us a clean heart, God! and renew 
a right spirit within us. We bless thee for thy 
loving care, for rest and safety in the night, 
for the comfort and promise of the morning. 
heavenly Father ! we beseech thee to look 
with favor upon this family. May each of us 
in our respective stations truly serve thee ! May 
we do unto others as we would that they should 
do unto us ! May we be true and just in all 
our dealings ! May we bear no hatred nor 
malice in our hearts ! May we be honest and 
upright in our daily conduct ! May we keep 
our tongues from evil, and our lips from speak- 
ing guile ! 



Give us grace, that we may be established in 
the truth, and be doers of thy Word, and not 
hearers only, deceiving our own selves. May we 
bring -forth fruit to the glory of thy name and the 
comfort of our souls ! 

[0 Lord ! grant unto the children of this house- 
hold the teaching of thy Spirit, the guidance of 
thy providence, that they may walk in the way of 
wisdom and of life.] 

Defend us with thy heavenly grace, that we may 
continue thine forever, and daily increase in thy 
Holy Spirit more and more, until we come unto 
thine everlasting kingdom, through the merits of 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Genesis xlv. — 1. Then Joseph could not re- 
frain himself before all them that stood by him ; 
and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me ; 
and there stood no man with him while Joseph 
made himself known unto his brethren. 

2. And he wept aloud ; and the Egyptians and 
the house of Pharaoh heard. 

3. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am 
Joseph : doth my father yet live ? And his breth- 
ren could not answer him ; for they were troubled 
at his presence. 

4. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come 
near to me, I pray you ; and they came near. And 
he said, I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold 
into Egypt. 

5. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with 
yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did 
send me before you to preserve life. 

6. For these two years hath the famine been in 
the land ; and yet there are five years in the 
which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 

7. And God sent me before you to preserve you 
a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by 
a great deliverance. 

8. So now it was not you that sent me hither, 
but God ; and he hath made me a father to Pha- 



The attempt has been made to dramatize the story of 
Joseph, and to produce it upon the stage with the accessories 
of scenery and music ; but to portray it, to expand it, even 
to comment upon it, is to take away its charm. We see 
magnanimity triumphing over meanness ; generosity requit- 
ing envy and malice ; the man who had become so great in 
wisdom and in power showing himself greater still in love ; 
but, above all, we see the spirit of piety honoring God in all 
the events of life, and dictating forgiveness toward men for 
injuries which God had turned to blessings. Up to the time 
of his sudden exaltation, each particular event of Joseph's 
life had seemed to tell against him ; everybody was his 
enemy ; and yet all things were working together for his 
good ! Who would not trust and magnify the Lord, who 



raoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler through- 
out all the land of Egypt. 

9. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say 
unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph: God hath 
made me lord of all Egypt : come down unto me ; 
tarry not. 

10. And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, 
and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy 
children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, 
and thy herds, and all that thou hast ; 

11. And there will I nourish thee (for yet there 
are five years of famine), lest thou, and thy 
household, and all that thou hast, come to pov- 
erty. 

12. And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of 
my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that 
speaketh unto you. 

13. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory 
in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen ; and ye 
shall haste, and bring down my father hither. 

14. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's 
neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his 
neck. 

15. Moreover, he kissed all his brethren, and 
wept upon them ; and after that his brethren 
talked with him. 



holds all the complicated threads of life in the guiding hand 
of love ? But, like Joseph, we should retain under all circum- 
stances purity of life, simplicity of faith, integrity of character. 
The promise of God to Abraham would be best fulfilled by 
the removal of Israel into Egypt. Had the family of Jacob 
remained in Canaan, they or their descendants might have 
become separated in their interests, corrupted in their faith, 
and finally absorbed in the native population. Removing to 
Egypt, and dwelling compactly, they grew to be a nation. 
But to remain in Egypt would be to frustrate the cove- 
nant ; and so, when they had become strong enough to 
take permanent possession of Canaan, they were dislodged 
from Egypt by oppression, and led forth to the land of 
promise. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Pra3 r er. 



[Nos. 96, 124. 



We thank thee, Lord ! for thy watchful care 
over us, and for all thy bounty towards us. Grant 
that we may show our thankfulness to thee, not 
only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up 
ourselves to thy service, and by daily endeavoring 
to do such things as are pleasing to thee. 

We bless thee that in thy holy Word thou hast 
made known to us thy will and thy love. Teach 
us to hide its truths and precepts in our hearts, 
that we may not sin against thee. Teach us also 
to read thy love in all thy works, and in all the 
ways of thy providence. 

Lord, preserve us this day in body and soul. 
Be pleased to grant us health and strength, that 
we may rightly fulfil the duties of our different sta- 
tions ; and do thou keep our hearts steadfast in thy 



fear. Hold up our goings in thy paths, that our 
footsteps slip not. In word and deed may we seek 
to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and to 
prove ourselves thy true disciples ! May our light 
so shine before men, that they, seeing our good 
works, shall glorify thee, our heavenly Father, and 
desire to be numbered with thy children ! 

[May these children confide in their heavenly 
Father, who watches over the sparrows ! and, oh, 
may they fear to sin, remembering that wherever 
they are, and whatever they do, the eye of God is 
upon them !] 

We commit ourselves to thy care for the coming 
day. May we act as in thy presence, and do all 
this day to thy glory ! Hear us, we beseech thee, 
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



231 



FRIDAY. 



Genesis xlvii. — 1. Then Joseph came and told 
Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, 
and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they 
have, are come out of the land of Canaan ; and, 
behold, they are in the land of Goshen. 

2. And he took some of his brethren, even five 
men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. 

3. And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What 
is your occupation ? And they said unto Pha- 
raoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and 
also our fathers. 

4. They said, moreover, unto Pharaoh, For to 
sojourn in the land are we come ; for thy servants 
have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is 
sore in the land of Canaan : now therefore, we 
pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of 
Goshen. 

5. And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, 
Thy father and thy brethren are come unto 
thee : 

6. The land of Egypt is before thee: in the best 
of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell ; 



in the land of Goshen let them dwell ; and if thou 
knowest any men of activity among them, then 
make them rulers over my cattle. 

7. And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and 
set him before Pharaoh ; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 

8. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art 
thou? 

9. And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of 
the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and 
thirty years : few and evil have the days of the 
years of my life been, and have not attained unto 
the days of the years of the life of my fathers in 
the days of their pilgrimage. 

10. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out 
from before Pharaoh. 

11. And Joseph placed his father and his breth- 
ren, and gave them a possession in the land of 
Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Ba- 
rneses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 

12. And Joseph nourished his father and his 
brethren, and all his father's household, with 
bread according to their families. 



As a settled agricultural people, the Egyptians had a con- 
tempt for the roving tribes of shepherds, and a dread of them, 
also, because of their frequent invasions, which kept the east- 
ern frontier in a state of alarm. Joseph took advantage of this 
prejudice to secure for his father and brethren a separate dis- 
trict of country, for the reason that they were shepherds. This 
district of Goshen was one of the most fertile in the whole 
land. It lay along the easternmost branch of the Nile, — now 
dried away, — and covered the region of the Wadi/ Tumilat, 
through which the sweet water canal flows from the Nile to 
the Suez Canal. The hospitality with which Pharaoh re- 
ceived these strangers is proof of the great esteem in which 



Joseph was held. In the interview between Jacob and Pharaoh, 
the dignity of the patriarch is exalted above the majesty of 
the king. In those times, great respect was shown to age 
and to the head of a tribe, as is still the case in the East. 
Moreover, Jacob, from his intimacy with God, felt moved to 
confer a blessing as in the character of a priest. In compari- 
son with the lives of his ancestors, his own days seemed few : 
indeed, the longest life, when looked back upon, appears 
as a dream. But, whatever its trials, no life can be fitly 
described as " evil " into which there enters any proper sense 
of the divine mercy, or any experience of communion with 
God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 68, 90, 106. 



Our Father in heaven, we come to thee with 
wants which thou knowest far better than we, and 
for blessings which thou art more ready to give 
than we to ask. But thou hast bidden to pray; 
and we love to come, saying, " Our Father." Oh, 
may we have the spirit of little children, and show 
our love and gratitude in lives of devotion ! Thou 
hast kept us in the watches of the night from every 
trouble, sorrow, and alarm ; and now we bless thee 
for the day, for life and health, for food and rai- 
ment, for home and friends, for means of education 
and of enjoyment, for means of occupation and of 
support, for means of improvement in the knowl- 
edge of thyself from thy works and thy Word, and 
for opportunities of doing good to others. Oh ! 
grant us grace that we may use to thy glory the lives 
which thou didst give, and which thy mercy doth 
continually spare. 

We acknowledge, Lord ! our unworthiness 
and our sinfulness, and beseech thee to pardon our 
transgressions, and heal our infirmities. Help us 
this day to live aright. In the business of life 



may we be diligent, faithful, and true ! and do thou, 
Lord, prosper the labor of our hands. In our in- 
tercourse with others, may we manifest the gentle- 
ness, the sincerity, the charity, of the gospel of 
Christ ! May we be patient under trials, meek 
under injuries, firm against temptation, bold for 
the truth, zealous for thy cause ! May we be kind 
to the poor, helpful to the suffering, gentle toward 
all men ! [Give unto these children, O Lord ! 
grace to serve thee in the morning of life, and in 
their thoughts and words, their studies and their 
play, always to please their Father in heaven.] 
Remember with thy mercy all our friends ; visit 
with thy grace the homes of all who are dear to us. 
Build up, O Lord ! thy Church ; prosper thy king- 
dom in our land, and throughout the world. Ever 
guide, keep, and bless us. May we live as pil- 
grims in the world, seeking that better country 
which is the home of thy saints ! Bring us to the 
close of the day in peace, and to the close of life 
in a hope full of immortality, through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Genesis xlix. — 33. And, when Jacob had made 
an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up 
his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, 
and was gathered unto his people. 

Genesis I. — 1. And Joseph fell upon his fa- 
ther's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. 

2. And Joseph commanded his servants, the 
physicians, to embalm his father ; and the physi- 
cians embalmed Israel. 

3. And forty days were fulfilled for him; for 
so are fulfilled the days of those which are em- 
balmed : and the Egyptians mourned for him 
threescore and ten days. 

7. And Joseph went up to bury his father ; and 
with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the 
elders of his house, and all the elders of the land 
of Egypt, 

8. And all the house of Joseph, and his breth- 
ren, and his father's house: only their little ones, 
and their flocks, and their 'herds, they left in the 
land of Goshen. 

9. And there went up with him both chariots 
and horsemen ; and it was a very great company. 

10. And they came to the threshing-floor of 
Atad, which is beyond Jordan ; and there they 
mourned with a great and very sore lamentation ; 
and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 

12. And his sons did unto him according as he 
commanded them ; 

13. For his sons carried him into the land of 
Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of 
Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, 
for a possession of a burying-place, of Ephron the 
Hittite, before Mamre. 



The custom of embalming the dead was more marked and 
uniform among the Egyptians than with any people of whose 
funeral-rites we have knowledge. With families of means, 
great pains were taken for the preservation of the body after 
death. According to Diodorus, embalming was a distinct 
profession : the process consumed from thirty to forty days ; 
and, for persons of distinction, the mourning was extended to 
seventy-two days. Herodotus assigns seventy days to the 



15. And, when Joseph's brethren saw that their 
father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradven- 
ture hate us, and will certainly requite us all the 
evil which we did unto him. 

16. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, 
saying, Thy father did command before he 
died, 

17. So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray 
thee now, the trespass of thy brethren and their 
sin ; for they did unto thee evil : and now, we 
pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of 
the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when 
they spake unto him. 

18. And his brethren also went and fell down 
before his face ; and they said, Behold, we be thy 
servants. 

19. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not ; for 
am I in the place of God ? 

20. But as for you, ye thought evil against me ; 
but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it 
is this day, to save much people alive. 

21. Now, therefore, fear ye not : I will nourish 
you and your little ones. And he comforted 
them, and spake kindly unto them. 

24. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die ; 
and God will surely visit you, and bring you out 
of this land, unto the land which he sware to 
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 

25. And Joseph took an oath of the children of 
Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye 
shall carry up my bones from hence. 

26. So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten 
years old ; and they embalmed him, and he was 
put in a coffin in Egypt. 



embalming. There can hardly be a doubt that the body of 
Jacob lies uncorrupted still in the family-tomb at Hebron, or 
that the sarcophagus of Joseph remains where it was buried 
in Shechem. 

The fears of Joseph's brethren show how much harder it is 
for guilt to forgive itself than for love to forgive it ; but the 
loving peace of Joseph's age was a beautiful contrast to the 
dark and troubled times of his youth. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 32, 46. 



God, our heavenly Father ! we come to thee in 
our need ; for thou alone art able to succor us : we 
come to thee in our weakness ; for thou alone canst 
give us strength : we come to thee in our sins ; for 
thou alone canst pardon, heal, and save us. Have 
mercy upon us, Lord ! for the sake of thy Son, 
our Saviour Jesus Christ ; and suffer us never to 
fall away from thee. We praise thee for thy 
watchful providence over us in our persons, in 
our family, in our home, in all that pertains to our 
well-being; and we beseech thee grant unto us, 
this day, health and prosperity, and preserve us 
from all harm and danger. Keep us from all 



impatience and anger, from envy and jealousy, 
from every evil lust. Grant us grace to be faith- 
ful in all the offices and relations of life. May 
we study to be helpful to each other, be patient 
of each other's infirmities, and rejoice in each 
other's prosperity ! and may the love that blesses 
our earthly home interpret to us the love of our 
Father in heaven, and draw us toward the better 
home ! We make supplication for all men ; be- 
seeching thee, the Father of all, to dispense unto 
all thy mercies according to their several con- 
ditions and necessities, through Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



233 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Acts xvii. — 16. Now, while Paul waited for 
thein at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him when 
he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 

17. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with 
the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the 
market daily with them that met with him. 

18. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans 
and of the Stoics encountered him. And some 
said, What will this babbler say ? other some, He 
seemeth to be a setter-forth of strange gods; be- 
cause he preached unto them Jesus and the resur- 
rection. 

19. And they took him, and brought him unto 
Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new 
doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is ? 

22. Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' Hill, 
and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all 
things ye are too superstitious ; 

23. For as I passed by, and beheld your devo- 
tions, I found an altar with this inscription : TO 
THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom, therefore, ye 
ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 

24. God that made the world, and all things 
therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and 
earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands ; 

25. Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as 



Athens was " the eve of Greece," and, to the Roman world, 
was yet the centre of art, of letters, and of philosophy. Art 
had so crowded it with temples, altars, and idols, that a satir- 
ist said it was easier to find a god at Athens than a man. 
Many Greek and Roman writers corroborate Luke's epithet, 
" a city full of idols." But the philosophers, though they 
would humor the superstitions of the people, inwardly con- 
temned their worship : the Epicureans advocated a life of sen- 
sual pleasure ; the Stoics, the opposite extreme of indiffer- 
ence to the world, and a stern fatalism. In the heart of the 
city was the Forum, which was at once a business-exchange, a 
place of news, and the arena of public discussions. Back of 
this was the hill of the Acropolis, crowned with the Parthe- 
non and other wonders of art, especially the colossal statue of 
Minerva, whose shining spear was visible far out at sea. A 
little west of the Acropolis was another ridge, somewhat lower, 
but still sixty feet above the forum, known as Mars' Hill, 
where the high court of justice sat. Paul's discussions in the 



though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to 
all life and breath and all things ; 

26. And hath made of one blood all nations of 
men for to dwell on all the face of the earth ; and 
hath determined the times before appointed, and 
the bounds of their habitation ; 

27. That they should seek the Lord, if haply 
they might feel after him, and find him, though 
he be not far from every one of us ; 

28. For in him we live and move, and have our 
being ; as certain also of your own poets have 
said, For we are also his offspring. 

29. Forasmuch, then, as we are the offspring of 
God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is 
like unto gold or silver or stone, graven by art and 
man's device. 

30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at, 
but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent ; 

31. Because he hath appointed a day, in the 
which he will judge the world in righteousness by 
that man whom he hath ordained ; whereof he 
hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath 
raised him from the dead. 

32. And, when they heard of the resurrection of 
the dead, some mocked ; and others said, We will 
hear thee again of this matter. 



Forum had drawn such crowds, that he was placed upon Mars' 
Hill to address them. Here he had above him the splendid 
temples and statues of the Acropolis ; beyond him, the moun- 
tains and the sea ; beneath him, the temples and altars with 
which the city was filled. Taking advantage of this promi- 
nence given to objects of devotion, he said, " I perceive that ye 
are in every way most religiously inclined ; for, passing by, and 
closely observing the objects of your religious veneration, I 
found an altar ' To the Unknown God.' " Then, arguing from 
the glory of the creation visible around him, and from the testi- 
mony of their consciousness uttered by one of their own poets, 
he proclaimed the majesty of the one spiritual, eternal Creator 
and Father of all above these dumb images of gold or silver or 
stone. Then, pressing home this truth upon the conscience, 
he proclaimed the moral government of God as Judge, and 
urged the duty of repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ. It is 
not enough to behold and admire God in nature : the heart 
must serve him in humble, adoring faith. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 132, HO, 178. 



Lord, most gracious Saviour, who on this day 
didst rise again from the dead ! raise up our souls 
unto newness of life, granting us repentance from 
dead works, and planting us in the likeness of thy 
resurrection. We beseech thee so to purify our 
hearts this day, that we may worship thee accepta- 
bly, with reverence and godly fear. Incline us to 
receive thy Word into honest and good hearts, and 
to bring forth fruit with patience ; that we may at 
last inherit everlasting life, through the mediation 
of our great High Priest, who has passed into the 
heavens, and who liveth evermore. 

Thou Lord of the evening and morning, we bless 



thee for thy love which 'shines upon us in the 
morning light. As thy goodness hath preserved 
us in the night, may thy grace attend and keep us 
this day ! As we shall study thee in thy works 
and Word, fill our minds with thy truth, and our 
hearts with thy love. Teach the children thy 
grace in the gospel of thy Son, that they may 
consecrate to thee the dew of their youth. 

Let thy special blessing, Lord ! rest on all our 
friends and neighbors, and upon thy whole Church. 
Oh ! hasten the final coming of Christ our Saviour ; 
to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be 
all praise and thanksgiving forever. Amen. 



234 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm cxiii. — 1. Praise ye the Lord. Praise, 
ye servants of the Lord ! praise the name of the 
Lord. 

2. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this 
time forth and forevermore. 

3. From the rising of the sun unto the going 
down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised. 

4. The Lord is high above all nations, and his 
glory above the heavens. 

5. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who 
dwelleth on high, 

6. Who humbleth himself to behold the things 
that are in heaven and in the earth ? 

7. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and 
lifteth the needy out of the dunghill ; 

8. That he may set him with princes, even with 
the princes of his people. 

9. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, 
and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye 
the Lord. 

Psalm cxxxviii. — 1. I will praise thee with my 



whole heart : before the gods will I sing praise 
unto thee. 

2. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and 
praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for 
thy truth ; for thou hast magnified thy word above 
all thy name. 

3. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, 
and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 

4. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, 
Lord ! when they hear the words of thy mouth ; 

5. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord : 
for great is the glory of the Lord. 

6. Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect 
unto the lowly ; but the proud he knoweth afar off. 

7. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou 
wilt revive me : thou shalt stretch forth thine hand 
against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right 
hand shall save me. 

8. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth 
me : thy mercy, Lord ! endureth forever : forsake 
not the works of thine own hands. 



God has a plan concerning every one of us. Our lives do not 
move on at hap-hazard, neither are they altogether shaped by 
our own choice; but the Lord had a purpose in bringing us 
into being, and is directing our lives toward the fulfilment of 
that purpose. His purpose toward the work of his hands is 
always good. We can, indeed, frustrate the moral end of our 
creation by our perversity and sin ; but, if we adapt ourselves in 
obedience and submission to the will of God, he will perfect that 
which concerneth us. He will not abandon his own plan. It 
matters nothing that he is so great and high, and we so insig- 
nificant : He who clothes the lilies and feeds the birds of the air, 
and watches over the minutest laws and processes of the physi- 
cal universe, thinks upon his children with a father's watchful 
and forecasting love. When we find ourselves in trouble, we 



may not infer that God has forsaken or forgotten us. Our path 
may lie through the sea ; but he will make the waters as a wall 
upon the right hand and the left. Our way may lead through 
the valley of the shadow of death : but he will go with us ; his 
rod and staff will comfort us. The very troubles of life — disci- 
plining our hearts to a loftier faith, separating us from a worldly 
unto a spiritual life — may be a means of perfecting that which 
concerneth us in the wise and holy purpose of God. So the 
Psalmist had already found it. His troubles had brought him 
experiences of the merciful faithfulness of God, so rich and 
blessed, that the fulfilment of the divine promise even exceeded 
the hopes based upon his glorious name. So let the remem- 
brance of past mercies lead us to praise and trust Him whose 
ways toward us are perfect, and whose mercy endureth forever. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 43, 139, 141. 



Lord our God ! we come before thee this even- 
ing, trusting only in the name of Christ our Sa- 
viour. Though thou art high and holy, yet dost 
thou humble thyself to behold the dwellers upon 
earth, and dost hearken to the cry of the needy for 
thy dear Son's sake. 

We thank thee for health and strength, and 
every earthly comfort and blessing. But we praise 
thee yet more for the measure of grace which thou 
hast given to us ; for thy holy Word, and for the 
way of salvation. Teach us to devote all that we 
have, and all that we are, to Him who gave him- 
self for us. May we walk as children of the light ! 
and may our light so shine before men, that they 
may see our good works, and glorify our Father 
which is in heaven ! So fill us with the grandeur 
of thy kingdom, with the reality of things not 
seen, with the nearness of eternity, that we shall 
count all earthly things but loss for thy sake. 
May we trust thy providence to take care of us 
while we seek first the kingdom of God ! 



[May the children of this family grow up in 
the love of all that is pure and good and holy !] 
We implore thy blessing upon all who are in any 
way connected with us, especially those who are 
in any trouble and sorrow. Comfort those who 
mourn. Enlighten and sanctify any who are yet 
far from thee, and who are ignorant of the great 
salvation. 

Bless, Lord ! we beesech thee, all societies 
formed for the spread of thy gospel. Give wis- 
dom to those who manage them, and grace and 
zeal to all whom they employ. May their labors 
be crowned with success ! and may they be the 
means of leading many to the knowledge of the 
Saviour ! And hasten the time, we entreat thee, 
when all shall know thee. 

And now, most gracious Father, we pray thee 
to watch over and protect us through this night. 
Let thy love cheer us, and thy Holy Spirit comfort 
us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and 
Advocate. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



MONDAY. 



Ezekiel xxxiii. — 6. But if the watchman see 
the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and 
the people be not warned ; if the sword come, and 
take any person from among them, he is taken 
away in his iniquity ; but bis blood will I require 
at the watchman's hand. 

7. So thou, son of man ! I have set thee a 
watchman unto the house of Israel : therefore thou 
shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them 
from me. 

8. When I say unto the wicked, wicked man ! 
thou shalt surely die ; if thou dost not speak to 
warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man 
shall die in his iniquity ; but his blood will I re- 
quire at thine hand. 

9. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his 
way to turn from it ; if he do not turn from his 
way. he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast 
delivered thy soul. 

Acts xviii. — 1. After these things, Paul de- 
parted- from Athens, and came to Corinth ; 

2. And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born 
in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife 
Priscilla (because that Claudius had commanded 
all Jews to depart from Pome), and came unto 
them. 

3. And, because he was of the same craft, he 



abode with them, and wrought (for by their occu- 
pation they were tent-makers). 

4. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sab- 
bath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 

5. And, when Silas and Timotheus were come 
from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, 
and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 

6. And when they opposed themselves, and blas- 
phemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, 
Your blood be upon your own heads : I am clean ; 
from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 

7. And he departed thence, and entered into a 
certain man's house, named Justus, one that wor- 
shipped God, whose house joined hard to the syna- 
gogue. 

8. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, 
believed on the Lord with all his house ; and many 
of the Corinthians, hearing, believed, and were 
baptized. 

9. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night 
by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not 
thy peace ; 

10. For I am with thee, and no man shall set 
on thee to hurt thee ; for I have much people in 
this city. 

11. And he continued there a year and six 
months, teaching the word of God among them. 



Though not fifty miles distant, Corinth was in wide contrast 
to artistic and philosophical Athens as a city of commerce 
and luxury ; yet it proved to be a more hopeful field for 
Paul's labors, and he remained there longer than in any other 
place. Indeed, he identified himself with the Church of Cor- 
inth with more of personal feeling than with any other ; speak- 
ing of them as his children, and giving to them the most ear- 
nest and affectionate counsels. Besides being an important 
and populous city in itself, Corinth was a central point from 
which the gospel could be diffused over a wide region. So 
Paul settled down here to his work. And he went very qui- 
etly to work : for the gospel was not always to spread by Pen- 



tecosts and miracles ; and Paul, though an inspired apostle, 
must needs lay foundations in patience and prayer. Accord- 
ing to the wise custom of the Jews, that a son should always 
learn some trade, Paul had been taught the manufacture of 
tent-cloth, which was a common business in his native Cili- 
cia ; and so he maintained himself b_v his work through the 
week, and every sabbath preached the gospel. At the same 
time, Paul insisted strongly upon the duty of the churches to 
support the ministry. It is ground of encouragement for 
great cities, that, in Corinth, Paul made head against all kinds 
of opposition, and gathered much people to the Lord. More 
of his faith would now gather more of his fruits. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 36, 99. 



We will sing unto the Lord as long as we live ; 
we will sing praises unto our God while we have 
any being. We bless thee for the light of the 
day : Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance 
upon us. We bless thee for the breath of life : 
Lord, grant us life eternal. We bless thee for 
the continued use of our faculties : assist us to use 
all our powers for thy glory. We thank thee for 
the shelter of our dwelling: be thou our strong 
refuge to which we may continually resort. We 
praise thee for the bread that perisneth : feed us, 
God ! with the bread of life. We thank thee 
for the love of kindred and friends : may we have 
the friendship of Him who sticketh closer than a 
brother! We bless thee for access to thyself: 
prompt us to pray without ceasing, and in every 
thing to give thanks. We thank thee for the mis- 



sion of the Holy Ghost : may we never grieve the 
Holy Spirit of God ! We worship thee for thine 
unspeakable gift : may Christ be precious to our 
souls ! We bless thee for the revelation of heaven : 
God ! grant that we may be daily maturing for 
the inheritance of the saints in light. 

Prepare us for whatever shall befall us; and 
teach us to walk with God, believing that all 
things work together for good to them that love 
thee. And do thou cause all grace to abound 
toward us, that we may abound to every good 
work. Exalt thy Church, God ! Make manifest 
thy saving power. Pity the children of sorrow ; 
heal the wounds of their hearts, and wipe away 
their tears. Overthrow the dominion of sin ; and 
let thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on 
earth as it is in heaven, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



236 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



2 Corinthians vi. — 1. We then, as workers 
together with him, beseech you also that ye re- 
ceive not the grace of God in vain. 

2. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time 
accepted, and in the day of salvation have I suc- 
cored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; be- 
hold, now is the day of salvation.) 

3. Giving no offence in any thing, that the min- 
istry be not blamed ; 

4. But in all things approving ourselves as the 
ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, 
in necessities, in distresses, 

5. In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in 
labors, in watchings, in fastings ; 

6. By pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffer- 
ing, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love un- 
feigned, 

7. By the word of truth, by the power of God, 
by the armor of righteousness on the right hand 
and on the left, 

8. By honor and dishonor, by evil report and 
good report ; as deceivers, and yet true ; 

9. As unknown, and yet well known ; as dying, 
and, behold, we live ; as chastened, and not 
killed. 

10. As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing ; as poor, 



yet making many rich; as having nothing, and 
yet possessing all things. 

11. ye Corinthians ! our mouth is open unto 
you ; our heart is enlarged. 

12. Ye are not straitened in us ; but ye are 
straitened in your own bowels. 

13. Now, for a recompense in the same (I speak 
as unto my children), be ye also enlarged. 

14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with 
unbelievers ; for what fellowship hath righteous- 
ness with unrighteousness ? and what communion 
hath light with darkness ? 

15. And what concord hath Christ with Belial ? 
or what part hath he that believeth with an infi- 
del ? 

16. And what agreement hath the temple of 
God with idols ? For ye are the temple of the liv- 
ing God ; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, 
and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and 
they shall be my people. 

17. Wherefore come out from among them, and 
be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the 
unclean thing ; and I will receive you, 

18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall 
be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Al- 
mighty. 



How wondrous are the surprises, the transformations, the 
contradictions even, of faith ! It turns poverty into riches, 
sorrow into joy, persecution into honor, death into life. For 
every self-denial and sacrifice it returns so rich a compensa- 
tion, that he who, in the largeness of his devotion, should strip 
himself to nothing, would find himself possessing all things. 
Was there ever a life into which entered more of the elements of 
outward disturbance than were in the life of the apostle Paul ? 
Yet was ever a life happier than his ? Corinth, the scene of 
his greatest trials, was the scene also of his richest triumphs. 

But these joys and rewards of faith are in proportion to the 



absoluteness of our dependence upon Christ, — the entireness 
of our separation from the world. We cannot combine a 
worldly spirit with a believing spirit : but, when we renounce 
all for God, he takes us to his embrace as sons and daugh- 
ters ; and that is the possessing all things. 

Aside from the special gift of inspiration, the supernatural 
illumination of his understanding in the things of God, there 
was no possession or attainment of Paul in the Christian life, 
no elevation of hope or rapture, which is not equally within 
the reach of any believer who will exercise the same faith and 
practise the same self-denial. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 39, 50, 57. 



Thou only, Lord ! makest us to dwell in safety. 
We lie down at night under the shadow of thy 
wings ; we awake in the morning to the light of 
thy love. We thank thee for another night of rest 
and comfort ; for another day of life, health, and 
hope. Lord ! may we be found faithful to thee 
in the duties of this day ! and, amid its temptations 
and ifcs trials, do thou sustain us, comfort us, keep 
us, and grant us grace in all we do to seek thy 
giory. May this household, which thou hast so 
blessed, serve thee, not at this altar only, but in all 
the walks of life ! As we engage in the business of 
the world, as we go into society, wherever we are, 
and whatever we do, may we remember thee, and 
do thy will ! Oh ! grant that every member of this 
family may be a child of God ; a humble, faithful 
follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

[We commend unto thy fatherly goodness the 
children of this family. Lord ! give unto them 



grace to serve thee in the morning of life, and 
in their thoughts and words, their studies and 
their play, always to please their Father in 
heaven.] 

Bless all dear to us who are absent from us. 
Do thou, Lord ! dwell by thy Spirit in the hearts 
and the minds of all our friends. We supplicate 
thy mercy for the needy, the afflicted, the be- 
reaved, and the sorrowing. Oh ! grant to all the 
consolations of thy gospel. 

Build up thy Church, Lord ! Fill our land 
with pure religion. Bless the industry of the peo- 
ple ; and may its fruit be consecrated to the good 
of men ! May our rulers be faithful and just, walk- 
ing in thy fear ! And we beseech thee to bring all 
lands under the power and glory of thy kingdom. 
In thy great mercy, Lord ! forgive our sins, and 
bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus 
Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



237 



WEDNESDAY. 



Acts xix. — 1. And it came to pass, that, while 
Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed 
through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus ; and, 
finding certain disciples, 

2. He said unto them, Have ye received the 
Holy Ghost since ye helieved? And they said 
unto him, We have not so much as heard whether 
there be any Holy Ghost. 

3. And he said unto them, Unto what, then, 
were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's 
baptism. 

4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with 
the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, 
that they should believe on him which should come 
after him ; that is, on Christ Jesus. 

5. When they heard this, they were baptized in 
the name of the Lord Jesus. 

6. And, when Paul had laid his hands upon 
them, the Holy Ghost came on them ; and they 
spake with tongues, and prophesied. 

7. And all the men were about twelve. 

8. And he went into the synagogue, and spake 
boldly for the space of three months, disputing 
and persuading the things concerning the king- 
dom of God. 

9. But when divers were hardened, and believed 
not, but spake evil of that way before the multi- 
tude, he departed from them, and separated the 
disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Ty- 
rannus. 

10. And this continued by the space of two 
years : so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard 



One may tie a sincere Christian who yet has a very limited 
knowledge of doctrine, and a very imperfect experience. These 
disciples at Ephesus were probably Jews, who had been at Jeru- 
salem in the days of John the Baptist, had accepted his doctrine 
concerning the Christ, and had been baptized into the kingdom 
of God. They had known little of subsequent events, and noth- 
ing whatever of the miraculous descent of the Spirit at Pente- 
cost; but they were in a frame of true faith and devotion, and at 
once accepted and acted upon the new light given them by Paul. 

The "vagabond Jews" spoken of in verse 13 were wan- 
dering jugglers, who professed to have communication with 



the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and 
Greeks. 

11. And God wrought special miracles by the 
hands of Paul ; 

12. So that from his body were brought unto 
the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases 
departed from them, and the evil spirits went out 
of them. 

13. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exor- 
cists, took upon them to call over them which had 
evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, 
We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 

14. And there were seven sons of one Sceva a 
Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 

15. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus 
I know, and Paul I know ; but who are ye ? 

16. And the man in whom the evil spirit was 
leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed 
against them, so that they fled out of that house 
naked and wounded. 

17. And this was known to all the Jews and 
Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus ; and fear fell on 
them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was 
magnified. 

18. And many that believed came, and con- 
fessed, and showed their deeds. 

19. Many of them, also, which used curious arts, 
brought their books together, and burned them 
before all men ; and they counted the price of 
them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 

20. So mightily grew the word of God, and pre- 
vailed. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

We come to thee this morning, heavenly Father, 
with hearts full of thankfulness for the mercies of 
the night. Thou hast kept us quiet from the fear 
of evil : nor sickness nor death, nor tempest nor 
fire, nor any calamity, hath overtaken us or our 
dwelling. How sure are the mercies of thy cove- 
nant, Lord ! 

Bless to us thy Word which we have now read : 
may we carry out its principles in our lives, and 
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
things ! May we be just and true, loving and 
kind, gentle, forbearing, and forgiving, and so 
shine as lights in the world, holding; forth the 



the spirit-world. "It was important that the divine power 
which accompanied the gospel should, in some striking man- 
ner, exhibit its superiority to the magic which prevailed so 
extensively at Ephesus, and which, by its apparently great 
effects, deceived and captivated so many. This miracle would 
have a tendency to rescue men from those arts of imposture, 
and prepare their minds for the reception of the truth." 

No better proof of conversion could be given than to re- 
nounce a lucrative trade for conscience' sake, and to destroy 
a pernicious stock rather than perpetuate mischief by selling 
it out to others in the same business. 



[Nos. 89, 117. 



Prayer. 

Word of life! May every day witness some new 
victory over evil desires and passions within us, 
and over the evil that is in the world ! Keep all 
dear to us even as the apple of thine eye. Bless 
our neighbors, and send thy Spirit upon this 
whole community. Bless our rulers, and the 
schools and churches in our land. Have pity 
upon the poor, and upon homes made desolate 
by famine, pestilence, fire, or war. Mercifully 
forgive our sins, and bring us unto the perfec- 
tion of knowledge, of holiness, and of blessedness, 
in Jesus Christ our Lord ; to whom be glory for- 
ever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Acts XX. — 17. And from Miletus he sent to 
Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 

18. And, when they were come to him, he said 
unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I 
came into Asia, after what manner I have heen 
with you at all seasons, 

19. Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, 
and with many tears and temptations, which befell 
me by the lying-in-wait of the Jews ; 

20. And how I kept back nothing that was prof- 
itable unto you, but have showed you, and have 
taught you publicly, and from house to house, 

21. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the 
Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 

22. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit 
unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall 
befall me there ; 

23. Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in 
every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide 
me. 

24. But none of these things move me, neither 
count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might 
finish my course with joy, and the ministry which 
I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the 
gospel of the grace of God. 

25. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among 
whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, 
shall see my face no more. 

26. Wherefore I take you to record this day, 
that I am pure from the blood of all men ; 

27. For I have not shunned to declare unto you 
all the counsel of God. 



The height of heroism is an unselfish devotion to the cause 
of truth and the good of mankind. Paul never stopped to 
think of his safety, to care even for his life, when duty to 
Christ, or the opportunity of saving men, called him to a post 
of trial and danger. And so, when age and past sufferings 
might have excused him from further exposure, he neverthe- 
less went to Jerusalem, knowing that bonds and afflictions 
there awaited him. With all his firmness and courage, he 
was a man of remarkable tenderness and delicacy of feeling, 
and of the nicest sense of honor. For three years he had de- 
voted his life, for no personal consideration whatever, to 



28. Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves, and to 
all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath 
made you overseers, to feed the church of God, 
which he hath purchased with his own blood. 

29. For I know this, that after my departing 
shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not 
sparing the flock. 

30. Also of your own selves shall men arise, 
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples 
after them. 

31. Therefore watch, and remember, that, by the 
space of three years, I ceased not to warn every 
one, night and day, with tears. 

32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, 
and to the word of his grace, which is able to 
build you up, and to give you an inheritance 
among all them which are sanctified. 

33. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or 
apparel. 

34. Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands 
have ministered unto my necessities, and to them 
that were with me. 

35. I have showed you all things, how that so 
laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to re- 
member the words of the Lord Jesus, how he 
said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 

36. And, when he had thus spoken, he knelt 
down, and prayed with them all. 

37. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's 
neck, and kissed him ; 

38. Sorrowing most of all for the words which 
he spake, that they should see his face no more. 
And they accompanied him unto the ship. 



preaching the gospel at Ephesus; and now, at parting, his 
heart was deeply stirred for the salvation of all to whom he 
had testified the gospel. The worth of the soul, the gran- 
deur of salvation, the sense of obligation to Christ, the 
conviction of the day of judgment, — these things nerve the 
heart to the most heroic labors and sacrifices. Paul has 
here recovered for us one of the most precious sayings of 
our Lord, which every disciple should adopt as the motto 
of his life: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." 
There is pleasure in receiving ; but true bliss is found in 
giving. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 90, 93, 105. 



Lord, who by the example of thy blessed 
apostle Paul hast taught us to forget those things 
which are behind, and to reach forth unto those 
things that are before ! give us grace that we may 
press toward the mark for the prize of our high 
calling. May we lay aside every weight, and the 
sins which so easily beset us, and run with patience 
the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the au- 
thor and finisher of our faith ! May we ever have 
before us our heavenly reward, and never fear what 
men can do unto us ! 

In the constant sense of our membership in 



Christ; in the unfailing thought that we are his 
soldiers and servants ; in the love for our Father's 
house, and the blessed hope of our eternal home, — 
Lord, preserve and Iceep us. 

For the mercies of the past night ; for the health 
and comfort with which we begin the day ; for 
means of improvement, of enjoyment, and of use- 
fulness, — we humbly thank thee, the Giver of all 
good. Bless all dear to us ; multiply the preach- 
ers of thy gospel ; turn opposers and persecutors 
into witnesses for thee ; and subdue all hearts unto 
thyself, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm cvii. — 21. Oh that men would praise 
the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful 
works to the children of men ! 

22. And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of 
thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. 

23. They that go down to the sea in ships, that 
do business in great waters ; 

24. These see the works of the Lord, and his 
wonders in the deep. 

25. For he coinmandeth, and raiseth the stormy 
wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 

26. They mount up to the heaven ; they go down 
again to the depths : their soul is melted because 
of trouble. 

27. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a 
drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 

28. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trou- 
ble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 

29. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the 
waves thereof are still. 

30. Then are they glad because they be quiet : 
so he bringeth them unto their desired, haven. 



Dr. W. M. Thomson describes a sudden tempest which he 
witnessed on the Lake of Galilee as lashing the lake " like a 
huge boiling caldron. The wind howled down every wady 
from the north-east and east, with such fury that no efforts of 
rowers could have brought a boat to shore at any point along 
that coast. To understand the causes of these sudden and 
violent tempests, we must remember that the lake lies low, — 
six hundred feet lower than the ocean; that the vast and 
naked plateaus of the Jaulan rise to a great height, spreading 
backward to the wilds of the Hauran, and upward to snowy 
Hermon ; that the water-courses have cutout profound ravines 
and wild gorges, converging to the head of this lake ; and that 
these act like gigantic funnels, to draw down the cold winds 
from the mountains. These winds are not only violent, but 
they come down suddenly, and often when the sky is perfectly 



Mark IV. — 35. And the same day, when the 
even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass 
over unto the other side. 

36. And, when they had sent away the mul- 
titude, they took him even as he was in the 
ship. And there were also with him other little 
ships. 

37. And there arose a great storm of wind ; and 
the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now 
full. 

38. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, 
asleep on a pillow; and they awake him, and 
say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we 
perish ? 

39. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and 
said unto the sea, Peace ! be still. And the wind 
ceased, and there was a great calm. 

40. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fear- 
ful? how is it that ye have no faith ? 

41. And they feared exceedingly, and said one 
to another, What manner of man is this, that 
even the wind and the sea obey him ? 



clear." Jesus, in full command of himself, and never knowing 
fear, was sleeping quietly after a day of public teaching, bo 
wild was the storm, that the boat seemed about to founder ; 
when, with the impetuosity of terror, the disciples roused their 
Master, and almost accused him of indifference to their safety. 
With the majesty of creative power, he commanded the wind 
and the sea as his creatures, and they were instantly still. 
The disciples should have felt that the very presence of Jesus 
was their safety ; that he who had cast out demons and raised 
the dead could not be overmastered by the forces of Nature. 
His spirit, his personal will, could act directly upon matter, 
and could control it. The greater seems our danger, the 
stronger should be our faith. No trouble can sink us when 
Jesus is within call ; no cause can go down in which Jesus 
is embarked. 



Appropriate Htmxs,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 132, 135. 



Holy Father, we, thy children, commit ourselves 
to thee in the confidence of faith. At thy com- 
mand we lay down the burden of our cares and 
sorrows, and look up to thee as our helper and our 
comforter. Grant unto us, we beseech thee, the 
plenitude of thy grace and strength. Endue us 
with divine power and heavenly wisdom. Lift us 
out of ourselves, and out of all dependence on our 
own resources. Take from us the spirit of pride, 
and clothe us with humility. Teach us to lean 
upon thy hand, to confide in thy wisdom, to rest 
on thy power, to repose in thy love, to live on thy 
fulness. Ever bend our wills to thine ; and do 
thou, in thy great mercy, overrule all things in 
our lot for thy glory and our good. In th e knowl- 
edge of thyself and of thy Son Jesus Christ may 
we seek eternal life ! and do thou so nourish this 
life in our souls by the daily communications of 
thy grace and the ever-active power of thy Spirit, 



that we may at last attain to the everlasting joy of 
thy presence. May faith in the ever-present, the 
almighty Saviour, inspire us with courage for every 
duty and every trial ! 

Thou givest us our daily bread : oh ! feed us 
with the bread of heaven ; and give unto all dear 
to us a like interest in the things of Christ. 

We would begin the labors of this day in simple 
dependence upon thee, humbly asking thy blessing 
on every one before thee. Let peace rule in our 
hearts, and reign in this household. May mutual 
kindness, and harmony and love, here have their 
abode ! On our pursuits in life let thy blessing 
descend. Give us bread to eat, and raiment to put 
on ; give us thankful and cheerful hearts ; give us 
every spiritual gift necessary to prepare us for 
heaven ; and, in thy good time, give us an abun- 
dant entrance into that happy world, for the sake 
of our blessed Lord and Redeemer. Amen. 



240 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Mark v. — 1. And they came over unto the 
other side of the sea, into the country of the Gada- 
renes. 

2. And, when he was come out of the ship, im- 
mediately there met him out of the tombs a man 
with an unclean spirit, 

3. Who had his dwelling among the tombs : 
and no man could bind him ; no, not with chains ; 

4. Because that he had been often bound with 
fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked 
asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces : 
neither could any man tame him. 

5. And always, night and day, he was in the 
mountains and in the tombs, crying, and cutting 
himself with stones. 

6. But, when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and 
worshipped him, 

7. And cried with a loud voice, and said, What 
have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the 
most high God ? I adjure thee by God, that thou 
torment me not. 

8. (For he said unto him, Come out of the man, 
thou unclean spirit.) 

9. And he asked him, What is thy name ? And 
he answered, saying, My name is Legion ; for we 
are many. 

10. And he besought him much that he would 
not send them away out of the country. 

11. Now, there was there nigh unto the moun- 
tains a great herd of swine feeding. 



The scene of this miracle was on the eastern side of the 
Lake of Galilee, — probably at Khersa (Gergesa), on the left 
bank of Wady Semakh. Along the shore are tombs, some 
excavated from the rock, others built above the ground. The 
wretched maniac was not simply the victim of a physical 
disease. The Gospels make a plain distinction between dis- 
ease and demoniacal possession ; and to suppose that Jesus 
took advantage of a popular belief in devils to enhance his 
power, and thus encouraged superstition, " is wholly at vari- 
ance with any Christian idea of the perfection of truthful- 
ness in Him who was truth itself." There seems to have 
been an unusual activity of the spirits of darkness during the 
life of Christ ; and he manifested his supreme power in de- 



12. And all the devils besought him, saying, 
Send us into the swine, that we may enter into 
them. 

13. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And 
the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the 
swine ; and the herd ran violently down a steep 
place into the sea (they were about two thousand), 
and were choked in the sea. 

14. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it 
in the city and in the country. And they went 
out to see what it was that was done. 

15. And they come to Jesus, and see him that 
was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, 
sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind ; and 
they were afraid. 

16. And they that saw it told them how it befell 
to him that was possessed with the devil, and also 
concerning the swine. 

17. And they began to pray him to depart out 
of their coasts. 

18. And, when he was come into the ship, he 
that had been possessed with the devil prayed him 
that he might be with him. 

19. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith 
unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them 
how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and 
hath had compassion on thee. 

20. And he departed, and began to publish in 
Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for 
him. And all men did marvel. 



stroying the works of the Devil. He had power over inani- 
mate nature, power over the bodies and spirits of men, and 
power over the invisible world of spirits. This destruction of 
the swine was no more contrary to the benevolence of God 
than if they had been swallowed up by an earthquake, or 
swept away by a pestilence : it made manifest the extreme 
violence of the possession in the man, the fact of the expul- 
sion, and the power of Jesus to save or to destroy. It placed 
human life and reason above any valuation in property ; and 
yet the mercenary people showed more concern for their 
wordly goods than for deliverance from Satan, of which this 
miracle was a type and a promise. How often do even the 
meanest things of earth displace Christ and his grace ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 129, 133. 



Lord, our heavenly Father ! we have nothing 
to bring to thee but our wants, and such poor re- 
turn of love and gratitude and praise as these 
hearts can render for thy goodness. As thou dost 
cause our lives to overflow with thy mercies, so do 
thou fill our hearts to overflowing with thy Spirit, 
that we may thank thee and praise thee as we 
ought. The morning calls us again to praise thee 
for thy loving-kindness in the night-season. Every 
good gift cometh down from thee, the Father of 
lights ; and though we are so changeful in our love, 
so inconstant in our service, with thee there is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind us 



to thyself, our Father ! by the mighty attraction 
of thy love. May the love of Christ, who died 
that we might live, constrain us to live unto thee ! 
We pray, Lord ! that thy kingdom may come ; 
that thy Church may increase ; that missions may 
prosper ; that thy Word may be given to all people, 
and the knowledge of the Lord may fill the earth 
as the waters fill the sea. We thank thee for our 
home, and pray thee to bless us with all things 
that we need as a family. Bless the absent who 
are dear to us ; and bring them, together with us, 
we beseech thee, unto thy heavenly kingdom ; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



241 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Psalm xxii. — 1. My God, my God, why hast 
thou forsaken me ? why art thou so far from help- 
ing me, and from the words of my roaring ? 

2. my God ! I cry in the day-time, but thou 
hearest not ; and in the night-season, and am not 
silent. 

7. All they that see me laugh me to scorn : they 
shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 

8. He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver 
him : let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in 
him. 

11. Be not far from me ; for trouble is near ; for 
there is none to help. 

12. Many bulls have compassed me ; strong bulls 
of Bashan have beset me round. 

13. They gaped upon me with, their mouths, as 
a ravening and a roaring lion. 

14. I am poured out like water, and all my 
bones are out of joint : my heart is like wax ; it is 
melted in the midst of my bowels. 

15. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, 
and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws ; and thou 
hast brought me into the dust of death. 

16. For dogs have compassed me : the assembly 
of the wicked have enclosed me : they pierced my 
hands and my feet. 

17. I may tell all my bones : they look and 
stare upon me. 

18. They part my garments among them, and 
cast lots upon my vesture. 



The close of this psalm is sneh a contrast to its beginning 
as could come onl) - of the triumphs of divine grace. No 
change of outward circumstances alone could cause such a 
change of feeling, or would warrant such a tone of exultation. 
The psalm opens with the most despairing cry ever wrung 
from a troubled soul : " My God, my God, why hast thou for- 
saken me ? " It pictures the sufferer oppressed with all man- 
ner of physical pains and tortures, and set upon by enemies 
who make a mock of his anguish, and taunt and revile him, 
saying, " He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him : 
let him deliver him if he delight in him." They even stripped 
him of his clothes, parted his garments among them, and cast 







19. But be not thou far from me, Lord ! 
my strength ! haste thee to help me. 

22. I will declare thy name unto my brethren : 
in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 

23. Ye that fear the Lord, praise him ; all ye 
the seed of Jacob, glorify him ; and fear him, all 
ye the seed of Israel. 

21. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the af- 
fliction of the afflicted ; neither hath he hid his face 
from him ; but, when he cried unto him, he heard. 

25. My praise shall be of thee in the great con- 
gregation : I will pay my vows before them that 
fear him. 

26. The meek shall eat, and be satisfied : they 
shall praise the Lord that seek him : your heart 
shall live forever. 

27. All the ends of the world shall remember, 
and turn unto the Lord ; and all the kindreds of 
the nations shall worship before thee. 

28. For the kingdom is the Lord's ; and he is 
the governor among the nations. 

29. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat 
and worship ; all they that go down to the dust 
shall bow before him : and none can keep alive his 
own soul. 

30. A seed shall serve him : it shall be ac- 
counted to the Lord for a generation. 

31. They shall come, and shall declare his right- 
eousness unto a people that shall be born, that he 
hath done this. 



lots for his vesture ; they wantonly pierced his hands and 
feet, and, like lions, roared to devour him. But the saddest 
grief of all was, that, when he cried unto God, he seemed to 
have no answer. All these sorrows meet in Jesus on the 
cross. Yet in them all he clung to his Father : "My God, my 
God ! " was still his cry. And at last that cry was answered in 
the vision of that feast of redeeming love, to which the high 
and the low shall be brought together ; of that seed gathered 
out of all nations to serve and glorify the Lord. For this 
Christ stands as the High Priest of his people, leading their 
praises to the God of Israel. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 99, 100, 108. 



Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto 
Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb 
for ever and ever ! God, our Father ! how shall 
we praise thee for thy love in Jesus Christ, our 
Saviour ? When we were utterly lost in our sins, 
thou didst not spare thine own Son, but didst de- 
liver him up for us all. Upon this, the Lord's day, 
that crowns the suffering of the cross with the 
glory of the resurrection, our hearts would go forth 
in grateful and adoring love to Him who hath re- 
deemed us to God. Lord ! fill our souls with 
thankfulness to thee, that thy love may constrain 
us evermore. May we be filled with the spirit of 
Christ, and wholly given to the service of Christ ! 



And, oh, may this day witness in our hearts, in this 
community, in the church, in our land, in all the 
world, new triumphs of redeeming grace ! May 
He who was lifted up upon the cross draw all 
men unto him ! 

We thank thee, as a family, for thy constant 
goodness to us ; for all the way in which thou hast 
led us ; for the home which thou hast given us ; 
for our means of support and of enjoyment; for 
the loves and hopes that brighten our way ; and for 
all the dealings of thy providence with us. 
Lord ! unite us all in the faith and hope of the gos- 
pel, and in the family of thy redeemed, through 
Jesus Christ. Amen. 



242 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Mark xiv. — 55. And the chief priests, and all 
the council, sought for witness against Jesus to 
put him to death ; and found none. 

56. For many bare false witness against him ; 
but their witness agreed not together. 

57. And there arose certain, and bare false wit- 
ness against him, saying, 

58. We heard him say, I will destroy this tem- 
ple that is made with hands, and within three days 
I will build another made without hands. 

59. But neither so did their witness agree to- 
gether. 

60. And the high priest stood up in the midst, 
and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing ? 
What is it which these witness against thee ? 

61. But he held his peace, and answered nothing. 
Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, 
Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed ? 

62. And Jesus said, I am ; and ye shall see the 
Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and 
coming in the clouds of heaven. 

63. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and 
saith, What need we any further witnesses ? 



Jesus was first taken before Annas, who, though he had 
been deposed from the high-priesthood by a Roman governor, 
was treated with official respect by the Jews. The high- 
priesthood had become subject to political influence; and the 
incumbent was changed as often as the collector of New York, 
or the minister at the court of St. James. Annas questioned 
him concerning his disciples and his doctrine ; but Jesus re- 
ferred him to his open teachings. At this answer, an officer 
struck Jesus in the face ; and Annas caused him to be bound, 
and taken before Caiaphas, who was the acting high priest. 
The high priest summoned the Council of Seventy, or Sanhe- 
drim, the high court of the Jews, composed of the chief priests, 
the elders or heads of ancient families, and the scribes, the 
learned expounders of the law. This was the last court of 



64. Ye have heard the blasphemy : what think 
ye ? And they all condemned him to be guilty of 
death. 

65. And some began to spit on him, and to 
cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto 
him, Prophesy ; and the servants did strike him 
with the palms of their hands. 

Isaiah I. — 6. I gave my back to the smiters, 
and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair : 
I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 

7. For the Lord God will help me : therefore shall 
I not be confounded : therefore have I set my face 
like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 

8. He is near that justifieth me : who will con- 
tend with me ? Let us stand together : who is 
mine adversary ? let him come near to me. 

9. Behold, the Lord God will help me : who is 
he that shall condemn me ? Lo, they all shall wax 
old as a garment ; the moth shall eat them up. 

10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord ; 
that obeyeth the voice of his servant ; that walketh 
in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in 
the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. 



appeal, and, by Jewish law, had the power of capital punish- 
ment, though the Roman authorities would not suffer it to 
execute the sentence of death. Before this tribunal the at- 
tempt was made to convict Jesus upon religious grounds, — 
sacrilege and blasphemy. False witnesses were arrayed 
against him ; but as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so 
opened he not his mouth. At length, rising in the conscious- 
ness of his divinity, he proclaimed his power and majesty as 
the Christ. To his delicate and sensitive nature, the personal 
indignities to which he was now subjected were a source of 
keener suffering than the nails of the cross; yet, trusting to 
God to vindicate his cause, for our sakes he gave his back to 
the smiters, and did not hide his face from shame and spit- 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 159, 176, 199. 



Almighty God, from whom all good things do 
come, we thank and praise thee for the mercies of 
this holy day. Make our hearts so deeply thankful 
for its many blessings, that we shall be ready to 
devote ourselves afresh — body, soul, and spirit — 
to thy service through the coming week. 

Give unto us, God ! more of the mind which 
was in Christ Jesus. May we esteem others bet- 
ter than ourselves ! Teach us to pity and to help 
all who are in want and sorrow. May we show 
that we are Christians, not in name only, but in 
deed and truth ! and, by our holy and blameless 
lives, may we adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour 
in all things ! May thy truth make us free ! 

Almighty Father, teach us to imitate thy love, 
that we may be sanctified in heart and life, fitted 
to serve thee here, and to dwell with thee here- 
after. May we be temples of the Holy Ghost, and 
be sealed by him unto the day of redemption ! 



May his gracious teaching enlighten us, and his 
holy comfort cheer and refresh our souls ! May no 
cherished sin grieve this blessed Spirit, or quench 
the flame of love which he would kindle within 
us ! 

Bless, Lord ! thy Church with light and peace. 
Bless our government and our country. Make us 
a nation fearing thee and working righteousness. 

Be gracious to all our dear friends and rela- 
tives, and guide their feet into the way of holiness. 
Bring nigh any who may be yet far from thee. 
Stablish, strengthen, and settle those who know 
and love thee. Hear, Lord ! we beseech thee, 
these our supplications. Take us this night into 
thy holy keeping. Pardon for thy mercy's sake all 
our iniquities ; and do for us exceeding abundantly 
above all that we ask or think, for the sake of 
Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



243 



MONDAY. 



Daniel ix. — 21. While I was speaking in 
prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen 
in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly 
swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening 
oblation. 

22. And he informed me, and talked with me, 
and said, O Daniel ! I am now come forth to give 
thee skill and understanding. 

25. Know therefore and understand, that from 
the going-forth of the commandment to restore 
and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the 
Prince shall be seven weeks and threescore and 
two weeks : the street shall be built again, and the 
wall, even in troublous times. 

26. And after threescore and two weeks shall 
Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the 
people of the prince that shall come shall destroy 
the city and the sanctuary ; and the end thereof 
shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war 
desolations are determined. 

27. And he shall confirm the covenant with 
many for one week ; and in the midst of the week 
he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to 
cease ; and for the overspreading of abominations 
he shall make it desolate, even until the consum- 
mation, and that determined shall be poured upon 
the desolate. 

I Peter i. — 3. Blessed be the God and Father 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his 
abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a 
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 
from the dead, 



When Thomas believed upon the evidence of his senses 
and the signs of miracle, our Lord said, " Blessed are they 
that have not seen, and yet have believed." This far-reaching 
benediction embraced, upon one hand, the prophets and saints 
of the Old Testament, who, with no visible signs of Christ's ap- 
pearing, and no definite conception of his life and death, never- 
theless kept him ever in view as the object of longing desire ; 
and, on the other, it embraced every one who now comes to 
Christ with a living faith. This faith makes Christ present, 
makes heaven near, makes salvation sure. All the wondrous 
truths of the gospel, in the person, the life, the death, and the 



4. To an inheritance incorruptible and unde- 
filed, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven 
for you, 

5. Who are kept by the power of God through 
faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the 
last time. 

6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a 
season (if need be) ye are in heaviness through 
manifold temptations; 

7. That the trial of your faith, being much 
more precious than of gold that perisheth, though 
it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise 
and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus 
Christ : 

8. Whom, having not seen, ye love ; in whom, 
though now ye see him not, yet, believing, ye re- 
joice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory ; 

9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the sal- 
vation of your souls. 

10. Of which salvation the prophets have in- 
quired and searched diligently, who prophesied of 
the grace that should come unto you ; 

11. Searching what, or what manner of time, 
the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signi- 
fy, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of 
Christ, and the glory that should follow. 

12. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto 
themselves, but unto us, they did minister the 
things which are now reported unto you by them 
that have preached the gospel unto you, with the 
Holy Ghost sent down from heaven ; which things 
the angels desire to look into. 



resurrection of Jesus, and all its blessed promises of honor 
and glory in the future, are made real to our faith. More 
precious than gold in its own pureness and brightness, more 
enduring than the fires by which it is tried and tempered, this 
faith answers to the inheritance to which it leads, incorruptible, 
undefilcd, and unfading. Even Daniel, favored as he was in 
revelations and by the visitation of angels, could but dimly 
foresee the mystery of a sufferi7ig Messiah; but we look back 
upon that suffering accomplished, and reap its fruits of tran- 
scendent and imperishable glory. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 19, 32, 34. 



God, who hast prepared for those who love 
thee such good things as pass man's understand- 
ing ! pour into our hearts such love toward thee, 
that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain 
thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

We thank thee, Lord ! for the precious com- 
fort that remains to us concerning dear friends 
who have departed in the faith ; that to them 
heaven is even now a reality ; that they have no 
more want, nor sorrow, nor care, nor sin. Oh, 
may heaven be a reality to our faith ! and may the 
hope of it, yea, the assurance of it, as our home, 



lift us above all the temptations and trials of this 
present world ! Give to us strength for labors, cour- 
age for conflicts, patience under afflictions, fidelity 
to duty, and faith that shall endure to the end, and 
shall make us more than conquerors over death. 

We praise thee, Lord ! for the blessings of the 
present time ; for another night of rest ; for another 
morning of mercy and hope. Oh, may we this day 
love thee more, know thee more, and serve thee 
better, than ever before ! So may we daily live to 
thee ; and, when the things of earth shall pass 
away, make us to be numbered with thy saints in 
glory everlasting, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 



244 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Exodus i. — 6. And Joseph died, and all his 
brethren, and all that generation. 

7. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and 
increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed 
exceeding mighty ; and the land was filled with 
them. 

8. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, 
which knew not Joseph. 

9. And he said unto his people, Behold, the 
people of the children of Israel are more and 
mightier than we. 

10. Come on, let us deal wisely with them, lest 
they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when 
there falleth out any war, they join also unto our 
enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up 
out of the land. 

11. Therefore they did set over them taskmas- 
ters to afflict them with their burdens. And they 
built for Pharaoh treasure-cities, Pithom and 
Eaamses. 

12. But the more they afflicted them, the more 
they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved 
because of the children of Israel. 

22. And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, 
Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, 
and every daughter ye shall save alive. 

Exodus ii. — 1. And there went a man of the 
house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 

2. And the woman conceived, and bare a son ; 



and, when she saw him that he was a goodly child, 
she hid him three months. 

3. And, when she could not longer hide him, she 
took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it 
with slime and with pitch, and put the child there- 
in ; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. 

4. And his sister stood afar off to wit what 
would be done to him. 

5. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to 
wash herself at the river, and her maidens walked 
along by the river's side ; and, when she saw the 
ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. 

6. And, when she had opened it, she saw the 
child ; and, behold, the babe wept. And she had 
compassion on him, and said, This is one of the 
Hebrews' children. 

7. Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, 
Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew 
women, that she may nurse the child for thee ? 

8. And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. 
And the maid went and called the child's mother. 

9. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take 
this child away and nurse it for me, and I will give 
thee thy wages. And the woman took the child 
and nursed it. 

10. And the child grew ; and she brought him 
unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. 
And she called his name Moses ; and she said, 
Because I drew him out of the water. 



Joseph's office did not descend in his family, and he left no 
successor to perpetuate his influence for his people. They did 
not intermarry with the Egyptians, and were always looked 
upon as a foreign race. The history of Egypt shows that her 
most constant and most dreaded enemies were the nomadic 
tribes of the Eastern desert ; and, since the Hebrews were of 
Semitic origin, it was feared, that, in case of an invasion from 
that quarter, they would make cause with the enemy. Hence 
the cruel resolve of Pharaoh to crush their spirit aud prevent 
their increase. 



The story of Moses reproduces the country and the times. 
The branches of the Nile were anciently lined with reeds. 
The papyrus was woven into baskets, mats, and even little 
boats, which were made water-tight with the resin, or bitumen, 
in common use for mummy-wrappings. • The sanitary cus- 
toms of the Egyptians united with their religious feeling to 
recommend bathing in the sacred river; and the monuments 
show, that, in ancient Egypt, women had much greater free- 
dom than is now accorded them in Oriental countries. Thus 
every thing is here pictured to the life. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 125, 131, 147. 



Heavenly Father, we bless thee for the light of 
the morning : oh ! lift upon us the light of thy 
countenance, that we may see thy glory in the sun, 
may feel thy presence in the breath of life, may 
discern thy hand in all the good that comes to us, 
may meet thy grace in thy holy Word. Oh for a 
heart to love thee, to praise thee, to serve thee, as 
we ought ! Thou didst create us for thy glory ; 
thou hast enriched us with thy bounty ; thou 
hast redeemed us with the precious blood of thy 
Son; thou hast sent forth thy Spirit into our 
hearts to quicken us to a new life, that we might 
receive the adoption of children. Disobedient and 
unthankful children we have been ; and we con- 
fess our waywardness and our sin. Forgive us, we 
beseech thee, our Father ! for the sake of thy 
dear Son. 



God ! thy watchful providence is over all our 
ways. We pray thee this day to deliver us from 
temptation, to defend us from evil. Make sure to 
this family the mercies of thy covenant. [Give to 
the children grace to serve thee in the morning of 
life ; to be gentle, obedient, loving, and kind. May 
they grow up pure and holy !] Remember all dear 
to us; bless them in their hearts and in their 
homes. Visit, Lord ! with thy grace, the com- 
munity in which we live. Bless thy Church here, 
and in our land, and throughout the world. Oh ! 
send thy salvation to all people. We beseech thee 
to comfort the poor, the sick, the sorrowing, the 
dying; and O Lord! when heart and flesh shall 
fail us, be thou the strength of our heart, and our 
portion forever, for Christ's sake, our Mediator and 
Redeemer. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



245 



WEDNESDAY. 



Exodus ii. — 11. And it came to pass in those 
days, when Moses was grown, that he went out 
unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens ; 
and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one 
of his brethren. 

12. And he looked this way and that way; and, 
when he saw that there tvas no man, he slew the 
Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 

13. And, when he went out the second day, be- 
hold, two men of the Hebrews strove together; 
and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore 
smitest thou thy fellow ? 

14. And he said, Who made thee a prince and 
a judge over us ? intendest thou to kill me, as 
thou killedst the Egyptian ? And Moses feared, 
and said, Surely this thing is known. 

15. Now, when Pharaoh heard this thing, he 
sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the 
face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian ; 
and he sat down by a well. 

16. Now, the priest of Midian had seven daugh- 
ters ; and they came and drew water, and filled the 
troughs to water their father's flock. 

17. And the shepherds came and drove them 



That one trained at court, and having wealth and honor at 
his disposal, should identity himself with the despised serfs of 
the country because he was of their race, showed true noble- 
ness of character. To avenge the first case of wrong that 
came under his eyes, and at the risk of his own life, showed a 
quick sense of justice and a generous spirit of self-sacrifice. 
Still, upon moral grounds, the act itself can hardly be defended ; 
and, since Moses had no visible power of effecting a revolution, 
as a signal of revolt it was at least premature. As Stephen 
said, " He supposed his brethren would have understood how 
that God by his hand would deliver them ; but they under- 
stood not." Certainly he could not hope to rouse his race 
against their oppressors if they were quarrelling among 
themselves, and would not rally under a leader, who, for their 



away ; but Moses stood up and helped them, and 
watered their flock. 

18. And, when they came to Eeuel their father, 
he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to-day ? 

19. And they said, An Egyptian delivered us 
out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew 
ivater enough for us, and watered the flock. 

20. And he said unto his daughters, And where 
is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call 
him, that he may eat bread. 

2i. And Moses was content to dwell with the 
man ; and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 

22. And she bare him a son, and he called his 
name Gershom ; for he said, I have been a stranger 
in a strange land. 

23. And it came to pass, in process of time, that 
the king of Egypt died : and the children of Israel 
sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried : and 
their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 

24. And God heard their groaning; and God re- 
membered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, 
and with Jacob. 

25. And God looked upon the children of Israel, 
and God had respect unto them. 



sakes, was ready to hazard fortune, honor, life itself. Moses, in 
the ardor of his temperament, had anticipated the call of Provi- 
dence as to both the time and the method of his work. He 
needed the discipline of disappointment and solitude. Still 
it was a sublime faith which caused him to refuse to be 
called the son of Pharaoh's daughter ; choosing rather to 
suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleas- 
ures of sin for a season ; esteeming the reproach of Christ 
greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. In any event, that 
was a wise and noble choice, which must lead to some great 
and good result. 

The scene at the well exhibits the peculiarities of desert 
life in contrast with life in Egypt, and shows Moses to advan- 
tage as the helper of the weak. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Xos. 22, 110, 120. 



Lord Jesus, the author and the finisher of our 
faith ! we give thee thanks for all thy servants 
departed in the faith, who, having witnessed a good 
confession, have entered into rest. Grant us grace, 
we beseech thee, to be faithful unto death, that 
we also may receive a crown of life. May we 
have such a sense of thy presence and glory as 
shall lift us above the love or the fear of this 
world ! Assist us by thy grace to do this day such 
things as are pleasing to thee. Deliver us from 
anxiety about earthly things, from a discontented 
and unthankful spirit. 

Strengthen, Lord ! our faith in the promises of 
thy Word. Enable us to stay our minds on thee. 
Thou knowest our exceeding weakness, and the 
numberless dangers which every day surround us. 
Supply all our needs. If it should please thee to 
visit us with affliction, oh ! make it work for our 



real and eternal good, and give us a patient and 
submissive spirit. Be thou our defender through 
all the trials of life, our hope in death, and our 
portion forever. 

We thank thee for thy loving-kindness in the 
night-season. Be pleased, Lord! to bless all who 
are near and dear to us. Lead all whom we love into 
the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Bless our 
neighbors. Look graciously upon this part of thy 
vineyard, and grant that true godliness may in- 
crease and abound among us. Help us to shine 
as lights in the world, and to commend the reli- 
gion which we profess by the meekness and gen- 
tleness of our conduct, and by the holiness of our 
lives. Make us happy in our own souls, and useful 
to all around us. These mercies we ask for our- 
selves and others in the name of Jesus Christ 
our Saviour. Amen. 



246 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Exodus iii. — 1. Now, Moses kept the flock of 
Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian ; and 
he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and 
came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 

2. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto 
him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush ; 
and he looked, and behold the bush burned with 
fire, and the bush was not consumed. 

3. And Moses said, I will now turn aside and 
see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 

4. And, when the Lord saw that he turned aside to 
see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, 
and said, Moses, Moses ! And he said, Here am I. 

5. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off 
thy shoes from off thy feet ; for the place whereon 
thou standest is holy ground. 

6. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, 
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the 
God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face ; for he 
was afraid to look upon God. 

7. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the af- 
fliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have 
heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters ; 
for I know their sorrows : 

8. And I am come down to deliver them out of 
the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up 
out of that land, unto a good land and a large, 
unto a land flowing with milk and honey ; unto the 
place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the 

The first attempt of Moses to deliver his people had ap- 
parently deprived him of all power to help them. He was an 
outcast and an exile, living in the seclusion of the rocky 
desert of Arabia, earning his scanty livelihood by tending 
sheep. As years rolled by, he must have despaired of return- 
ing to Egypt, or of acting any great part in his people's his- 
tory. But God never forgets his plans, and often is pi'eparing 
his agents by means least likely to human view. In the pen- 
insula of Sinai are wadies where the herbage lingers long 



Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and 
the Jebusites. 

9. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children 
of Israel is come unto me ; and I have also seen the 
oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. 

10. Come now, therefore, and I will send thee 
unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my 
people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. 

11. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that 
I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring 
forth the children of Israel out of Egypt ? 

12. And he said, Certainly I will be with thee ; 
and this shall be a token unto thee that I have sent 
thee : When thou hast brought forth the people out 
of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. 

13. And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I 
come unto the children of Israel, and shall say 
unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me 
unto you, and they shall say to me, What is his 
name? what shall I say unto them ? 

14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I 
AM ; and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the 
children of Israel : I AM hath sent me unto you. 

15. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus 
shalt thou say unto the children of Israel : The 
Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the 
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me 
unto you : this is my name forever, and this is my 
memorial unto all generations. 

after the winter rains. A natural reason, therefore, led Moses 
at this time into the neighborhood of the mountain which was 
soon to be the scene of such stupendous wonders. There 
Jehovah revealed himself under a name, which, in comprehen- 
siveness and majesty, transcends all that poetry or philosophy 
has ever conceived. But, while he thus proclaimed his own 
absolute and eternal being, he drew nigh to his trembling 
servant as the God of his fathers, and linked himself to human 
names and hopes. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 56, 157, 170. 



Oar voice shalt thou hear in the morning, 
Lord ! in the morning will we direct our prayer 
unto thee, and will look up. Oh ! lead us this day 
in thy righteousness ; make thy way straight before 
our face. Grant that we may see and know clear- 
ly what things we ought to do ; and, whatever we 
do, may we do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and 
not unto men. 

Keep us from vain self-dependence, from pride, 
self-will, and presumption. Plant in all our hearts 
thy holy fear ; and may we show such meekness 
and gentleness and humility as become the true 
followers of Christ ! 

Whilst we are this day diligent in business, give 
us grace at the same time to be fervent in spirit, 
serving thee. May the continual recollection of 
thy manifold and great mercies incline us to pre- 
sent our souls and bodies a living sacrifice unto 



thee ! May we not be conformed to this world, but 
transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we 
may prove what is that good and acceptable and 
perfect will of God ! 

[May the children of this family set thy love be- 
fore them as their chief portion in life, and make 
thy Word their guide ! May they always speak the 
truth, and grow up free from guile ! May they hear 
the voice of Jesus, and follow him !] Be gracious, 
Lord! to all our kindred. Visit thy Church 
with thy salvation. Inspire thy people with a 
readiness to testify of thy love, and to invite others 
to thy grace. May we behold even greater fruits 
of thy coming than were seen by thine own apos- 
tles! Open thou the windows of heaven, and 
cause thy glory to shine forth, that all the ends of 
the earth shall acknowledge thee. And to thy 
name be all the glory. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



247 



FRIDAY. 



Exodus iv. — 1. And Moses answered and 
said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor 
hearken unto my voice ; for they will say, The 
Lord hath not appeared unto thee. 

2. And the Lord said unto him, What is that in 
thine hand ? And he said, A rod. 

3. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he 
cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent ; 
and Moses fled from before it. 

4. And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth 
thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put 
forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod 
in his hand : 

5. That they may believe that the Lord God of 
their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, 
and the God of Jacob, bath appeared unto thee. 

6. And the Lord said furthermore unto him, 
Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put 
his hand into his bosom ; and when he took it 
out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. 

7. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom 
again. And he put his hand into his bosom 
again, and plucked it out of his bosom ; and, be- 
hold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 

8. And it shall come to pass, if they will not be- 



lieve thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first 
sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter 
sign. 

9. And it shall come to pass, if they will not be- 
lieve also these two signs, neither hearken unto 
thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the 
river, and pour it upon the dry land ; and the 
water which thou takest out of the river shall 
become blood upon the dry land. 

10. And Moses said unto the Lord, my Lord ! 
I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since 
thou hast spoken unto thy servant ; but I am slow 
of speech, and of a slow tongue. 

11. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made 
man's mouth ? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, 
or the seeing, or the blind ? have not I the Lord? 

12. Now therefore go, and I will be with thy 
mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 

13. And he said, my Lord ! send, I pray thee, 
by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. 

14. And the anger of the Lord was kindled 
against Moses ; and he said, Is not Aaron the Le- 
vite thy brother ? I know that he can speak well. 
And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee ; 
and, when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 



If Moses was too hasty in taking up the cause of his 
brethren when in Egypt, he was too hesitating now. It may 
be questioned whether this hesitation was owing to humility 
or to timidity. A true humility, while distrusting self, im- 
plies submission to the commands of God, a ready spirit of 
obedience : it never seeks a pretext for neglecting duty. Still 
we cannot doubt that Moses, sobered by his long seclusion 
from affairs, was sincere in his disparagement of himself. 

The miracles of the rod and of the burning-bush, though 
witnessed by Moses alone, were abundantly certified by other 



miracles which he afterwards wrought by the rod, upon a 
scale so stupendous, and in sight of two nations. Mahomet, 
who claimed to have been transported by supernatural power 
to Mt. Sinai and Jerusalem, never wrought a miracle to con- 
firm his story of his marvellous experiences. Without wit- 
nesses, and without either works or doctrines to attest it, his 
famous night-journey must be treated as the vision of an en- 
thusiast, or the invention of an impostor ; but the wonders 
wrought by the rod of Moses publicly attested the miracle of 
the burning-bush. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 85, 131, 138. 



Our Father in heaven, we come to thee with 
wants which thou knowest far better than we, and 
for blessings which thou art more ready to give 
than we to ask. Thou hast kept us in the watches 
of the night from every trouble, sorrow, and alarm ; 
thou hast given us refreshing sleep. And now we 
bless thee for the day, for life and health, for 
food and raiment, for home and friends, for means 
of education and of enjoyment, for means of oc- 
cupation and of support, for means of improve- 
ment in the knowledge of thyself from thy works 
and thy Word, and for opportunities of doing 
good to others. Oh ! grant us grace that we 
may use to thy glory the lives which thou didst 
give, and which thy mercy doth continually 
spare. 

We acknowledge, Lord! our unworthiness 
and our sinfulness, and beseech thee to pardon our 
transgressions and heal our infirmities. Help us 
this day to live aright. In the business of life 



may we be diligent, faithful, and true ! and do thou, 
Lord, prosper the labor of our hands. In our in- 
tercourse with others, may we manifest the gentle- 
ness, the sincerity, the charity, of the gospel of 
Christ ! May we be patient under trials, meek 
under injuries, firm against temptation, bold for 
the truth, zealous for tby cause ! May we be kind 
to the poor, helpful to the suffering, gentle toward 
all men ! [Give unto these children, Lord ! 
grace to serve thee in the morning of life, and in 
their thoughts and words, their studies and their 
play, always to please their Father in heaven.] 
Pvemember with thy mercy all our friends ; visit 
with thy grace the homes of all who are dear to 
us. Build up, Lord ! thy Church ; prosper thy 
kingdom in our land, and throughout the world. 
Ever guide, keep, and bless us. Bring us to the 
close of the day in peace, and to the close of life 
in a hope full of immortality, through Jesus 
! Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



248 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Exodus V. — 1. And afterward Moses and Aaron 
went in and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord 
God of Israel : Let my people go, that they may 
hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. 

2. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I 
should obey his voice to let Israel go ? I know not 
the Lord ; neither will I let Israel go. 

3. And they said, The God of the Hebrews 
hath met with us : let us go, we pray thee, three 
days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto 
the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pesti- 
lence or with the sword. 

4. And the king of Egypt said unto them, 
Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people 
from their works ? Get you unto your burdens. 

5. And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the 
land now are many, and ye make them rest from 
their burdens. 

6. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the 
taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, 

7. Ye shall no more give the people straw to 
make brick, as heretofore : let them go and gather 
straw for themselves. 

8. And the tale of the bricks which they did 
make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them ; ye shall 
not diminish aught thereof: for they be idle; 
therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice 
to our God. 

9. Let there more work be laid upon the men, 
that they may labor therein ; and let them not 
regard vain words. 



10. And the taskmasters of the people went out, 
and their officers, and they spake to the people, 
saying, Thus saith Pharaoh : I will not give you 
straw. 

11. Go ye, get you straw where ye can find 
it ; yet not aught of your work shall be dimin- 
ished. 

12. So the people were scattered abroad through- 
out all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead 
of straw. 

13. And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, 
Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there 
was straw. 

14. And the officers of the children of Israel, 
which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, 
were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye 
not fulfilled your task in making brick, both yes- 
terday and to-day, as heretofore ? 

15. Then the officers of the children of Israel 
came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore 
dealest thou thus with thy servants ? 

16. There is no straw given unto thy servants ; 
and they say to us, Make brick : and, behold, thy 
servants are beaten ; but the fault is in thine own 
people. 

17. But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle : there- 
fore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the 
Lord. 

18. Go therefore now, and work : for there shall 
no straw be given you ; yet shall ye deliver the 
tale of bricks. 



Egypt had gods for every district, every city, every season, 
and for almost every object in Nature and every want of man. 
But Jehovah was a new name to Pharaoh ; and, as divinities 
were estimated by the state of the people who worshipped them, 
this " God of the Hebrews " — a servile and helpless race — 
seemed to him of no account. Religious pilgrimages on a 
great scale, like the early caravans for Mecca and Jerusalem, 
were common in ancient times ; and the Egyptians themselves 
had temples in the desert of Arabia Petraja. But Pharaoh 
feared that a holiday given to such a multitude would furnish 
occasion for conspiracy and revolt. 



Bricks made of Nile-mud mixed with chopped straw, and 
dried in the sun, were early used in Egypt, and are found 
in some of the oldest buildings. A picture in a tomb at 
Thebes represents the whole process of brick-making ; and 
taskmasters are standing over the workmen, with whips to 
urge on their tasks. The violence of Pharaoh led the chil- 
dren of Israel to complain of Moses as the cause of their new 
troubles ; and even he was almost driven to despair of God's 
intervention. But faith and patience must have their perfect 
work, that God may show forth the fulness of his power. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 129, 146, 149. 



Oh ! grant us grace, Father in heaven, to hear 
thy Word, and to obey it. We would make haste, 
and delay not, to keep thy commandments. Thou 
hast a right, O Lord ! to our time, our gifts, our 
hearts, our persons ; to all that we are, and all that 
we have : for thou hast created us, and hast re- 
deemed us with the precious blood of thy Son. 
We would begin this sabbath in thy fear : help us 
in all things to please and honor thee. 

We give thee thanks for the mercies of the night, 
and for all the mercies of our past lives, — for home 
and its blessings ; for friends, and all the ministries 
of love ; for health, knowledge, comfort, and pros- 
perity ; but, above all things, for thy grace in the 



gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we ever be 
ready to acknowledge him the Son of God, the 
Saviour of the world ! May men in the high places 
of power and influence consecrate themselves to 
him ! may the poor and lowly trust in him ! may 
children sing hosannas to the Son of David ! Show 
forth this day, Lord ! thy glory in the sanctuary. 
For all thy mercies in the gospel, we bless and 
magnify thy glorious name ; humbly beseeching 
thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise 
and thanksgiving for His sake who lay down in 
the grave, and rose 'again for us, — thy Son, our 
Saviour Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory and do- 
minion, world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



249 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Exodus xii. — 21. Then Moses called for all the 
elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out, 
and take you a lamb, according to your families, 
and kill the passover. 

22. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip 
it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the 
lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that is 
in the basin ; and none of you shall go out at the 
door of his house until the morning. 

23. For the Lord will pass through to smite the 
Egyptians ; and when he seeth the blood upon the 
lintel, and on the two side-posts, the Lord will 
pass over the door, and will not suffer the de- 
stroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 

24. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordi- 
nance to thee and to thy sons forever. 

25. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come 
to the land which the Lord will give you, accord- 
ing as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this 
service. 

26. And it shall come to pass, when your chil- 
dren shall say unto you, What mean ye by this 
service ? 

27. That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the 
Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of 
the children of Israel in Egypt when he smote the 



Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the 
people bowed the head, and worshipped. 

28. And the children of Israel went away, and 
did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron ; 
so did they. 

29. And it came to pass, that at midnight the 
Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, 
from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his 
throne unto the first-born of the captive that was 
in the dungeon, and all the first-born of cattle. 

30. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and 
all his servants, and all the Egyptians : and there 
was a great cry in Egypt ; for there was not a 
house where there was not one dead. 

31. And he called for Moses and Aaron by 
night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from 
among my people, both ye and the children of 
Israel ; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. 

32. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye 
have said, and be gone ; and bless me also. 

33. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the 
people, that they might send them out of the land 
in haste ; for they said, We be all dead men. 

34. And the people took their dough before it 
was leavened, their kneading-trough s being bound 
up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 



To this day the Jews observe the feast of unleavened 
bread, and it can be traced back with hardly a break through 
the more than three thousand years of their history as a dis- 
tinct people. Like our Declaration of Independence, the Pass- 
over marked their emancipation ; and it is a perpetual witness 
to the reality of the great event which it commemorates. To 
Christians its original significance is merged in that higher 
sacrifice of which it was a type. Christ our Passover is sac- 
rificed for us ; and, through the blood of his redemption, our 



souls are passed over unscathed of justice, and we are delivered 
from the bondage of sin. Let us make haste to obey this 
call, to " come out and be separate " from the world ; let us 
keep the feast of his grace with hearts purged from sin, and 
consecrated to do his commandments. Faith and obedience 
saved the children of Israel in that dread night of mingled 
justice and mercy ; and faith and obedience must secure to us 
the greater blessing of Christ's salvation in the day of his 
coming to judge the world. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 2, 86, 116. 



The heavens shall praise thy wonders, Lord ! 
thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the 
saints. Thou hast a mighty arm : strong is thy 
hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and 
judgment are the habitation of thy throne. Yet 
blessed be thy name that mercy and truth go be- 
fore thy face. Thy terrors in the world are for the 
deliverance of thy people. In thy mercy thou 
dost pass over them that fear thee, and dost give 
thine angels charge over their dwellings. We praise 
thee that Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. 

Thou who hast given thine only Son to 
die for our sins, and to rise again for our justifi- 
cation ! grant, we humbly pray thee, that we may 
so truly partake of his death and resurrection as 
ourselves to be dead unto sin, and alive unto God 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

May this holy day witness to us the grace of 
Christ in our redemption! and may thine Holy 
Spirit witness and seal within us the pardon and 



peace which that redemption brings ! Grant us 
the comforts of thy gospel, the joy of thy salvation, 
the spirit of prayer and praise, the communion of 
thy saints, and, above all, communion with thyself. 

Bless thy Church, her worship and sacraments, 
her ministers and members : may the beauty of the 
Lord our God be upon her ! Bless the Sunday 
school, and guide teachers and scholars in thy Word. 
Have compassion upon those who disregard thy day, 
and upon all who know thee not ; and incline thy 
people to seek and save the lost. Be with the mis- 
sionaries of the cross, according to thy promise, O 
Lord! and make known thy way among the hea- 
then. 

We humbly thank thee for the mercies of an- 
other week and the blessings of the past night. 
We commit to thy loving care this family, and all 
dear to us at home or abroad; and pray thee to 
bring us all together unto thy heavenly kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



250 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm Ivii. — 1. Be merciful unto me, God! 
be merciful unto me ; for my soul trusteth in thee : 
yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my 
refuge until these calamities be overpast. 

2. I will cry unto God most high ; unto God 
that performeth all things for me. 

3. He shall send from heaven, and save me 
from the reproach of him that would swallow me 
up. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. 

7. My heart is fixed, God ! my heart is fixed: 
I will sing and give praise. 

8. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and 
harp : I myself will awake early. 

9. I will praise thee, Lord ! among the peo- 
ple ; I will sing unto thee among the nations. 

10. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, 
and thy truth unto the clouds. 

11. Be thou exalted, God ! above the heavens ; 
let thy glory be above all the earth. 

2 Corinthians iv. — 6. God, who commanded 
the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in 
our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of 
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, 
that the excellency of the power may be of God, 
and not of us. 

8. We are troubled on every side, yet not dis- 
tressed ; we are perplexed, but not in despair ; 



9. Persecuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, but 
not destroyed ; 

10. Always bearing about in the body the dying 
of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus 
might be made manifest in our body. 

11. For we which live are always delivered unto 
death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus 
might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 

12. So, then, death worketh in us, but life in you. 

13. We having the same spirit of faith, accord- 
ing as it is written, I believed, and therefore have 
I spoken ; we also believe, and therefore speak; 

ll. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord 
Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall 
present us with you. 

15. For all things are for your sakes, that the 
abundant grace might through the thanksgiving 
of many redound to the glory of God. 

16. For which cause we faint not ; but though 
our outward man perish, yet the inward man is re- 
newed day by day. 

17. For our light affliction, which is but for a 
moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and 
eternal weight of glory ; 

18. While we look not at the things which are 
seen, but at the things which are not seen : for 
the things which are seen are temporal ; but the 
things which are not seen are eternal. 



How completely does faith in Christ invert the relations of 
things temporal and spiritual, and change our estimate of the 
trials and sorrows of this life in contrast with the joys of the 
life to come ! And how noble does the true Christian appear 
in his patience and fortitude under trials, especially when 
these are endured for the good of others ! Paul suffered al- 
most every kind of trial that can befall one in this life, — 
abuse, neglect, slander, persecution, hunger, shipwreck, bonds, 
stripes, imprisonment, stoning. He was in such constant 
peril of a violent death, that he carried death, as it were, 
about with him. Yet he spoke of his afflictions as " light," 
and " but for a moment," and faced them all with a wondrous 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



courage and cheerfulness. The sources of this fortitude were 
his loving devotion to the good of others, his conviction of the 
certainty and the grandeur of the rewards of heaven, and his 
personal union with Christ through faith. He could not heap 
up words enough to express the bliss of being with Christ, — 
exceeding, and still more exceeding, all earthly experiences or 
imaginings. And this eternal weight of glory would be. not 
the offset, but the issue, of trials here endured for the Saviour 
and his cause. The light of Christ's promise in our hearts, 
the life of Christ's spirit in our souls, can make all trials 
easy, all burdens light ; can cheer the darkest night with the 
glory of heaven and the songs of victory. 



[Nos. 115, 127, 179. 



God, who hast taught us in thy Word that 
there is still laid up a rest for thy people, and 
who hast given us a promise of entering into it ! 
grant to us, we beseech thee, that we fail not of 
that promise through unbelief and disobedience. 
Teach us to look for a house that hath founda- 
tions, of which thou art the maker and builder. 
Lift our hearts thither in earnest desire. 

Oh sabbath of eternal peace ! Oh haven where 
the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are 
at rest ! When shall we see thee, O Lord ! and be- 
hold the King in his beauty? When shall we 
meet the apostles and prophets, and the great mul- 
titude whom no man can number ? When shall 
we see again our dear friends who sleep in Jesus ? 

God the Father, who hast the times and sea- 



Prayer. 

sons in thine own power! let not that day come 
upon us unawares. God the Son, who art gone 
to prepare a place for us ! in thine own time take 
us to thyself, that where thou art, there we may be 
also. God the Holy Ghost, the pledge of future 
glory in our hearts ! seal us until the redemption 
of the purchased possession. We bless thee for 
the help this day received through thy holy Word 
and the prayers and praises of thy Church. We 
supplicate thy favor upon all who bave heard thy 
Word, and upon those who have it not. We bless 
thee for thy mercy to this household, and commit 
ourselves to thy fatherly protection for the night. 
Keep us under the shadow of thy wings ; and, 
Father ! bring us, we pray thee, finally to rest in 
thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



251 



MONDAY. 



Mark xi. — 12. And on the morrow, when they 
were come from Bethany, he was hungry. 

13. And seeing a fig-tree afar off, having leaves, 
he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon : 
and, when he came to it, he found nothing hut 
leaves ; for the time of figs was not yet. 

14. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No 
man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And his 
disciples heard it. 

20. And in the morning, as they passed by, they 
saw the fig-tree dried up from the roots. 

21. And Peter, calling to remembrance, saith 
unto him, Master, behold, the fig-tree which thou 
curse dst is withered away, 

22. And Jesus, answering, saith unto them, 
Have faith in God. 

23. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever 
shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, 
and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt 
in his heart, but shall believe that those things 
which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have 
whatsoever he saith. 

2-4. Therefore I say unto you, What things so- 
ever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive 
them, and ye shall have them. 

25. And, when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye 



have aught against any ; that your Bather also 
which is in heaven may forgive you your tres- 
passes. 

26. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your 
Bather which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 

27. And they come again to Jerusalem ; and, as 
he was walking in the temple, there come to him 
the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, 

28. And say unto him, By what authority doest 
thou these things ? and who gave thee this author- 
ity to do these things ? 

29. And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will 
also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I 
will tell you by what authority I do these things. 

30. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, 
or of men ? Answer me. 

31. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, 
If we shall say, Brom heaven, he will say, Why, 
then, did ye not believe him ? 

32. But if we shall say, Of men : they feared 
the people ; for all -men counted John, that he was 
a prophet indeed. 

33. And they answered and said unto Jesus, 
We cannot tell. And Jesus, answering, saith unto 
them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do 
these things. 



The fig often comes with or even before the leaves, es- 
pecially on the early kind, which bears a large green-colored 
fig, that ripens in April. If there was no fruit on this leafy- 
tree, it might justly be condemned as barren ; for " the osten- 
tatious show of leaves gave promise of fruit even in advance 
of the season." The miracle was in reality a parable, — not 
a mere expression of personal disappointment, but a symboli- 
cal action designed to teach a moral lesson with its appropriate 
warning. " The fig-tree was the Jewish people, full of the 
leaves of a useless profession, but without fruit." In this re- 
spect, the miracle answers to the parable of the barren fig-tree. 
Our Lord used it also to illustrate the power of faith over in- 
animate nature, — even to remove a mountain. But faith, to 
be thus effective, must be in unison with the will of God, and 
be rooted in love. " Though I have all faith, so that I could 
remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing : " 



an unforgiving spirit would be like a mountain to weigh down 
such attempts at faith. Here, as always in the teachings of 
Christ, the resemblance to God in the spirit of love is set 
above the imitation of God in acts of power. 

The head men of the Jewish nation, fearing lest their in- 
fluence should be impaired by the growing popularity of Jesus, 
demanded his credentials ; yet they did not dare deny his 
works, which were the credentials of divinity itself. What 
higher credentials of divinity than this could be given ? Here 
was no conceivable connection of cause and effect within the 
range of material laws. Jesus did not touch the tree, nor bring 
any physical agency to bear upon it. He s/ioke to it, and the 
tree withered down to its roots. Here was the direct action of 
spirit upon matter ; and he who could produce such an effect is 
absolute Master of the physical univ 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer, 



[Nos. 67, 117, 156. 



Lord Jesus ! we do hunger for thy Word ; we 
do thirst for thy Spirit. Weak, empty, perishing, 
in ourselves, we cry unto thee for the bread of 
heaven, for the water of life. With longings for 
good that this world can never satisfy, we turn to 
thy fulness that we also may be filled. Confess- 
ing our folly in forsaking thee, mourning our sin 
in grieving thee, we come with broken and con- 
trite hearts, and entreat thee to grant us forgive- 
ness, comfort, and peace. Oh ! strengthen us to re- 
sist temptation, to overcome evil, to renounce the 
world. We beseech thee, show us the Bather ; 
make us pure in heart, that we may see God. 

Most merciful God, who in Jesus Christ thy Son 
hast revealed thyself as our reconciling Father, 



grant us grace, we beseech thee, to be followers of 
God as dear children. [May the children of this 
family love and obey the precepts of thy gospel, 
and follow the example of their Lord and Saviour !] 
And, oh, may the numbers of thy children be 
multiplied throughout the world, until the whole 
family of man shall be made one in Christ Jesus ! 
Have compassion, Lord ! upon the poor and 
the sorrowing ; deliver the persecuted and the 
oppressed. And do thou, Lord ! forgive our 
enemies, and forgive us as we forgive them. Lord 
our Preserver, who hast kept us through the perils of 
the night! keep us from evil this day and always; 
and finally bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



252 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Psaim XXX. — 2. Lord my God ! I cried unto 
thee, and thou hast healed me. 

3. Lord ! thou hast brought up my soul from 
the grave ; thou hast kept me alive, that I should 
not go down to the pit. 

4. Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his ! and 
give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 

5. For his anger endureth but a moment ; in his 
favor is life : weeping may endure for a night ; but 
joy cometh in the morning. 

7. Lord, by thy favor thou hast made my moun- 
tain to stand strong : thou didst hide thy face, and 
I was troubled. 

8. I cried to thee, Lord ! and unto the Lord 
I made supplication. 

10. Hear, Lord ! and have mercy upon me : 
Lord, be thou my helper. 

11. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into 
dancing ; thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded 
me with gladness ; 

12. To the end that my glory may sing praise 
to thee, and not be silent. Lord my God ! I will 
give thanks unto thee forever. 

Mark v. — 25. And a certain woman which had 
an issue of blood twelve years, 



One knows not whether most to admire the humble faith 
of this woman, or the ready compassion of Jesus in acknowl- 
edging it. The long continuance of her disease, the hopeless- 
ness of human help, the want of natural fitness between the 
remedy she now proposed to herself and the infirmity with 
which she was burdened, — between the stealthy touch of a 
garment and the cure of her plague, — these all evince the en- 
ergy, the almost desperation, of her faith. She knew that 
this man healed diseases by miraculous power. She would not 
presume to present herself to his notice, to ask him to lay his 
hand upon her sore : if she could only touch, not his person, 
but the border of his garment, she was persuaded that she 



26. And had suffered many things of many 
physicians, and had spent all that she had, and 
was nothing bettered, tut rather grew worse, 

27. When she had heard of Jesus, came in the 
press behind, and touched his garment. 

28. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, 
I shall be whole. 

29. And straightway the fountain of her blood 
was dried up ; and she felt in her body that she 
was healed of that plague. 

30. And Jesus, immediately knowing in him- 
self that virtue had gone out of him, turned him 
about in the press, and said, Who touched my 
clothes ? 

31. And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest 
the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, 
Who touched me ? 

32. And he looked round about to see her that 
had done this thing. 

33. But the woman, fearing and trembling, 
knowing what was done in her, came and fell 
down before him, and told him all the truth. 

34. And he said unto her, Laughter, thy faith 
hath made thee whole : go in peace, and be whole 
of thy plague. 



should be healed. Jesus knew, of course, all that was pass- 
ing in her mind : he gave forth the healing virtue to her 
touch ; but, wishing to bring such faith to the notice of all, he 
summoned her to acknowledge his grace. Her testimony, 
given with trembling, in the hearing of many who knew of her 
infirmity, at once established the miracle, and rendered the 
homage of faith to the divinity that dwelt in Jesus. He him- 
self put the healing upon the ground of faith ; and so he ever 
holds his grace subject to our call, if with the earnest confi- 
dence of this suppliant we will but go to him for his touch 
of healing, lus benediction of peace. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 27, 32, 57. 



Lord, our heavenly Father ! we have nothing 
to bring to thee but our wants, and such poor re- 
turn of love and gratitude and praise as these 
hearts can render for thy goodness. As thou dost 
cause our lives to overflow with thy mercies, so do 
thou fill our hearts to overflowing with thy Spirit, 
that we may thank thee and praise thee as we 
ought. The morning calls us again to praise thee 
for thy loving-kindness in the night-season ; and 
every day renews the tokens of thy bounty. Every 
good gift cometh down from thee, the Father of 
lights ; and though we are so changeful in our love, 
so inconstant in our service, with thee there is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind us 
to thyself, our Father! by the mighty attraction 
of thy love. May the love of Christ, who died for 
us that we might live, constrain us to live ever 
unto thee ! 



We pray thee keep us this day from temptation, 
evil, and sin. Prosper us in our lawful undertak- 
ings. May we be upright in our dealings, true and 
kind in our speech, gentle and patient in our 
spirit, pure and holy in our walk ! May we do 
good to all as we shall have opportunity, and so ex- 
hibit in our lives the graces of the gospel, that we 
shall win others to the love of Christ ! And we 
pray that multitudes may be won to the Saviour; 
that thy Church may increase ; that missions may 
prosper ; that thy Word may be given to all peo- 
ple, and the knowledge of the Lord may fill the 
earth as the waters fill the sea. We thank thee 
for our home, and pray thee to bless us with all 
things that we need as a family. Bless the absent 
who are dear to us ; and bring them, together with 
us, we beseech thee, unto thy heavenly kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



253 



WEDNESDAY. 



John X. — 1. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He 
that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, 
but climbeth up some other way, the same is a 
thief and a robber. 

2. But he that entereth in by the door is the 
shepherd of the sheep. 

3. To him the porter openeth, and the sheep 
hear his voice ; and he calleth his own sheep by 
name, and leadeth them out. 

4. And, when he putteth forth his own sheep, he 
goeth before them, and the sheep follow him ; for 
they know his voice. 

5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will 
flee from him ; for they know not the voice of 
strangers. 

6. This parable spake Jesus unto them; but 
they understood not what things they were which 
he spake unto them. 

7. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, 
verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the 
sheep. 

8. All that ever came before me are thieves and 
robbers ; but the sheep did not hear them. 

9. I am the door : by me if any man enter in, 
he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find 
pasture. 



In Palestine, where lonely farm-houses would be exposed 
to robbers, all the farmers of a district live compactly in a vil- 
lage ; and at night the sheep of various owners are driven into 
a common fold within the village, or into a walled enclosure 
upon the sheltered side of a valley near the sheep-walks. I 
have seen a shepherd knock at the door of the fold in the 
morning, and utter a peculiar cry; when the door would be 
opened, and his own sheep, knowing his voice, would come out, 
and follow him to the pasture. But the voice of a stranger 
would cause them to run with alarm. In the mountain dis- 
tricts, flocks are often assailed by wild beasts and robbers ; but 
the true shepherd so identifies himself with his flock, that he 
will defend them at the risk of his life. So David defended 
his father's sheep from the lion and the bear. Jesus looked 



10. The thief cometh not but for to steal, and 
to kill, and to destroy : I am come that they might 
have life, and that they might have it more abun- 
dantly. 

11. I am the good shepherd : the good shepherd 
giveth his life for the sheep. 

12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shep- 
herd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf 
coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth ; and 
the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 

13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hire- 
ling, and careth not for the sheep. 

14. I am the good shepherd, and know my 
sheep, and am known of mine. 

15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I 
the Father ; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

16. And other sheep I have, which are not of 
this fold : them also I must bring, and they shall 
hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and 
one shepherd. 

17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because 
I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 

18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it 
down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and 
I have power to take it again. This command- 
ment have I received of my Father. 



upon the chosen flock of Israel, the prey of false teachers, self- 
ish leaders, corrupt priests ; and with self-sacrificing love he 
came to call them to the way of life, to lead them to holiness, 
to feed them with true knowledge, to watch over and defend 
them with love, and to give his life for their salvation. Bait 
the shepherd of Israel seeks his true flock also through the 
wide world. Many are they among the Gentiles who shall 
hear his voice; and there shall be, not onefold, as erroneously 
translated in v. 16, but one flock, gathered out of many folds, 
and known all as one by their following the one Shepherd. 
The grace of Christ, seeking and saving the lost, cannot be 
shut up within any one compartment of his visible Church. 
The unity of the flock is in himself; and that unity is made 
manifest through an essential harmony of faith and spirit. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 24, 56, 70. 



thou great and good Shepherd ! thou hast 
watched over us in the hours of darkness and of 
sleep ; thou hast defended us from evil ; and, with 
our awaking consciousness, we find thee still at 
our side. As our eyes open to behold the light 
of day, our souls would look up and rejoice in the 
light of thy countenance. We have heard thy 
voice in thy Word, and we would follow thee. 
Remembering that Satan goeth about as a roaring 
lion, seeking whom he may devour, we beseech 
thee to keep us from his wiles, deliver us from 
temptation, defend us from evil. [Blessed Sa- 
viour, care for the children of this family, as lambs 
of thy flock; guide, nourish, and defend them.] 

God, who art the only worthy portion of our 
souls ! keep us from that love of this world which 



would draw us away from thee. May the grace 
of Christ preserve us from sin, and the love of 
Christ constrain us unto holy living ! May thought, 
motive, temper, speech, action, all be regulated by 
his blessed teaching and example ! In trials, succor 
us ; in dangers, defend us ; in sorrows, heal us ; in 
death, grant us thy staff to comfort us. 

Our Father in heaven, be thou the father of this 
family, supplying all our need, and binding our 
hearts unto thyself. Unite with us in the house- 
hold of faith all who are dear to us ; and bless 
and multiply the family of thy people till it shall 
embrace all the kindreds and peoples of the earth. 
Gather thy whole Church as one flock under the 
one Shepherd, for the sake of Him who died to 
save us. Amen. 



254 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



John X. — 19. There was a division, therefore, 
again among the Jews for these sayings. 

20. And many of them said, He hath a devil, 
and is mad : why hear ye him ? 

21. Others said, These are not the words of him 
that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of 
the blind ? 

22. And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the 
dedication, and it was winter. 

23. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solo- 
mon's porch. 

24. Then came the Jews round about him, 
and said unto him, How long dost thou make 
us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us 
plainly. 

25. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye be- 
lieved not : the works that I do in my Father's 
name, they bear witness of me. 

26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my 
sheep, as I said unto you. 

27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, 
and they follow me ; 

28. And I give unto them eternal life ; and they 
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck 
them out of my hand. 

29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater 
than all ; and no man is able to pluck them out of 
my Father's hand. 

30. I and my Father are one. 



31. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone 
him. 

32. Jesus answered them, Many good works 
have I showed you from my Father: for which of 
those works do ye stone me ? 

33. The Jews answered him, saying, For a good 
work we stone thee not ; but for blasphemy, and be- 
cause that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 

34. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in 
your law, I said, Ye are gods? 

35. If he called them gods, unto whom the word 
of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken ; 

36. Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanc- 
tified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, 
because I said, I am the Son of God ? 

37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe 
me not. 

38. But if I do, though ye believe not me, be- 
lieve the works ; that ye may know and believe 
that the Father is in me, and I in him. 

39. Therefore they sought again to take him ; 
but he escaped out of their hand, 

40. And went away again beyond Jordan, into 
the place where John at first baptized; and there 
he abode. 

41. And many resorted unto him, and said, John 
did no miracle ; but all things that John spake of 
this man were true. 

42. And many believed on him there. 



The true sheep are identified by certain marks, partly in 
themselves as the experience of believing souls, and partly in 
the feelings and purposes of Christ toward them. Tholuck 
has grouped together these marks under the following heads : 
" 1. They understand Christ's call; 2. He knows them by 
their sympathy ; 3. They direct themselves by his will ; 4. He 
gives them eternal life ; 5. They never lose it ; 6. No power 
can snatch them away from him." If we hear the Saviour's 
voice, and follow him with a loving, trusting obedience whith- 
ersoever he leadeth, we may safely leave to him our guidance, 
our protection, our final salvation. The one tiling which con- 
cerns us is, that we do truly follow him. The assurance of 



eternal life is grounded in his love, and in his oneness with 
the Father, which is so entire and absolute, that he could say, 
without metaphor and without qualification, " I and my Fa- 
ther are one." The Jews understood him to make himself 
God ; and so far from correcting their understanding of his 
words, in order thus to free himself from this odious charge, 
Jesus proceeded to justify his words by an appeal to his works. 
To us, both words and works, confirmed by the resurrection, 
the ascension, and the coming of the Holy Ghost, are a war- 
rant for the highest faith in Him who is able to give unto us 
eternal life. By knowing Christ in the experience of our 
hearts, we shall know the Father. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Blessed be God, the Father of all 



Praj^er. 



[Kos. 70, 135, 159. 



for 



x, w j. cmci m an mercies, 
the mercies of the past night ; for shelter, safety, 
comfort, rest, and peace. How precious are thy 
thoughts unto us, God ! how great is the sum of 
them! When we awake, we are still with thee. 
So would our hearts rise to thee, Lord ! with the 
morning light, with the incense of prayer and 
praise ; yea, we would present our bodies unto thee 
a living sacrifice. May this, our reasonable service, 
be made holy through the blood of Jesus, and ac- 
ceptable through the Spirit of all grace ! May the 
Holy Spirit like a dove descend and rest upon us, 
making our home and our hearts the abode of 
peace ! 

Help us this day to live unto thee, and in all 



our works and ways to do that which is well-pleas- 
ing in thy sight. Prosper, we beseech thee, the 
labor of our hands, our studies, our various call- 
ings; bless to us the means of knowledge and 
improvement ; make us thoughtful of others, con- 
siderate of the poor and afflicted, wise and ready 
unto every good word and work. We commend 
unto thee our kindred and friends, beseeching thee 
to grant them the promise of the life that now 
is ; and in the world to come, life everlasting. We 
pray for thy holy Church universal, for the coming 
of light and peace and salvation in the latter-day 
glory to all the earth, through Christ our Lord ; 
and to thy name be power and glory and dominion, 
world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



255 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm xiv. — 1. The fool hath said in his heart, 
There is no God. They are corrupt ; they have 
done abominable works ; there is none that doeth 
good. 

2. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the 
children of men to see if there were any that did 
understand and seek God. 

3. They are all gone aside ; they are all together 
become filthy : there is none that doeth good ; no, 
not one. 

4. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowl- 
edge ? who eat up my people as they eat bread, 
and call not upon the Lord. 

5. There were they in great fear ; for God is in 
the generation of the righteous. 

6. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, be- 
cause the Lord is his refuge. 

7. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come 
out of Zion ! When the Lord bringeth back the 
captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and 
Israel shall be glad. 



Psalm xxxvii. — 32. The wicked watcheth the 
righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 

33. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, 
nor condemn him when he is judged. 

34. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he 
shall exalt thee to inherit the land : when the 
wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 

35. I have seen the wicked in great power, and 
spreading himself like a green bay-tree. 

36. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not ; 
yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 

37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the up- 
right ; for the end of that man is peace. 

38. But the transgressors shall be destroyed 
together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 

39. But the salvation of the righteous is of 
the Lord : he is their strength in the time of 
trouble. 

40. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver 
them : he shall deliver them from the wicked, and 
save them, because they trust in him. 



"Inveterate blindness alone," says Tholuek, "can deny 
the existence of God, when nature and history utter their 
myriad of voices to the contrary." The Bible always ascribes 
atheism to blindness of heart, as distinguished from a lack 
either of understanding or of knowledge. The religion of the 
Bible is based upon the truths that nature and conscience 
teach us concerning God and duty. Some of the books 
of the Bible, especially Job, the Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Prov- 
erbs, and certain letters and discourses of Paul, exhibit a 
constant observation of the phenomena of Nature, as these 
illustrate the power and wisdom of Jehovah. And the more 
careful and minute such observation is rendered by the helps 
of modern science, the more this reveals of the complexity of 
laws, the interchange of forces, the remoteness and the sub- 
tileness of causes, so much the more emphatically does Na- 
ture point to a supreme creating and ordering Intelligence. 



Certain books of the Bible also — especially the books of 
Samuel and the Kings, the prophecies of Isaiah, and the 
epistles of Paul — take note of the history of the world as 
illustrating a governing and judicial Providence ; and no 
just philosophy of history can be written which leaves out of 
account moral causes working toward the same moral end. 
Both David and Paul assert that the love of sin blinds the 
hearts of men to the religious teachings of nature and his- 
tory, and so makes them presumptuous in sinning. " The 
Psalmist inquires for the reason why the great mass of man- 
kind are not deterred from the commission of sin by legal 
restraints or humane considerations. He accounts for it by 
the fact that they are devoid of faith in the living God, who 
manifests himself by his judgments." But, in Ps. xxxvii., he 
shows how certain it is that the Lord will punish evil-doers, 
and deliver his saints. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 140, 152, 160. 



God ! thou art great, and greatly to be feared. 
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy 
glory. We have sinned against heaven and in 
thy sight: we are no more worthy to be called thy 
children. But do thou for Jesus' sake, thine own 
dear Son, have mercy upon us miserable offenders. 

Behold, God our shield ! look upon the face 
of thine Anointed. When troubles come, when 
billows of sorrow roll over us, when thy judg- 
ments are abroad in the earth, may we find refuge 
in the ark of his salvation ! May we look forward 
to our rest ! May our citizenship be in heaven, 
and we of the company of thy saints who declare 
plainly that they seek a better country ! May we 
be like Christ now, remembering that we are soon 
to be with him, and that forever ! May we glorify 
him in the midst of an evil and gainsaying world ! 
and, whatever the sphere in which thy providence 
has placed us, may we use our time and talents 
and opportunities for thee ! 



We look to thee, Lord! this day, for daily 
bread. All thy creatures wait upon thee. That 
thou givest them they gather. Thou openest thine 
hand ; they are filled with good. Oh ! fill us this 
day with good things. [Bless every member of 
this family, parents and children, brothers and sis- 
ters, and all our kindred : may each, in the several 
relations of life, fulfil all the offices of love, doing 
good to one another as thou givest opportunity !] 

We beseech thee to bless thy Church. Deliver 
any of thy people who are suffering persecution ; 
and break. Lord ! the rod of the oppressor. 
May thy children ever trust in thee, and be faith- 
ful to thy cause! and may thy works of power and 
glory in and through thy Church lead all nations 
to confess thy name ! Prosper the labors of indus- 
try; bless the earth wnth abundant harvests; bless 
our land with health, peace, plenty, righteousness; 
and save the world which thy mercy has spared, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



256 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Isaiah xxviii. — 14. Hear the word of the Lord, 
ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in 
Jerusalem. 

15. Because ye have said, We have made a 
covenant with death, and with hell are we at agree- 
ment; when the overflowing scourge shall pass 
through, it shall not come unto us ; for we have 
made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we 
hid ourselves : 

16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God : Behold, 
I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, 
a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation : he that 
believeth shall not make haste. 

17. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and 
righteousness to the plummet ; and the hail shall 
sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters 
shall overflow the hiding-place. 

18. And your covenant with death shall be dis- 
annulled, and your agreement with hell shall not 
stand: when the overflowing scourge shall pass 
through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. 

I Peter ii. — 1. Wherefore, laying aside all 
malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, 
and all evil-speakings, 

2. As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk 
of the word, that ye may grow thereby; 

3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gra- 
cious : 

4. To whom coming as unto a living stone, dis- 
allowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and 
precious, 



" I am not come to destroy," said Christ, " but to fulfil ; " 
and as in his own sacrifice he fulfilled the ritual of the law, 
and in his own mediation now fulfils its priesthood, so in his 
Church he realizes the ideal of the temple as the spiritual 
habitation of God. How wondrous is this temple! — built 
upon the stone that God had chosen and designated as his 
offering of love even before the world began ; built of living 
stones, conscious of their position, feeling their union with 
the foundation, and radiating the glory which they receive 



5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spirit- 
ual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual 
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

6. Wherefore also it is contained in the scrip- 
ture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, 
elect, precious ; and he that believeth on him shall 
not be confounded. 

7. Unto you therefore which believe, he is pre- 
cious ; but, unto them which be disodedient, the 
stone which the builders disallowed, the same is 
made the head of the corner, 

8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of 
offence, even to them which stumble at the word, 
being disobedient : whereunto also they were ap- 
pointed. 

9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priest- 
hood, an holy nation, a peculiar people ; that ye 
should show forth the praises of him who hath 
called you out of darkness into his marvellous 
light : 

10. Which in time past were not a people, but 
are now the people of God; which had not ob- 
tained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers 
and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war 
against the soul, 

12. Having your conversation honest among the 
Gentiles ; that, whereas they speak against you as 
evil-doers, they may by your good works, which 
they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visita- 
tion. 



from the presence of God, — even as stones hewn from the 
quarry, and set on high in ordered beauty, they " show forth 
the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness 
into his marvellous light." There is no other foundation 
than Christ upon which we can build a hope for eternity. He 
whom God has chosen we must make precious. Yet, alas ! 
how many, through pride, prejudice, or unbelief, stumble, and 
fall over the very provision that God has made for salva- 
tion ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 125, 134, 150. 



God, who art the fountain of life and light, 
the source of all blessing! we give thee thanks for 
the light of this morning ; for the gifts of thy kind 
providence ; for the continuance of our reason ; 
for the throne of the heavenly grace. We praise 
thee for the Holy Scriptures, which are able to 
make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ 
Jesus. May his word dwell in us richly in all wis- 
dom and spiritual understanding ! For him we 
bless thee ; for all he taught and did and suffered ; 
for his glorious doctrines, and perfect righteous- 
ness, and atoning death ; for the example he has 
left, the promises he has made to his Church, and 
his intercession at thy right hand ; and for the 
certainty that all who come unto thee by him shall 
be saved with an everlasting salvation. 



Give us this day, we beseech thee, such things 
as are necessary for us, and keep us in thy love. 
Prepare us for the duties and the trials of the day. 
Let those who remain at home, and those who 
resort to business, study, or recreation, maintain a 
conversation according to the gospel. Be gracious 
to all our friends. Take this household, we pray 
thee, under thy protection : keep us all from sin, 
from danger, and from death. [Oh ! teach these 
children the blessedness of trusting Jesus as their 
Saviour ; of knowing, loving, serving him as their 
Friend.] Be continually in our home. Lord ! 
make our hearts thy temple ; and let us at last 
reach the house not made with hands, eternal in the 
heavens, for His sake who died, and rose again, 
and ever liveth to make intercession for us. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



257 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Psalm Ixviii. — 15. The hill of God is as the 
hill of Bashan ; a high hill as the hill of Bashan. 

16. Why leap ye, ye high hills ? This is the hill 
which God desireth to dwell in ; yea, the Lord will 
dwell in it forever. 

17. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, 
even thousands of angels : the Lord is among them, 
as in Sinai, in the holy place. 

18. Thou hast ascended on high ; thou hast led 
captivity captive ; thou hast received gifts for men ; 
yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might 
dwell among them. 

19. Blessed he the Lord, who daily loadeth us 
with benefits, even the God of our salvation. 

20. He that is our God is the God of salvation ; 
and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. 

Ephesians Mi. — 8. Unto me, who am less than 
the least of all saints, is this grace given, that 
I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearch- 
able riches of Christ ; 

9. And to make all men see what is the fellow- 
ship of the mystery, which from the beginning of 
the world hath been hid in God, who created all 
things by Jesus Christ ; 

10. To the intent that now unto the principali- 
ties and powers in heavenly places might be 
known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 



11. According to the eternal purpose which he 
purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord ; 

12. In whom we have boldness and access with 
confidence by the faith of him. 

13. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my 
tribulations for you, which is your glory. 

14. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Fa- 
ther of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

15. Of whom the whole family in heaven and 
earth is named, 

16. That he would grant you, according to the 
riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might 
by his Spirit in the inner man ; 

17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by 
faith ; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 

18. May be able to comprehend with all saints 
what is the breadth and length, and depth and 
height ; 

19. And to know the love of Christ, which pass- 
eth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the 
fulness of God. 

20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding 
abundantly above all that we ask or think, accord- 
ing to the power that worketh in us, 

21. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ 
Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. 
Amen. 



This wondrous prayer of the apostle opens to us the infi- 
nite possibilities of the life of faith. Beginning by resting the 
soul in Christ as the source of its life, faith rises above the 
range of human wisdom, and looks into the mysteries of re- 
demption, which only the mind of God could unveil ; and 
with this unfolding of spiritual knowledge comes an expan- 
sion of love, which, grow as it may, is continually filled and 
satisfied with the fulness of love that flows from the infinite 
Father. By this all-embracing love, the believing soul is 
made kindred with all the children of God on earth and in 
heaven. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the type and 
the source of all fatherhood. 

Of him ever;/ family is named ; for such is the more exact 



rendering of verse 1 5 : the family of man as first constituted in 
Adam ; the family of Noah, the second father of men, and the 
fountain-head of nations; the family of Abraham, the father 
of the faithful ; the family of Christ, the household of faith, — 
every family on earth derives its being and its name from 
God the Father ; and the companies of angels, the principal- 
ities and powers in heavenly places, the glorious hierarchy of 
heaven, — these, too, are named after God, as the Father of 
all. Every circle of holy and intelligent creatures in the 
universe takes its derivation from him ; and we, by the faith 
that lifts us to God, are brought into the family of the re- 
deemed and holy, which is one in all worlds and through all 
ages. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 8, 42, 79. 



God! we are sinners, and of a sinful race. 
But Christ hath died to take away the sin of the 
world ; and we draw nigh unto thee in the assur- 
ance of thy grace to help in every time of need : 
yea, the greater our sense of need and helplessness, 
the more plenteous is thy grace, the more ready is 
thy help. For Christ's sake, hear and save us. 

Thou madest us to lie down and rest in safety ; 
thou callest us to rise up and rejoice as in newness 
of life. Oh ! bless and furnish us abundantly, we 
beseech thee, for all that is before us this day. 
May we worship thee in the beauty of holiness, 
our hearts being filled with love and devotion ! 
May we be perfect as our Father in heaven is 
perfect in doing good unto all ! 

Bless thy whole Church, and add unto its com- 
munion multitudes of penitent and believing souls. 



We beseech thee to have compassion upon all 
who are yet living in sin. Oh ! spare thy judg- 
ments, Lord, and show forth thy salvation ; and 
imprint upon our hearts such a dread of thy judg- 
ments, and such a grateful sense of thy goodness 
to us, as may make us both afraid and ashamed to 
offend thee. Above all, inspire us with the joy of 
being with Christ in his glory ; and, having this 
hope in him, may we purify ourselves as he is 
pure ! May we know his love, and be filled with 
thy fulness ! 

Oh! keep this household in thy favor; bless 
abundantly our friends, near or far away ; minis- 
ter of thy comforts to the sick and needy, succor 
the perishing, and save the lost. Guide us ever 
with thy counsel, and finally bring us unto thy 
rest, for the Redeemer's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Isaiah XXV. — 1. Lord! thou art my God: I 
will exalt thee ; I will praise thy name ; for thou 
hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old 
are faithfulness and truth. 

4. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a 
strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from 
the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast 
of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. 

5. Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, 
as the heat in a dry place ; even the heat with the 
shadow of a cloud : the branch of the terrible ones 
shall be brought low. 

6. And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts 
make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast 
of wines on the lees ; of fat things full of marrow, 
of wines on the lees well refined. 

7. And he will destroy in this mountain the face 
of the covering cast over all people, and the veil 
that is spread over all nations. 

8. He will swallow up death in victory ; and the 
Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces, 
and the rebuke of his people shall he take away 
from off all the earth : for the Lord hath spoken it. 

9. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is 
our God ; we have waited for him, and he will save 
us : this is the Lord ; we have waited for him ; we 
will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. 

John xvi. — 23. And in that day ye shall ask 
me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, What- 
soever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he 
will give it you. 



When one must meet a trial, it is comforting to know that 
a friend lias borne the same, and come forth victorious. When 
one must face a danger, it is encouraging to think upon an- 
other who has gone through it unscathed. Though the 
stream is high, and the night is dark and boisterous, we can 
venture upon the bridge over which others have passed in 
safety. As we enter into the trials and conflicts, which, as 
Christians, we must endure, we may hear the voice of Jesus 
saying, " Be of good cheer : I have overcome the world." But 
it is more than example which he offers for our encourage- 
ment. He overcame the power of evil, which, till his coming, 



24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my 
name: ask, and ye shall receive; that your joy 
may be full. 

25. These things have I spoken unto you in 
proverbs ; but the time cometh when I shall no 
more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show 
you plainly of the Father. 

26. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and 
I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for 
you ; 

27. For the Father himself loveth you, because 
ye have loved me, and have believed that I came 
out from God. 

28. I came forth from the Father, and am come 
into the world : again I leave the world, and go to 
the Father. 

29. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speak - 
est thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 

30. Now are we sure that thou knowest all 
things, and needest not that any man should ask 
thee : by this we believe that thou earnest forth 
from God. 

31. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe ? 

32. Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, 
that ye shall be scattered every man to his own, 
and shall leave me alone ; and yet I am not alone, 
because the Father is with me. 

33. These things I have spoken unto you, that 
in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall 
have tribulation : but be of good cheer ; I have over- 
come the world. 



had ruled in the world ; and now he imparts to us strength 
for the victory he has made so easy. Having broken the do- 
minion of sin, and redeemed us from its curse, he returned to 
the Father that lie might mediate on our behalf, and open to 
us unlimited access to God in prayer. This emancipation 
from sin to a life of freedom and love with the Father brings to 
the soul a joy which no tribulation from without can unsettle. 
By the coming of the Spirit, Christ sheds within our hearts 
his peace ; and peace within is victory without. This peace 
he gives : and he is ready to give it to all ; but it can enter 
only where faith has opened the door to receive it. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 181, 184, 187. 



Thou, Lord, only makest us to dwell in safety : 
therefore will we lie down in peace, and sleep. 
We commit ourselves to thy keeping ; for the dark- 
ness and the light are both alike to thee. Thou 
who never slumberest nor sleepest ! keep us this 
night under the shadow of thy wings: grant us 
the sleep which thou givest to thy beloved ; or, if 
wakeful hours shall be allotted us, may we remem- 
ber thee upon our bed, and meditate upon thee in 
the night-watches ! 

Lord Jesus, who hast invited the weary and 
heavy-laden to come unto thee that thou mayest 
give them rest ! grant us, we pray thee, rest from 
,all care and trouble, from all sin and sorrow ; and 



prepare us by thy grace for that holy and blessed 
rest which remaineth for the people of God. 

We thank thee for this holy day, — its sacred 
memories, its blessed communion of prayer and 
praise, its comforting sacraments, its teachings 
and promises, and its immortal hopes. 

Bless thy Word, Lord ! to all who have heard 
it : to the young, for their guidance ; to the aged, 
for their comfort ; to all, for their instruction in 
righteousness. And, O Lord ! send, we pray thee, 
thy Word to those who have it not. Let thy salva- 
tion be known in all the earth ; and hasten the 
coming of thy kingdom. And unto thy name be 
honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



MONDAY. 



Exodus xi. — 1. And the Lord said unto Moses, 
Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, 
and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go 
hence : when he shall let yon go, he shall surely 
thrust you out hence altogether. 

2. Speak now in the ears of the people, and let 
every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman 
of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 

3. And the Lord gave the people favor in the 
sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses 
ivas very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight 
of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the 
people. 

4. And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord : About 
midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt ; 

5. And all the first-born in the land of Egypt 
shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that 
sitteth upon his throne, even unto the first-born 
of the maid-servant that is behind the mill ; and 
all the first-born of beasts. 



The plagues of Egypt assailed the superstitions of the 
Egyptians as well as their fears. Objects which they held 
sacred, or whieh were believed to be under the special care of 
the gods, were thus brought into contempt ; the powers of 
Nature which they worshipped were turned to their destruc- 
tion ; their sacred river was made a stench and a poison ; and 
phenomena of the seasons, of the water and the wind, which 
they were accustomed to observe for useful ends, or to guard 
against betimes, were suddenly intensified, and made causes 
of mischief and sorrow. 

The minute correspondence of several of these plagues 
with phenomena peculiar to Egypt — as the reddening of the 
river, the swarms of gnats and locusts, the sudden and intense 
darkness of the Kamsin — fixes the scene of the story, and 
goes to verify its details. That natural phenomena were em- 
ployed in these effects does not dispense with a supernatural 
power behind them. They were produced upon a stupendous 
scale, at unusual times, instantaneously, and by the word or 
the rod of Moses, which could have had no physical connec- 



6. And there shall be a great cry throughout all 
the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, 
nor shall be like it any more. 

7. But against any of the children of Israel 
shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or 
beast; that ye may know how that the Lord 
doth put a difference between the Egyptians and 
Israel. 

8. And all these thy servants shall come down 
unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, say- 
ing, Get thee out, and all the people that follow 
thee ; and after that I will go out. And he went 
out from Pharaoh in a great anger. 

9. And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall 
not hearken unto you ; that my wonders may be 
multiplied in the land of Egypt. 

10. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders 
before Pharaoh ; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's 
heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel 
go out of his land. 



tion with the result. The magicians soon gave over their 
feeble attempt to imitate them. 

But Pharaoh hardened himself against them all. Again 
and again he broke his promise to let the people go. In the 
idiom of the Hebrew language, the Bible ascribes to the Lord 
whatever he in any way permits to come to pass, making 
no account of second causes or of human agency. But the 
Lord did not use means to harden Pharaoh's heart, nor desire 
that it should be hardened : it was only by repeating calls and 
miracles which Pharaoh resisted and abused that the Lord 
was said to " harden " him. Pharaoh acted freely through- 
out ; was wilful and guilty in all that he did ; and it is said 
of him expressly, after one of the plagues, that " he sinned 
yet more, and hardened his heart " (Exod. ix. 34). But the 
tenth plague staggered him, and for the moment humbled 
him. This touched him as a father, threatened his throne, 
threatened his life, — showed liim that there was no escape 
from the demand of such a God ; and, in haste and terror, he 
let the people go. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 22, 40, 69. 



Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God 
Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King 
of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord ! and 
glorify thy name ? for thou only art holy. When 
thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, 
thou makest his beauty to consume away like a 
moth. Thou turnest man to destruction, and 
sayest, Return, ye children of men. Thou earnest 
them away as with a flood. Yet, Lord, thou wilt 
not cast off forever : thou dost not afflict willingly 
nor grieve the children of men. Oh, when thy 
judgments are in the earth, may the inhabitants of 
the world learn righteousness ! We bless thee that 
thou hast spared us the punishment that we de- 
serve for our sins ; and we beseech thee, for Christ's 
sake, to forgive and save us. May we take warning 
from thy holy Word, lest at any time we harden our 
hearts through unbelief! 



We awake this morning to the light of thy love, 
to the sense of thy gracious protection, and the joy 
of thy presence; and we would bring to thee our 
sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Oh ! keep 
us this day from sin ; bless us in our home, in our 
labors, in our studies ; bless all our friends with 
both temporal and spiritual good; and remember 
all men in mercy. May we be followers of them 
who through faith and patience inherit the prom- 
ises ! 

Thou who didst lead forth thy people from 
the house of bondage, and didst guide, nourish, 
and defend them through all their pilgrimage ! we 
beseech thee to conduct us by thy hand through 
all the changes and perils of this mortal life, and 
bring us at length to the inheritance of thy saints 
in joy and glory everlasting, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 



260 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Romans ix. — 14. What shall we say, then ? 7s 
there unrighteousness with God ? God forbid ! 

15. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on 
whom I will have mercy, and I will have compas- 
sion on whom I will have compassion. 

16. So, then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of 
him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. 

17. For the scripture saith unto Pharach, Even 
for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I 
might show my power in thee, and that my name 
might be declared throughout all the earth. 

18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will 
have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 

19. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he 
yet find fault ? for who hath resisted his will ? 

20. Nay, but, man ! who art thou that repliest 
against God? Shall the thing formed say to him 
that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus ? 

21. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of 
the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and 
another unto dishonor? 

22. What if God, willing to show his wrath, and 
to make his power known, endured with much long- 
suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction ; 

23. And that he might make known the riches 
of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he 
had afore prepared unto glory, 

24. Even us, whom he hath called, not of the 
Jews only, but also of the Gentiles ? 



The principle of election, so strongly asserted in this pas- 
sage, is recognized as a fact in the common events of life. 
Darwin's theory of " natural selection " is, that, in the strug- 
gle for life, the stronger or more favored members of a species 
prevail over the weaker or the less favored ; and sometimes 
make their peculiarities so prominent, that these give rise to a 
new species. What is this but election by the operation of 
some hidden law of Nature ? We observe the same thing in 
the human family, in the marked difference of individuals in 
birth, constitution, temperament, talents, circumstances ; and, 
on a wider scale, in the differences of races and nations. 
Everywhere we meet the fad, that, by the operation of causes 
beyond their knowledge or control, men differ in their position, 
their abilities, their advantages. It is this same fact which 
the apostle here recognizes in the moral kingdom of God; but 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



25. As he saith also in Osee, I will call them My 
people, which were not my people ; and her Beloved, 
which was not beloved. 

26. And it shall come to pass, that in the place 
where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, 
there shall they be called, The children of the 
living God. 

27. Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though 
the number of the children of Israel be as the sand 
of the sea, a remnant shall be saved : 

28. For he will finish the work, and cut it short 
in righteousness ; because a short work will the 
Lord make upon the earth. 

29. And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord 
of sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as 
Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrah. 

30. What shall we say, then ? That the Gentiles, 
which followed not after righteousness, have at- 
tained to righteousness, even the righteousness 
which is of faith ; 

31. But Israel, which followed after the law of 
righteousness, hath not attained to the law of right- 
eousness. 

32. Wherefore ? Because they sought it not by 
faith, but, as it were, by the works of the law. For 
they stumbled at that stumbling-stone : 

33. As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a 
stumbling-stone, and rock of offence ; and whoso- 
ever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 



it is qualified by other truths with which it is in harmony. — 
The Bible teaches that man is a free agent, under personal 
responsibility ; that salvation is provided for all, and freely 
offered to all ; that God desires that all men should repent and 
be saved ; that he uses his Word, his Providence, and his 
Spirit, to bring them to repentance ; that he continues his calls 
to men who resist his grace, though, as in the case of Pha- 
raoh, his very long-suffering may but harden the sinner in 
impenitence. ' It is no positive act of God that hardens him, 
no divine decree that hinders his salvation, but the sinner's 
own refusal to submit his will in faith to the righteousness of 
God. In this respect, the stubborn impenitence of Pharaoh, 
alike unto divine mercies and judgments, is but the type of 
the heart of man. Again and again we are told that Pharaoh 
hardened his own heart. 



Prayer 

Oh ! grant us grace, Father in heaven, to hear 
thy Word, and to obey it. We would make haste, 
and delay not, to keep thy commandments. Thou 
hast a right, Lord ! to our time, our gifts, 
our hearts, our persons; to all that we are, and 
all that we have : for thou hast created us, and 
hast redeemed us with the precious blood of thy 
Son. 

We give thee thanks for the mercies of the night, 
and for all the mercies of our past lives, — for home 
and its blessings ; for friends, and all the ministries 
of love ; for health, knowledge, comfort, and pros- 
perity ; but, above all things, for thy grace in the 



[Nos. 38, 59, 142. 

gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we ever be 
ready to acknowledge him the Son of God, the 
Saviour of the world ! May men in the high places 
of power and influence consecrate themselves to 
him ! may the poor and lowly trust in him ! may 
children sing hosannas to the Son of David ! How 
shall we praise thee, O God ! for thy love and grace 
to us sinners ? For all thy mercies we bless and 
magnify thy glorious name ; humbly beseeching 
thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise 
and thanksgiving for His sake who lay down in 
the grave, and rose again for us ; to whom be glory 
and dominion, world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



261 



WEDNESDAY. 



Exodus xiv. — 15. And the Lord said unto Mo- 
ses, Wherefore criest thou unto me ? Speak unto 
the children of Israel, that they go forward : 

16. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out 
thine hand over the sea, and divide it ; and the 
children of Israel shall go on dry ground through 
the midst of the sea. 

17. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of 
the Egyptians, and they shall follow them ; and I 
will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his 
host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 

18. And the Egyptians shall know that I am 
the Lord, when I have gotten me honor upon Pha- 
raoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 

19. And the Angel of God which went before 
the camp of Israel removed, and went behind 
them ; and the pillar of the cloud went from be- 
fore their face, and stood behind them : 

20. And it came between the camp of the Egyp- 
tians and the camp of Israel ; and it was a cloud 
and darkness to them, but it gave light by night 
to these ; so that the one came not near the other 
all the night. 

21. And Mioses stretched out his hand over the 
sea ; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a 
strong east wind all that night, and made the sea 
dry land, and the waters were divided. 

22. And the children of Israel went into the 
midst of the sea upon the dry ground ; and the 
waters loere a wall unto them on their right hand, 
and on their left. 

23. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in 
after them, to the midst of the sea, even all 



Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horse- 
men. 

24. And it came to pass, that in the morning- 
watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyp- 
tians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, 
and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 

25. And took off their chariot-wheels, that they 
drave them heavily : so that the Egyptians said, 
Let us flee from the face of Israel ; for the Lord 
fighteth for them against the Egyptians. 

26. And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch cut 
thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come 
again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and 
upon their horsemen. 

27. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the 
sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the 
morning appeared ; and the Egyptians fled against 
it ; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the 
midst of the sea. 

28. And the waters returned, and covered the 
chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of 
Pharaoh that came into the sea after them : there 
remained not so much as one of them. 

29. But the children of Israel walked upon dry 
land in the midst of the sea ; and the waters were a 
wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 

30. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of 
the hand of the Egyptians ; and Israel saw the 
Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. 

31. And Israel saw that great work which the 
Lord did upon the Egyptians ; and the people 
feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his 
servant Moses. 



The point at which the Israelites crossed the Red Sea was j 
probably near the neck of the Gulf of Suez, which then ex- j 
tended a mile or two farther to the north. Moses had taken 1 
the shortest route to the desert, intending to go around the j 
head of the gulf; but Pharaoh, having recovered from his 
fright, was in hot pursuit, with spearmen, chariots of war, and ' 
horsemen, — such an array as is always depicted in the Egyp- j 
tian drawings and sculptures of battle-scenes. Moses was com- 
pletely hemmed in, — mountains to the north, the sea in front, 
the enemy coming up behind from the west and north. A 



mighty cry went up from that host of terror-stricken fugitives 
unto the Lord ; and, in face of seeming impossibilities, the an- 
swer came, " Go forward." To doubt then was to perish. He 
who holds the winds and waves in his hand used the powers 
of Nature as the ministers of his salvation. The majestic pillar 
of cloud and fire changed front : it was light — as it ever will 
be light — where God would have his people go ; it was dark- 
ness and destruction — as it ever must be — when his justice 
shall frown or flame upon his enemies. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 80, 155, 191. 



Give ear, Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest 
Joseph like a flock ! thou that dwellest between 
the cherubims, shine forth. Thou hast brought a 
vine out of Egypt ; thou hast cast out the heathen, 
and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it, 
and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the 
land. For the goodly inheritance of this land, for 
plenty and prosperity, for freedom and order, for 
union and peace, for schools and churches, for thy 
holy day and thy holy word, we render thee, Lord ! 
most hearty thanks. Oh ! keep this people ever 
faithful to thee, the God of our fathers ; and do 
thou, Lord ' remember us in mercy. 



Alas! how have we sinned against thee in pro- 
faning thy sabbaths, in disregarding thy "Word, in 
boasting our own might and trusting our own 
riches, in seeking and loving this world ! Oh ! save 
our land from corruption and crime, and forgetful- 
ness of God. 

Incline our hearts, Lord ! to cleave to thy tes- 
timonies, and to be faithful witnesses for thy truth. 
May we of this household ever be upon the Lord's 
side ! May all our friends be the friends of God ! 
May our whole land be filled Math righteousness ! 
Finally bring us into thy heavenly kingdom 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



262 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Exodus XV. — 1. Then sang Moses and the 
children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and 
spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord ; for he 
hath triumphed gloriously : the horse and his rider 
hath he thrown into the sea. 

2. The Lord is my strength and song, and he is 
become my salvation : he is my God, and I will 
prepare him an habitation ; my father's God, and 
I will exalt him. 

3. The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. 

4. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast 
into the sea ; his chosen captains also are drowned 
in the Red Sea. 

5. The depths have covered them : they sank 
into the bottom as a stone. 

6. Thy right hand, O Lord ! is become glorious 
in power ; thy right hand, Lord ! hath dashed in 
pieces the enemy. 

7. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou 
hast overthrown them that rose up against thee : 
thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed 
them as stubble. 

8. And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters 
were gathered together, the floods stood upright as 
an heap, and the depths were congealed in the 
heart of the sea. 

9. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, 
I will divide the spoil ; my lust shall be satisfied 
upon them : I will draw my sword ; my hand 
shall destroy them. 



10. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea 
covered them : they sank as lead in the mighty 
waters. 

11. Who is like unto thee, O Lord ! among the 
gods ? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fear- 
ful in praises, doing wonders ? 

12. Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the 
earth swallowed them. 

13. Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people 
which thou hast redeemed ; thou hast guided them 
in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 

14. The people shall hear, and be afraid : sor- 
row shall take hold on the inhabitants of Pales- 
tina. 

16. Fear and dread shall fall upon them ; 
by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as 
still as a stone ; till thy people pass over, O 
Lord ! till the people pass over, which thou hast 
purchased. 

17. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them 
in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, 
Lord! which thou hast made for thee to dwell 
in ; in the sanctuary, Lord ! which thy hands 
have established. 

18. The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. 

19. For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his 
chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and 
the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon 
them ; but the children of Israel went on dry land 
in the midst of the sea. 



It is added, that Miriam, the sister of Moses, and all the 
women, led this song with timbrels and dances. The old Egyp- 
tian pictures represent women thus participating in public 
festivities, with dancing and various instruments of music. 
Chariots, also, are always prominent in battle-scenes. This 
song, like most of the Hebrew psalms, was made for responsive 
singing, — the same idea, for substance, being repeated in two 
successive sentences. There are fine examples of this parallel- 
ism from ver. 4 to ver. 10. It opens grandly with the ascrip- 
tion of all glory to the Lord : his relations to the past are 
recognized, — my father's God ; " his strength, renown, and 
victory are celebrated under the figure of " a man of war." 
Then follows a vivid picture of the conflict, — the fury and 



bloody rage of the enemy, the swift and terrible vengeance of 
Jehovah. The physical agencies are next introduced, — the 
winds and the floods in their double work of protection and 
of destruction. In the midst of these awful judgments is 
heard the refrain of the mercy of the Lord for his redeemed. 
Yet, because he has redeemed and chosen Israel, fear shall tall 
upon all the nations who lie in their path; their hearts shall 
be still as a stone for very dread : for the purpose of Jehovah 
shall be accomplished, and his people shall come at last in 
peace to the seat of his majesty and glory. This song of 
triumph associates the name of Moses with " the Lamb " in 
the final victory of the Church. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 161, 170, 185. 



It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, 
and to sing praises unto thy name, Most High ! 
to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, 
and thy faithfulness every night. God our Pre- 
server ! we thank thee for the refreshment of sleep 
and the renewal of strength ; for the light of the 
morning, and for the promises and hopes that 
shine upon us from thy holy Word. We devote to 
thee our powers of reason, of affection, and of ac- 
tive service, praying that we may have grace to 
glorify thee in our bodies and our spirits which are 
thine. We thank thee for our home, our friends, 
the pleasant things that surround us, and all the 
beautiful and serviceable things of the world which 



thou hast made. Teach us, O Lord ! to use this 
world as not abusing it, and, in and through all that 
we receive, to chiefly desire and love thee, the Giver. 
We give thanks to thee, Lord! for the king- 
dom of thy Son, and for all its triumphs over the 
powers of evil. May each member of this family, 
and all who are dear to us, belong to the family 
of thy redeemed ! and, oh, may the redemption of 
Christ our Lord be applied unto all men by the 
saving grace of thy Holy Spirit ! Heal all sor- 
rows, supply all needs, restrain all iniquity, and 
save the world through Him who died for all ; to 
whom, with the Father and the Spirit, be glory 
everlasting. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm cxxxvi. — 1. Oh! give thanks unto the 
Lord ; for he is good ; for his mercy endureth for- 
ever. 

4. To him who alone doeth great wonders ; for 
his mercy endureth forever. 

5. To him that by wisdom made the heavens ; 
for his mercy endureth forever. 

6. To him that stretched out the earth above 
the waters ; for his mercy endureth forever. 

7. To him that made great lights ; for his mercy 
endureth forever. 

8. The sun to rule by day; for his mercy en- 
dureth forever. 

9. The moon and stars to rule by night ; for his 
mercy endureth forever. 

10. To him that smote Egypt in their first- 
born ; for his mercy endureth forever. 

11. And brought out Israel from among them ; 
for his mercy endureth forever. 

12. With a strong hand, and with a stretched- 
out arm ; for his mercy endureth forever. 

13. To him which divided the Eed Sea into 
parts ; for his mercy endureth forever. 

14. And made Israel to pass through the midst 
of it ; for his mercy endureth forever : 

15. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the 
Red Sea ; for his mercy endureth forever. 



The mighty events of the exodus from Egypt were the 
inspiration of Hebrew poetry in all after-ages: "The sea 
saw it, and fled ; Jordan was driven back. The mountains 
skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs." Psalms cv. 
and cxxxvi. were national anthems, in which these events 
were likened to the wonders of God in the creation. In 
the Revelation by John, they kindle the song of Moses and 
the Lamb. This wonderful scene is the prelude to the final 
unveiling of Jehovah for the judgment of the great day; 
that will be the judgment of individuals: but the theatre of 
the judgments here announced is the present state, in which 
all governments, systems, laws, and institutions, that are in 
conflict with the kingdom of God, are destined to be over- 
thrown, until his righteousness shall be fully vindicated, and 
all nations shall come and worship before him. As slavery 
went down in the shock of war in the United States, and 
Csesarism and the temporal power of the Pope went down in 



Revelation XV. — 1. And I saw another sign in 
heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having 
the seven last plagues ; for in them is filled up the 
wrath of God. 

2. And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mingled 
with fire ; and them that had gotten the victory 
over the beast, and over his image, and over 
his mark, and over the number of his name, 
stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of 
God. 

3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant 
of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great 
and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Al- 
mighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King 
of saints. 

4. Who shall not fear thee, Lord ! and glorify 
thy name ? for thou only art holy : for all nations 
shall come and worship before thee ; for thy judg- 
ments are made manifest. 

7. And one of the four beasts gave unto the 
seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath 
of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 

8. And the temple was filled with smoke from 
the glory of God, and from his power ; and no 
man was able to enter into the temple till the 
seven plagues of the seven angels were ful- 
filled. 



the terrible collision of Germany and France, so every system 
that is hostile to a free spiritual Christianity must give way 
to its advance, or fall under the judgment of Almighty God. 

Such judgments are here represented as drawing to a close 
in seven, the complete number. As, in the battle of the 
Huns, spiritual combatants were seen triumphing in the air ; 
so the martyrs and confessors, who had resisted some great 
apostasy, are pictured upon a sea of luminous crystal that 
glows as with fire, celebrating their victory. 

The name of . Moses is linked with the name of Christ, 
because from the beginning of the world, through all dispen- 
sations, the kingdom of God has been one, its conflict one, 
its triumph one. The four living creatures that represent the 
creative power of God appear as ministers of his destructive 
judgment : all heaven is astir over the events of this world, 
which shall issue, at length, in the glorious manifestation of 
the King of saints. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 87, 132, 161. 



We praise thee, God! we acknowledge thee 
to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee, 
the Father everlasting. To thee all angels cry 
aloud, the heavens, and all the powers therein. 
To thee cherubim and seraphim continually do cry, 
" Holy, holy, holy Lord God of sabaoth ! " Heaven 
and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory. The 
glorious company of the apostles praise thee ; the 
goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee ; 
the noble army of martyrs praise thee. Bless the 
Lord, our souls ! and all that is within us, bless 
his holy name : who forgiveth all our iniquities ; 
who healeth all our diseases ; who redeemeth our 



life from destruction ; who crowneth us with loving- 
kindness and tender mercies. 

We bless thee this morning for life and health, 
for comfort and peace. We bless thee for home 
and its joys ; for thy constant favor to us as a 
household. And, while we thank thee for the 
blessings of thy providence, we pray that thou wilt 
ajso fill our hearts with love and gratitude for the 
richer gifts of thy Son and thy Spirit. Grant us 
grace to glorify our Saviour; grant like grace to 
all who are dear to us ; and bring all men to 
glorify Christ the Lord. And to thy name be 
glory forever. Amen. 



264 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Exodus XV. — 22. So Moses brought Israel 
from the Red Sea, and they went out into the 
wilderness of Shur ; and they went three days in 
the wilderness, and found no water. 

23. And, when they came to Marah, they could 
not drink of the waters of Marah ; for they were, 
bitter : therefore the name of it was called Marah. 

24. And the people murmured against Moses, 
saying, What shall we drink ? 

25. And he cried unto the Lord ; and the Lord 
showed him a tree, which when he had cast into 
the waters, the waters were made sweet : there he 
made for them a statute and an ordinance, and 
there he proved them, 

26. And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to 
the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that 
which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his 
commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put 
none of these diseases upon thee which I have 
brought upon the Egyptians ; for I am the Lord 
that healeth thee. 

27. And they came to Elim, where were twelve 
wells of water, and threescore and ten palm-trees ; 
and they encamped there by the waters. 

Exodus xvi. — 2. And the whole congregation 
of the children of Israel murmured against Moses 
and Aaron in the wilderness : 

3. And the children of Israel said unto them, 



Thero is evidence from history and from physical signs 
and remains that the Desert of Sinai was once much better 
watered and more fertile than it now is. Even now there are 
spots of good pasturage, and occasional wells and springs, 
which are surrounded with a scanty but most welcome ver- 
dure. In thirty days, so vast a multitude had made severe in- 
roads upon the cattle and other supplies brought from Egypt. 
Still their murmurings were exaggerated ; for, as serfs, they 
had not had so very abundant fare in Goshen : and their com- 



Would to God we had died by the hand of the 
Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the 
flesh-pots, and when we did eat bread to the full ! 
for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness 
to kill this whole assembly with hunger. 

4. Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I 
will rain bread from heaven for you ; and the peo- 
ple shall go out and gather a certain rate every 
day, that I may prove them, whether they will 
walk in my law, or no. 

5. And it shall come to pass, that on the 4 sixth 
day they shall prepare that which they bring in; 
and it shall be twice as much as they gather 
daily. 

6. And Moses and Aaron said unto all the chil- 
dren of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that 
the Lord hath brought you out from the land of 
Egypt ; 

7. And in the morning, then ye shall see the 
glory of the Lord ; for that he heareth your mur- 
murings against the Lord: and what are we, that 
ye murmur against us ? 

8. And Moses said, This shall be when the 
Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, 
and in the morning bread to the full; for that the 
Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur 
against him : and what are we? your murmurings 
are not against us, but against the Lord. 



plaint of Moses was unjust ; for he shared their privations. 
Moses rightly accused them of murmuring against the Lord. 
Jehovah had given already abundant proofs that he could and 
would provide for them. It is human nature to forget past 
mercies under present trials. Hunger and thirst, indeed, are 
a terrible ordeal, and the spirit of complaint is infectious ; 
but, through all threats and trials, Moses maintained a meek 
and steadfast faith, — the one link between the rebellious peo- 
ple and their Preserver. 



Appropriate Hymns, J 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 88, 114, 117. 



Lord Jesus ! we do hunger for thy Word ; we 
do thirst for thy Spirit. Weak, empty, perishing, 
in ourselves, we cry unto thee for the bread of 
heaven, for the water of life. With longings for 
good that this world can never satisfy, we turn to 
thy fulness that we also may be filled. Confess- 
ing our folly in forsaking thee, mourning our sin 
in grieving thee, we come with broken and con- 
trite hearts, and entreat thee to grant us forgive- 
ness, comfort, and peace. Oh ! strengthen us to re- 
sist temptation, to overcome evil, to renounce the 
world. We beseech thee, show us the Father ; 
make us pure in heart, that we may see God. 

Most merciful God, who in Jesus Christ thy Son 
hast revealed thyself as our reconciling Father, 
grant us grace, we beseech thee, to be followers of 
God as dear children. [May the children of this 
family love and obey the precepts of thy gospel, 



and follow the example of their Lord and Saviour !] 
And, oh, may the numbers of thy children be 
multiplied throughout the world, until the whole 
family of man shall be made one in Christ Jesus ! 
Bless the peace-makers, and let the nations learn 
war no more. Have compassion, Lord ! upon 
the poor and the sorrowing ; deliver the persecuted 
and the oppressed ; have mercy upon all prisoners 
and captives. Grant us grace to endure with 
patience any trials and afflictions that may come 
upon us for thy cause, and to conquer the world 
by faith. And do thou, Lord ! forgive our ene- 
mies, and forgive us as we forgive them. Lord 
our Preserver, who hast kept us through the perils 
of the night ! keep us from evil this day and 
always ; and finally bring us unto thy heavenly 
kingdom, through thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



265 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Exodus xvi. — 9. And Closes spake unto Aaron, 
Say unto all the congregation of the children of 
Israel, Come near before the Lord; for he hath 
heard your murmurings. 

10. And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the 
whole congregation of the children of Israel, that 
they looked toward the wilderness ; and, behold, 
the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 

11. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 

12. I have heard the murmurings of the children 
of Israel : speak unto them, saying, At even ye 
shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be 
filled with bread ; and ye shall know that I am the 
Lord your God. 

13. And it came to pass, that at even the quails 
came up, and covered the camp ; and in the morn- 
ing the dew lay round about the host. 

14 And, when the dew that lay was gone up, 
behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay 
a small round thing, as small as the hoarfrost on 
the ground : 

15. And, when the children of Israel saw it, 
they said one to another, It is manna; for they 
wist not what it teas. And Moses said unto them, 
This is the bread which the Lord hath given you 
to eat. 

16. This is the thing which the Lord hath com- 
manded, Gather of it every man according to his 
eating : an omer for every man according to the 
number of your persons, take ye every man for 
them which are in his tents. 

There is no reason to suppose that these quails were created 
for the occasion. Enormous flocks of them are sometimes 
seen along the coasts of Africa and Arabia ; and these were 
probably blown over upon the camp by a stormy wind. The 
manna, however, can hardly be identified with the gum of 
the tamarisk, a natural product of the desert. This gum re- 
sembles the manna, in dropping like dew in the night, in 
having a sweetish taste, and in melting in the sun : but it is 
limited as to season, quantity, and locality ; whereas the food 
of the Israelites was supplied continuously, every day, in 
abundant measure, and was distributed over the whole "area, 
and the whole period of their wanderings. Moreover, this 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



17. And the children of Israel did so, and gath- 
ered, some more, some less. 

18. And, when they did mete it with an omer, 
he that gathered much had nothing over, and he 
that gathered little had no lack : they gathered 
every man according to his eating. 

19. And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till 
the morning. 

20. Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto 
Moses ; but some of them left of it until the morn- 
ning, and it bred worms, and stank : and Moses 
was wroth with them. 

21. And they gathered it every morning, every 
man according to his eating ; and, when the sun 
waxed hot, it melted. 

22. And it came to pass, that on the sixth day 
they gathered twice as much bread, two orners for 
one man ; and all the rulers of the congregation 
came and told Moses. 

23. And he said unto them, This is that which 
the Lord hath said, To-morrow is the rest of the 
holy sabbath unto the Lord : bake that which ye 
will bake to-day, and seethe that ye wdl seethe; 
and that which remaineth over, lay up for you to 
be kept until the morning. 

24. And they laid it up till the morning, as 
Moses bade ; and it did not stink, neither was there 
any worm therein. 

25. And Moses said, Eat that to-day; for to-day 
is a sabbath unto the Lord : to-day ye shall not 
find it in the field. 

came in double quantity on the sixth day. Clearly this was 
a direct supply from the hand of God : " He gave them bread 
from heaven to eat ; " and, as Moses said afterwards, it was 
designed to teach the people their dependence upon God for 
daily bread, and also " that man doth not live by bread only, 
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the 
Lord." In this respect the manna was also a type of Christ, 
who, in his life, doctrine, and person, was the bread which 
came down from heaven. To guard the sanctity of the sab- 
bath, the manna was withheld on that day ; but we are priv- 
ileged on the Lord's day to cry even the more earnestly, 
" Give us this bread." 



[Nos. 29, 56, 



Prayer. 

Lord ! we thank thee that we have the means grace, to succor the needy and comfort the sor- 
of satisfying our daily wants. The earth is thine, , rowing ! 

and the fulness thereof; the beasts of the forest, I [Lord, look upon us as a family. May the chd- 
and the cattle upon a thousand hills. It is thou j dren obey their parents in the Lord, and love one 
who hast ordained seed-time and harvest, summer another! Teach them this day thy holy Word; 
and winter : thou dost crown the year with plenty, may they know thee the only true God, and Jesus 
and dost give seed to the sower, and bread to the . Christ whom thou hast sent!] 

eater. Fulfil this day, we beseech thee, the prom- j Prosper thy servants who are employed in the 
ise that thy Word shall be even as the rain, and as instruction of the young, in the visitation of the 
good seed in good ground. Oh! feed our souls poor, the afflicted, the distressed; and pour out 
with the bread of life. May thy goodness lead thy Spirit, thou great Head of the Church, and till 
us to devote all our energies to thy service ! may . thy Church with thy praise. Oh, may our worship 
what God has given be consecrated to him ! and go up before thee as a sacrifice of sweet savor, 
to-day may we go forth as stewards of thy | through Jesus Christ our Lord ! Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Mark xiv. — 22. And, as they did eat, Jesus 
took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to 
them, and said, Take, eat : this is my body. 

23. And he took the cup ; and, when he had 
given thanks, he gave it to them : and they all 
drank of it. 

24. And he said unto them, This is my blood of 
the new testament, which is shed for many. 

25. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more 
of the fruit of the vine until that day that I drink 
it new in the kingdom of God. 

26. And, when they had sung a hymn, they 
went out into the Mount of Olives. 

27. And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be 
offended because of me this night ; for it is writ- 
ten, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall 
be scattered. 

I Corinthians xi. — 23. For I have received of 
the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, 
That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he 
was betrayed, took bread; 

24. And, when he had given thanks, he brake it, 
and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is 
broken for you : this do in remembrance of me. 

25. After the same manner also he took the cup, 



"I am that bread of life," said Jesus; "I am the living 
bread which came down from heaven : if any man eat of this 
bread, he shall live forever ; and the bread that I will give is 
my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. For my 
flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that 
eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I 
in him." By faith in his atoning sacrifice we incorporate 
Christ into ourselves as the principle and power of an end- 
less life. The symbol of this union is the Lord's Supper. 
The apostle Paul, acting under a special revelation, combined 
into one formula the several accounts of the institution of 
the Supper given by the evangelists. The simplicity of the 
sacrament appears in its two leading objects, — as a symbol of 
doctrine, and as a memorial of suffering. As we say of a por- 
trait, " This is my friend," or of a statue, " This is Washing- 
ton or Lincoln," so our Lord constituted the bread and the 
cup a perpetual representation of himself. It is the bread as 



when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new 
testament in my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye 
drink it, in remembrance of me. 

26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink 
this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. 

27. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, 
and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be 
guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 

28. But let a man examine himself, and so let 
him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 

29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, 
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not dis- 
cerning the Lord's body. 

30. For this cause many are weak and sickly 
among you, and many sleep. 

31. For, if we would judge ourselves, we should 
not be judged. 

32. But, when we are judged, we are chastened 
of the Lord, that we should not be condemned 
with the world. 

33. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come to- 
gether to eat, tarry one for another. 

34. And, if any man hunger, let him eat at 
home ; that ye come not together unto condemna- 
tion. And the rest will I set in order when I come. 



broken which is his flesh, given for the life of the world ; it is 
the wine as poured out which is his blood, shed for many for 
the remission of sins. And in its character of a symbol the 
sacrament teaches that the sacrifice of Christ is our redemp- 
tion from sin, and that our partaking of Christ himself as the 
bread from heaven is the life of the soul. In its character of 
a memorial, the sacrament brings vividly and tenderly before 
us the love of our Lord, and enables us in the most significant 
and impressive way to testify our faith and devotion as his dis- 
ciples. Hence we should observe the sacrament with becoming 
seriousness. Some in the Corinthian Church had made the 
Lord's Supper a substitute for their old pagan festivals ; thus 
perverting its meaning, and observing it in an unworthy and 
unseemly manner. It is such impropriety of observance that 
the apostle condemns, and not that sense of personal unwor- 
thiness which too often keeps back the humble and devout 
from the table of the Lord. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[IS T os. 100, 164, 195. 



Thou blessed and glorious Redeemer, who didst 
give thy life a ransom for us, grant us grace, we 
beseech thee, to follow in thy steps, and be bap- 
tized with the same baptism of devotion and sacri- 
fice for the glory of the Father and the good of men. 
May we be members of Christ's body, of his flesh 
and his bones ! Redeemed with his precious blood, 
may we devote to him all the powers of our being ! 
Keep us, Lord! from the absorbing power of 
earthly things. May we live under the powers of 
the world to come, loving thee now with a sweet 
and blessed foretaste of that love with which we 
shall love thee forever ! 

We pray for all who have named the name of 
Christ. Give unto thy Church peace and unity. 



Bless our own immediate circle : may God be 
their Father, and Jesus their Elder Brother, and 
heaven their everlasting home ! [May the chil- 
dren of this family make thee their portion and 
their hope ! May they early learn to do thy will ; 
to wish for and to do only that which will please 
their Father in heaven!] Bless, O Lord! the 
teachings and the worship of this holy day. May 
thy kingdom come ! Sanctify affliction to all in 
sorrow ; and satisfy the poor with bread. Accept 
our thanks for the mercies of thy day and of thine 
house. Our cup runneth over. Oh ! bring us at 
last to drink with thee the cup of joy which thou 
hast provided for us in thy Father's kingdom. 
And to thee be glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



267 



MONDAY. 



Exodus XX. — 1. And God spake all these 
words, saying, 

2. I am the Lord thy God, which have brought 
thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of 
bondage. 

3. Thou shalt have no other gods before 
me. 

4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven 
image, or any likeness of any thing that is in 
heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or 
that is in the water under the earth : 

5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, 
nor serve them ; for I the Lord thy God am a 
jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers 
upon the children unto the third and fourth genera- 
tion of them that hate me, 

6. And showing mercy unto thousands of 
them that love me and keep my command- 
ments. 

7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord 
thy God in vain ; for the Lord will not hold him 
guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 

8. Eemember the sabbath day to keep it 
holy. 



9. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy 
work ; 

10. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the 
Lord thy God : in it thou shalt not do any work, 
thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-ser- 
vant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy 
stranger that is within thy gates : 

11. For in six days the Lord made heaven and 
earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested 
the seventh day : wherefore the Lord blessed the 
sabbath day, and hallowed it. 

12. Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy 
days may be long upon the land which the Lord 
thy God giveth thee. 

13. Thou shalt not kill. 

14. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

15. Thou shalt not steal. 

16. Thou shalt not bear false witness against 
thy neighbor. 

17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, 
thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his 
man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, 
nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neigh- 
bors. 



These Ten Commandments cover the whole duty of man 
to God and to his fellow. The civil and criminal codes of a 
State fill volumes with endless definitions and specifications ; 
but here all is reduced to the single principle of love, and to 
a brief but comprehensive statement of the relations to which 
that principle must be applied. This law deals with man as 
a subject of the government of God, as a member of the 
family and of society. Toward God he is required to observe 
the reverence and devotion due to the one Jehovah, his Maker, 
Preserver, and Redeemer. Idolatry and profaneness are for- 
bidden ; and, the better to maintain the spirit of devotion, a 
day is set apart for the worship of God, in sacred distinction 
from the common employments of life. In all subsequent 



history, that day has left its mark upon the moral character 
of nations. In the family, filial love and veneration are en- 
joined as peculiarly acceptable to God. Society is protected 
by this code in all its vital interests, — life, chastity, property, 
and character ; and as love is made the essence of obedience 
to God, so here we are forbidden to indulge a selfish desire 
with regard to any thing that is our neighbor's. Obedience 
to this law would make a perfect human societ}', and render 
even r individual secure in his own person and possessions, 
and happy in his relations to others. The law manifests the 
love of God : love is its spirit ; love, its rule ; and only love 
will be its reward. 



Appropriate Htmxs,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 11, 18, 40. 



Almighty and most merciful Father, we be- 
seech thee incline us ever to keep thy command- 
ments. We have followed too much the devices 
and desires of our own hearts. We have left un- 
done those things which we ought to have done, and 
we have done those things which we ought not to 
have done ; but thou, Lord ! have mere}' upon us 
miserable offenders, and, for Christ's sake, take away 
our sins. The morning calls us again to praise thee 
for thy loving-kindness in the night-season ; and 
every day renews the tokens of thy bounty. Every 
good gift cometh down from thee, the Father of 
lights ; and though we are so changeful in our love, 
so inconstant in our service, with thee there is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind us 
to thyself. our Father ! by the mighty attraction 
of thy love. May the love of Christ, who died for 
us that we might live, constrain us to live ever 
unto thee ! 



We pray thee keep us this day from temptation, 
evil, and sin. Erosper us in our lawful undertak- 
ings. Maj- we be upright in our dealings, true and 
kind in our speech, gentle and patient in our 
spirit, pure and holy in our walk ! May we do 
good to all as we shall have opportunity, and so ex- 
hibit in our lives the graces of the gospel, that we 
shall win others to the love of Christ ! And we 
pray that multitudes may be won to the Saviour ; 
that thy Church may increase ; that missions may 
prosper ; that thy Word may be given to all peo- 
ple, and the knowledge of the Lord may fill the 
earth as the waters fill the sea. We thank thee 
for our home, and pray thee to bless us with all 
things that we need as a family. Bless the absent 
who are dear to us ; and bring them, together with 
us, we beseech thee, unto thy heavenly kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord ; who, with thee 
and the Holy Ghost, liveth evermore. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Hebrews xii. — 14. Follow peace with all men, 
and holiness, without which no man shall see the 
Lord : 

15. Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the 
grace of God ; lest any root of bitterness springing 
up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled ; 

16. Lest there be any fornicator, or profane per- 
son, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his 
birthright. 

17. For ye know how that afterward, when he 
would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; 
for he found no place of repentance, though he 
sought it carefully with tears. 

18. For ye are not come unto the mount tbat 
might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor 
unto blackness and darkness and tempest, 

19. And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice 
of words ; which voice they that heard entreated 
that the word should not be spoken to them any 
more ; 

20. (For they could not endure that which was 
commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the 
mountain it shall be stoned, or thrust through 
with a dart ; 

21. And so terrible was the sight, that Moses 
said, I exceedingly fear and quake :) 



22. But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto 
the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusa- 
lem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 

23. To the general assembly and church of the 
first-born which are written in heaven, and to 
God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just 
men made perfect, 

24. And to Jesus the Mediator of the new 
covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that 
speaketh better things than that of Abel. 

25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. 
For, if they escaped not who refused him that spake 
on earth, much more shall not we escape if we 
turn away from him that speaketh from heaven : 

26. Whose voice then shook the earth ; but now 
he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake 
not the earth only, but also heaven. 

27. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth 
the removing of those things that are shaken, as 
of things that are made, that those things which 
cannot be shaken may remain. 

28. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which 
cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we 
may serve God acceptably, with reverence and 
godly fear. 

29. For our God is a consuming fire. 



The mount of the law, rising sheer from the plain on which 
the Israelites were encamped, was fenced about, lest it should be 
polluted by their touch. When Jehovah drew near, his pres- 
ence was made awful by symbols of terror. But, through 
Jesus, our redeemed humanity is invited to draw near the 
mount of God as the seat of love, whose very holiness invests 
it with peace. Frederic the Great of Prussia, in one of his 
journeys, made use of the house of a Lutheran pastor for his 
accommodation for the night. On departing, he said to the 
pastor, " What shall I do for you ? what preferment would 
you like ?" — " Nothing, sire," answered the humble curate : 
" I have all I want, and am content." — " You are content ! " 
exclaimed the astonished king : " then I will cause to be writ- 



ten over your door, 'My kingdom is not of this world.'" 
Earthly kingdoms may rise and fall, earthly dynasties come 
and go ; but we have a kingdom which cannot he moved. The 
time will come when every work of man shall be overturned ; 
when the earth itself shall be shaken to its foundations, and 
this whole visible order of things shall depart like a scroll : 
but then shall appear in the brightness of the new heaven and 
the new earth that city of God which has been the longing of 
the saints in all ages. Even now we may come by faith to the 
blessed community of the heavenly Jerusalem ; and, if that 
faith shall incite us to the steadfast and reverent service of 
God, our feet shall stand at last upon Mount Zion among 
" the spirits of just men made perfect. " 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer, 



[Nos. 4, 12, 20. 



Thou only, Lord ! makest us to dwell in safety. 
We lie down at night under the shadow of thy 
wings ; we awake in the morning to the light of 
thy love. We thank thee for another night of rest 
and comfort ; for another day of life, health, and 
hope. We praise thee that thou didst create us 
with powers of knowing and of loving, and hast 
made this world so full of wonders and beauties to 
feed our minds with knowledge, and to stir our 
hearts with love and joy. 

Lord ! may we be found faithful to thee in 
the duties of this day ; and, amid its temptations 
and its trials, do thou sustain us, comfort us, keep 
us, and grant us grace in all we do to seek thy 
glory. May this household, which thou hast so 
blessed, serve thee, not at this altar only, but in all 
the walks of life ! As we engage in the business of 



the world, as we go into society, wherever we are, 
and whatever we do, may we remember thee, and 
do thy will ! Oh ! grant that every member of this 
family may be a child of God ; a humble, faithful 
follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bless all clear 
to us who are absent from us. Do thou, Lord ! 
dwell by thy Spirit in the hearts and the minds of 
all our friends. We supplicate thy mercy for the 
needy, the afflicted, the bereaved, and the sorrowing. 
Build up thy Church, Lord ! Fill our land 
with pure religion. May our rulers be faithful and 
just, walking in thy fear! And we beseech thee 
to bring all lands under the power and glory of 
the gospel of thy Son. In thy great mercy, O 
Lord ! forgive our sins, and bring us unto thy 
heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Sa- 
viour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



WEDNESDAY. 



Mark xii. — 28. And one of the scribes came, 
and having heard them reasoning together, and 
perceiving that he had answered them well, asked 
him, Which is the first commandment of all ? 

29. And Jesus answered him, The first of all 
the commandments is, Hear, Israel : The Lord 
our God is one Lord ; 

30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with 
all thy heart, and with all thy sold, and with all 
thy mind, and with all thy strength : this is the 
first commandment. 

31. And the second is like ; namely, this : Thou 
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself : there is none 
other commandment greater than these. 

32. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, 
thou hast said the truth : for there is one God, 
and there is none other but he ; 

33. And to love him with all the heart, and 
with all the understanding, and with all the soul, 
and with all the strength, and to love his neigh- 
bor as himself, is more than all whole burnt-offer- 
ings and sacrifices. 

34. And, when Jesus saw that he answered dis- 
creetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from 



the kiDgdom of God. And no man after that 
durst ask him any question. 

35. And Jesus answered and said, while he 
taught in the temple, How say the scribes that 
Christ is the son of David? 

36. For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, 
The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my 
right hand till I make thine enemies thy foot- 
stool. 

37. David, therefore, himself calleth him Lord; 
and whence is he, then, his son ? And the common 
people heard him gladly. 

41. And Jesus sat over against the treasury, 
and beheld how the people cast money into the 
treasury ; and many that were rich cast in much. 

42. And there came a certain poor widow, and 
she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 

43. And he called unto him his disciples, and 
saith unto them, Verily, I say unto you, That this 
poor widow hath cast more in than all they which 
have cast into the treasury. 

44. For all they did cast in of their abundance ; 
but she of her want did cast in all that she had, 
even all her living. 



The Ten Commandments were the briefest code ever given 
to a nation ; ret they comprehended all duties, personal, social, 
and relative. But our Lord compressed these still further, while 
he broadened their spirit. The scribes, or lawyers, were jurists, 
whose vocation it was to expound and apply the law of 
Moses. As is common with the legal profession, their minds 
ran much to questions of phraseology and interpretation, 
and to the classification of the code. Some made the cere- 
monial laws first in authority, others the moral precepts ; 
some the law of sacrifices, others that of the sabbath. 
This scribe was not a party to the cavils of the Pharisees and 
the Herodians, but asked in good faith the opinion of this 
great Teacher touching the relative importance of the com- 
mandments. Jesus summed up the whole Decalogue in two 



comprehensive precepts, both embodying the same spirit of 
love. " The first is the Sun of the spiritual life ; the second 
is the lesser light, which reflects the shining of that other. It 
is like to it, inasmuch as both are laws of love ; both deduced 
from the great and highest love ; both dependent on ' I am the 
Lord thy God.' " This scribe needed only the inner spirit of 
consecration to this law, through repentance and' faith, to intro- 
duce him within that kingdom of God to whose door he had 
come by his intellectual confession. Jesus now showed that 
his divine supremacy was predicted by David, at the same 
time declaring the inspiration of the Psalms by the Holy 
Ghost. At that moment the spirit of consecration was illus- 
trated by the zeal with which a poor widow contributed to 
the service of God all her known means of support. 



Appropriate Htmxs,] 



Prayer. 



[Eos. 90, 97, 104. 



Create in us a clean heart, God! and renew a 
right spirit within us. So purify us by thy grace 
that we shall shine as lights in the world, holding 
forth the Word of life. We bless thee for thy lov- 
ing care, for rest and safety in the night, for the 
comfort and promise of the morning. heavenly 
Father ! we beseech thee to look with favor upon 
this family. May each of us in our respective sta- 
tions truly serve thee ! May we do unto others as 
we would that they should do unto us ! May we 
be true and just in all our dealings ! May we bear 
no hatred nor malice in our hearts ! May we be 
honest and upright in our daily conduct ! May 
we keep our tongues from evil, and our lips from 
speaking guil^ ! 

May thy Word be precious to our souls ! May it 
be sweet to our taste ; yea, sweeter than honey 
to our mouth ! May we love its precepts, under- 



stand its doctrines, and rest upon its promises! 
Give us grace, that we may be established in 
the truth, and be doers of thy Word, and not 
hearers only, deceiving our own selves. When- 
ever we read the Holy Scriptures, be thou thy- 
self our teacher. Sow the seed of eternal life in 
our hearts, and enable us to bring forth fruit, 
to the glory of thy name, and the comfort of our 
souls. 

[0 Lord ! grant unto the children of this house- 
hold the teaching of thy Spirit, the guidance of 
thy providence, that they may walk in the way of 
wisdom and of life.] 

Defend us with thy heavenly grace, that we may 
continue thine forever, and daily increase in thy 
Holy Spirit more and more, until we come unto 
thine everlasting kingdom, through the merits of 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



270 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Exodus xxiv. — 3. And Moses came and told 
the people all the words of the Lord, and all the 
judgments ; and all the people answered with one 
voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath 
said will we do. 

4. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, 
and rose up early in the morning, and builded an 
altar under the hill, and twelve pillars according 
to the twelve tribes of Israel. 

5. And he sent young men of the children of 
Israel, which offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed 
peace-offerings of oxen unto the Lord. 

6. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it 
in basins ; and half of the blood he sprinkled on 
the altar. 

7. And he took the book of the covenant, and 
read in the audience of the people; and they said, 
All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be 
obedient. 

8. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it 
on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the 
covenant, which the Lord hath made with you con- 
cerning all these words ! 

9. Then went up Moses and Aaron, Nadab and 
Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel : 

10. And they saw the God of Israel ; and there 
was under his feet as it were a paved work of a 



The government first established over Israel was a the- 
ocracy. They had neither king nor president, neither court 
nor senate : all castes were abolished ; they were declared to 
be a community of equals and brethren, and were now to be 
governed through the sense of their religious obligation to 
God. But their God was invisible, and seemingly afar off ; 
whereas in Egypt they had been accustomed to see everywhere 
the images of the gods. It was important, therefore, that 
their senses should be impressed with the reality of Jehovah's 
presence while yet they were awed with the sanctity of his 
majesty. Hence all the ceremonies of sacrifice and purifica- 
tion in drawing nigh to God, and the barrier set up between 
freedom and familiarity. 



sapphire-stone, and, as it were, the body of heaven 
in his clearness. 

11. And upon the nobles of the children of Is- 
rael he laid not his hand : also they saw God, and 
did eat and drink. 

12. And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me 
into the mount, and be there : and I will give thee 
tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which 
I have written ; that thou mayest teach them. 

13. And Moses rose up, and his minister Josh- 
ua ; and Moses went up into the mount of God. 

14. And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here 
for us until we come again unto you : and, behold, 
Aaron and Hur are with you : if any man have 
any matters to do, let him come unto them. 

15. And Moses went up into the mount, and a 
cloud covered the mount. 

16. And the glory of the Lord abode upon Mount 
Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days ; and the 
seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst 
of the cloud. 

17. And the sight of the glory of the Lord was 
like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the 
eyes of the children of Israel. 

18. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, 
and gat him up into the mount ; and Moses was in 
the mount forty days and forty nights. 



It was important, also, that Moses should be invested with 
spiritual authority as the medium of communication between 
God and the people. Hence, though the head men of the 
tribes, who were to act as judges, were permitted to have a 
nearer view of the divine glory by ascending some of the lower 
peaks of Sinai, and Joshua was permitted to go still higher 
toward the Presence, Moses was taken up alone into the 
cloud, and was there shut off from the people in the dread 
mystery of communion with Jehovah. But even he could 
not look upon the face of the Lord. No man can see 
God, and live. Yet he who hath seen Christ hath seen the 
Father. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 61, 72, 87. 



Our Father in heaven, we would draw nigh unto 
thee by that new and living way which hath been 
opened for us into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. 
We thank thee for the mercies of the night. How 
sure are the mercies of thy covenant, Lord ! All 
thy promises in Christ Jesus are Yea and Amen. 
Fulfil unto us, we beseech thee, these thy mercies 
and promises, and cause that this day we may re- 
joice in the consciousness of thy presence. Oh ! 
sanctify us by thy truth ; and, while we receive 
its instruction and comfort in our hearts, may we 
carry out its precepts in our lives. May we be 
just and true, loving and kind, gentle, forbearing, 
and forgiving, and so shine as lights in the world, 
holding forth the Word of life ! May every day 
witness some new victory over evil desires and 



passions within us, and over the evil that is in the 
world ! [Oh, may these children grow in grace as 
they grow in years and in knowledge ! May they 
shun evil companions and evil ways, and walk in 
the way of thy commandments !] Keep all dear to 
us even as the apple of thine eye. Bless our neigh- 
bors, and send thy Spirit upon this whole com- 
munity. Bless our rulers, and the schools and 
churches in our land. May all who rule, and all 
who teach, be led and taught by thee ! Have pity 
upon the poor and the sorrowing ; upon homes 
made desolate by famine, pestilence, or war. Stay 
thy judgments, O Lord ! and send peace and sal- 
vation to all people. Mercifully forgive our sins ; 
and finally bring us to behold thy face in righteous- 



ness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 



Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR, 



271 



FRIDAY. 



Exodus xxxii. — 1. And, when the people saw 
that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, 
the people gathered themselves together unto 
Aaron, and said unto him, Up ; make us gods 
which shall go before us : for as for this Moses, the 
man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, 
we wot not what is become of him. 

2. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the 
golden ear-rings which are in the ears of your 
wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and 
bring them unto me. 

3. And all the people brake off the golden ear- 
rings which were in their ears, and brought them 
unto Aaron. 

4. And he received them at their hand, and 
fashioned it with a graving-tool, after he had made 
it a molten calf; and they said, These he thy gods, 
Israel ! which brought thee up out of the land of 
Egypt. 

5. And, when Aaron saw it, he built an altar be- 
fore it ; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, 
To-morrow is a feast to the Lord. 

6. And they rose up early on the morrow, and 
offered burnt-offerings, and brought peace-offerings ; 
and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and 
rose up to play. 

7. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee 
down ; for thy people, which thou broughtest 
out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted them- 
selves : 



At first view, this gross apostasy, sc soon after the wonders 
in Egypt and the terrors of Sinai, and in the very face of the 
mountain from which the law forbidding idolatry had been 
proclaimed, seems utterly confounding. But, though there is 
no excuse for it, this much maybe said byway of accounting 
for it : In Egypt, the Israelites had lost much of the life of their 
faith, and had become familiar with the worship of idols. A 
law of spiritual ideas had now been promulgated ; but, as yet, 
no forms of worship were set up. The wonders which had so 
powerfully impressed their senses had ceased. Moses, the visi- 
ble organ of Jehovah, had disappeared ; and, in his prolonged 
absence, time hung heavy in the camp. A chief object of wor- 



8. They have turned aside quickly out of the 
way which I commanded them ; they have made 
them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and 
have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy 
gods, Israel ! which have brought thee up out of 
the land of Egypt. 

9. And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen 
this people; and, behold, it is a stiff-necked peo- 
ple. 

10. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath 
may wax hot against them, and that I may consume 
them ; and I will make of thee a great nation. 

11. And Moses besought the Lord his God, and 
said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against 
thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of 
the land of Egypt with great power and with a 
mighty hand ? 

12. Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and 
say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay 
them in the mountains, and to consume them from 
the face of the earth ? Turn from tby fierce wrath, 
and repent of this evil against thy people. , 

13. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy 
servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, 
and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as 
the stars of heaven ; and all this land that I have 
spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall 
inherit it forever. 

14. And the Lord repented of the evil which he 
thought to do unto his people. 



ship in Egypt was Apis, the sacred bull, which was kept in 
royal state at Memphis, and honored as a source of national 
life and power. Hence, when they craved some visible repre- 
sentative of the divinity, the golden calf would naturally sug- 
gest itself, and their feast would take the form of such orgies 
as they had witnessed in Egypt. With a self-sacrifice that 
marks the sublimest heroism, Moses assumed the task of 
mediation. The power and glory of Jehovah as committed to 
the salvation of Israel, the effect of any failure upon his ene- 
mies, and, above all, his own covenant of grace with Abraham, 
— these are the arguments by which Moses pleads with the 
Lord ; and his earnest, unselfish faith prevails. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 175, 178, 182. 



Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we ac- 
knowledge thy goodness in our creation and pres- 
ervation, and in the manifold provisions of thy 
love for the life that now is. Every day we live 
upon thy bounty ; every night we rest under the 
shadow of thy wing. What shall we render unto 
the Lord for all his benefits ? For the rest and 
refreshment of the past night, for the health and 
comfort with which we greet another day, for the 
endearments and delights of home, for means of 
occupation and support, of improvement and use- 
fulness, for all the favors of thy hand so multi- 
plied unto us, we render thee most hearty thanks. 
Freely as we receive may we also give. 



Lord ! for Christ's sake have mercy upon us, and 
take away our sins ; and grant that we may prove 
our gratitude by a loving obedience to thy will. 
May thy mercy abound toward all classes and condi- 
tions of men, and thy salvation fill the whole earth ! 

Bless this household in each and every mem- 
ber. [Especially do we commend unto thee the 
children, praying that in the morning of life they 
may learn to trust in Jesus as their Saviour, and to 
follow him as ready and loving disciples.] Oh, may 
the dove of heavenly peace ever abide in our dwell- 
ing ! Bless all dear to us ; and bring us all at 
length unto our Father's house through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



272 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Exodus xxxii. — 15. And Moses turned, and 
went down from the mount ; and the two tables of 
the testimony were in his hand : the tables were 
written on both their sides \ on the one side and 
on the other were they written. 

16. And the tables were the work of God, and 
the writing was the writing of God, graven upon 
the tables. 

19. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh 
unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dan- 
cing : and Moses' anger waxed hot ; and he cast the 
tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath 
the mount. 

20. And he took the calf which they had made, 
and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, 
and strewed it upon the water, and made the chil- 
dren of Israel drink of it. 

26. Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, 
and said, Who is on the Lord's side ? let him come 
unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered them- 
selves together unto him. 

. 27. And he said unto them, Thussaith the Lord 
God of Israel : Put every man his. sword by his 
side, and go in and out from gate to> gate through- 
out the camp, and slay every man his brother, and 
every man his companion, and every man his 
neighbor. 



28. And the children of Levi did according to 
the word of Moses ; and there fell of the people 
that day about three thousand men. 

29. For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves 
to-day to the Lord, even every man upon his son, 
and upon his brother ; that he may bestow upon 
you a blessing this day. 

30. And it came to pass on the morrow, that 
Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great 
sin : and now I will go up unto the Lord ; perad- 
venture I shall make an atonement for your sin. 

31. And Moses returned unto the Lord, and 
said, Oh ! this people have sinned a great sin, and 
have made them gods of gold. 

32. Yet now, if thou wilt, forgive their sin ; and, 
if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which 
thou hast written. 

33. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever 
hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my 
book. 

34. Therefore now go ;: lead the people unto the 
place of which I have spoken unto thee. Behold, 
mine Angel shall go before thee : nevertheless, in 
the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon 
them. 

35. And the Lord plagued the people because 
they made the calf which Aaron made. 



If ever anger was righteous, surely the anger of Moses was, 
at seeing the people, naked 1 and riotous, dancing around a 
golden calf as their god. They could not have fallen lower 
from the religion he had taught them ; and, in thus degrading 
themselves, they degraded their religion also. His was no 
selfish anger ; for he was ready at that moment to sacrifice 
himself for them : but his destruction of the tables of stone 
seems like an act of despair. How could a people capable of 
such grossness ever be lifted to the spiritual ideas of this 
law 1 But just this transformation has been the task of the 
Bible ever since it came into the world ; and how wondrously 



has it been accomplished ! The case called for decided and 
extreme measures. The false object of worship was first 
degraded and destroyed, and then made to nauseate the wor- 
shippers. After this, the people were summoned to a coura- 
geous and decisive commitment of themselves to Jehovah. 
As he was the alone Ruler of the nation, this calf-worship was 
not only idolatry, but treason; and, as such, it must be promptly 
and resolutely put down, and the order and discipline of na- 
tional life maintained. But Moses, who could be thus stern 
for justice, was so full of pity for the souls of these transgress- 
ors, that he could even die to save them. 



Appropriate Hymns,} 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 54, 73, 82. 



Search us, God I and know our hearts ; try us, 
and know our thoughts ; and see if there be any 
wicked way in us ; and lead us in the way ever- 
lasting. Have mercy upon us, O Lord ! according 
to thy loving-kindness ; according to the multitude 
of thy tender mercies, blot out our transgressions. 

We thank thee that thou hast brought us in 
safety to the beginning of this day ; defend us in 
the same by thy mighty power : and grant that 
this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any 
kind of danger, but that all our- doings, being 
ordered by thy governance, may be righteous in 
thy sight. 

Fit us day by day for the duties that lie before 
us. We would put ourselves and all that concerns 
us into thy hands, and ask thee to be our Guide and 
Counsellor. In all our ways we desire to acknowl- 
edge time ; and do thou direct our path. Keep us, 



we beseech thee, from all evil, that we, being ready 
both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish 
those things that thou wouldst have us to do. 

Fit us, Lord ! for all the events of this short 
and uncertain life. If prosperity be our portion, 
keep us humble and watchful in the midst of it ; 
or, if sorrows and trials come upon us, give us 
grace cheerfully to submit, saying, " Father, not 
my will, but thy will, be done." 

[Give unto the children of this family grace to 
serve thee in the morning of life. Oh ! keep them 
from temptation and evil, and from every false and 
hurtful way.] Be very gracious to our friends : 
grant to them health and prosperity in this life, 
and make them meet for the life everlasting. And, 
Lord ! bless and save the whole world. 

We ask these blessings in the name of Jesus 
Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



273 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Exodus XXxiv. — 1. And the Lord said unto 
Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto 
the first ; and I will write upon these tables the 
words that were in the first tables which thou 
brakest. 

2. And be ready in the morning, and come up 
in the morning unto Mount Sinai, and present thy- 
self there to me in the top of the mount. 

4. And he hewed two tables of stone, like unto 
the first ; and Moses rose up early in the morning, 
and went up unto Mount Sinai, as the Lord had 
commanded him, and took in his hand the two 
tables of stone. 

5. And the Lord descended in the cloud, and 
stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of 
the Lord. 

6. And the Lord passed by before him, and pro- 
claimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and 
gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness 
and truth, 

7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving in- 
iquity and transgression and sin, and that will by 
no means clear the guilty ; visiting the iniquity 
of the fathers upon the children, and upon the 
children's children, unto the third and to the fourth 
generation. 

8. And Moses made haste, and bowed his head 
toward the earth, and worshipped. 

9. And he said, If now I have found grace in 
thy sight, Lord ! let my Lord, I pray thee, go 
among us (for it is a stiff-necked people), and par- 



don our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine 
inheritance. 

28. And he was there with the Lord forty days 
and forty nights : he did neither eat bread nor 
drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the 
words of the covenant, the ten commandments. 

29. And it came to pass, when Moses came 
down from Mount Sinai (with the two tables of 
testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down 
from the mount), that Moses wist not that the 
skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 

30. And, when Aaron and all the children of 
Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face 
shone ; and they were afraid to come nigh him. 

31. And Moses called unto them, and Aaron 
and all the rulers of the congregation returned 
unto him ; and Moses talked with them. 

32. And afterward all the children of Israel 
came nigh ; and he gave them in commandment 
all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount 
Sinai. 

33. And, till Moses had done speaking with 
them, he put a veil on his face. 

34. But, when Moses went in before the Lord to 
speak with him, he took the veil off until he came 
out. And he came out and spake unto the chil- 
dren of Israel that which he was commanded. 

35. And the children of Israel saw the face of 
Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone ; and 
Moses put the veil upon his face again until he 
went in to speak with him. 



If there was something awful in the zeal of Moses for God 
in breaking the tables of stone, yet more sublime was the con- 
descension of God in renewing them. But while Jehovah 
thus manifested his mercy and patience, and declared these to 
be as enduring as his eternal self-existence, he at the same 
time proclaimed that great law of retribution which we trace 
not only in his moral kingdom, but in the kingdom of na- 
ture. Whenever and however we sin, we fall under that law ; 



and our only hope is, through hearty repentance, in getting 
back to God as our merciful and forgiving Father. 

The effect of the divine glory was to make the face of 
Moses resplendent, — at the first, unconsciously to himself. 
Nearness of communion with God will exalt and glorify the 
character; and there is nothing to hinder our receiving the 
full effulgence of such communion, since for us the veil is 
done away in Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 107, 110, 148. 



Almighty God, who in times past didst speak 
unto the fathers by the prophets, we bless thee 
that in these latter days thou hast spoken unto us 
by thy Son ; that the glory which the patriarchs 
beheld afar off, and the promise which the prophets 
waited for, have been revealed in Christ ; and, above 
all, that we have in him the forgiveness of sins 
and the life everlasting. Grant us grace, we be- 
seech thee, ever to walk in thy light, and to keep 
thy testimonies. May thy gospel this day min- 
ister to our peace and comfort, our faith and hope, 
our instruction in righteousness, our sanctification 
through obedience of the truth ! May it quicken 
souls that are dead in trespasses and sins, and 
comfort and edify thy saints ! May children hear 
the voice of Jesus their Saviour, and come unto 



him ! "While in thy house, may we have the 
spirit of prayer and praise, and give earnest heed 
to the things that we shall hear ! thou God of 
peace, who didst bring again the Lord Jesus from 
the dead ! grant us peace, we pray thee, through 
pardon in his blood and the hope of his resur- 
rection. May none of us neglect this great salva- 
tion ! 

We give thee thanks, Lord our preserver ! for 
rest and refreshment in the night : grant us, this 
day, rest from the toils and cares of life, — rest in 
thee. Fulfil unto this household, and to all believ- 
ing households, the mercies of thy covenant, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with thee, 
Father ! and the Eternal Spirit, be glory ever- 
lasting. Amen. 



274 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



2 Corinthians iii. — 1. Do we begin again to 
commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, 
epistles of commendation to you, or letters of com- 
mendation from you ? 

2. Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, 
known and read of all men : 

3. Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to 
be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written 
not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living 
God ; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables 
of the heart. 

4. And such trust have we through Christ to 
Godward : 

5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to 
think any thing as of ourselves ; but our sufficiency 
is of God ; 

6. Who also hath made us able ministers of the 
new testament ; not of the letter, but of the 
spirit : for the letter killeth ; but the spirit giveth 
life. 

7. But if the ministration of death, written 
and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the 
children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the 
face of Moses for the glory of his countenance 
(which glory was to be done away), 

8. How shall not the ministration of the Spirit 
be rather glorious ? 



9. For if the ministration of condemnation be 
glory, much more doth the ministration of right- 
eousness exceed in glory. 

10. For even that which was made glorious had 
no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory 
that excelleth. 

11. For if that which is done away was glori- 
ous, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 

12. Seeing, then, that we have such hope, we 
use great plainness of speech : 

13. And not as Moses, which put a veil over his 
face, that the children of Israel could not stead- 
fastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 

14. But their minds were blinded : for until this 
day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the 
reading of the old testament ; which veil is done 
away in Christ. 

15. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, 
the veil is upon their heart. 

16. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, 
the veil shall be taken away. 

17. Now, the Lord is that Spirit ; and where 
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

18. But we all, with open face beholding as in 
a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into 
the same image from glory to glory, even as by 
the Spirit of the Lord. 



If the tables upon which the Ten Commandments were 
written at Sinai should be found in as perfect condition 
as was the Moabite stone, all the governments and church- 
es of Christendom would contest the possession of them. 
Everybody would be eager to look upon them, and to possess 
a "squeeze "or a photograph of the original letters of the 
law. Yet a heart upon which the Spirit of God has in- 
scribed penitence, faith, hope, love, joy, is a more precious 
treasure than would be those tables of stone. They contained 
but the rigid letter of God's law ; and, since no human being 
has fulfilled that letter, the law has come to be a symbol of 
condemnation and death. But the heart that has been 



touched by the Spirit of God is made instinct with a new 
life. 

The whole ministration of the law at Sinai, grand and 
glorious as that was in visible tokens of Jehovah's presence, 
was, in nature and purpose, transitory, like the glory with 
which the face of Moses shone, — too bright at first to be 
looked upon, but soon to vanish away. But the Spirit of the 
Lord now dwells in his Word ; and the glory which we 
there behold as in a mirror, so far from repelling us, has an 
attractive, a transforming power. So much more glorious is 
the grace wrought upon the soul than the miracle wrought 
upon nature, the spiritual life than the material form ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 83, 179, 181. 



God, whose mercy is from everlasting to ever- 
lasting ! we bless thee for thy loving-kindness to 
us in the abounding gifts of thy providence and 
grace ; but, above all, for the gift of thy Son, our 
Mediator, who standeth between us and thy judg- 
ments as the bow that is in the cloud in the day 
of rain. May he be our righteousness and our 
peace ! and may we be found in him in the great 
day of his appearing ! We bless thee for all the 
tokens of promise given us in thy past mercies ; 
for the hope of immortality, the joy unspeakable 
and full of glory brought to us in thy gospel and in 
the worship of thy house this day. 

And now, at the end of the Lord's day, we 
would thank thee for its hours of rest, and for 
its means of grace. Hasten that blessed time 
when the knowledge of thy glory shall cover the 



earth as the waters cover the sea. And, to that 
end, prosper thou the missionary work of thy 
Church. Turn towards thyself the hearts of the 
heathen and the unbelieving. Pour out more 
and more upon thy people the spirit of grace and 
supplication, the spirit of zeal and self-devotion, 
the spirit of holy fear and Christian love. 

To thee, heavenly Father, we commend ourselves 
this night. thou Good Shepherd! watch over 
us, the sheep of thy pasture. Holy Ghost, the 
Comforter ! guide and hallow our thoughts. 

Thou in whom all families are blessed, bless thou 
our kindred and friends. May all who are united 
to us be with us united to thee ; be with us pre- 
sented by thee in the presence of thy Father with 
exceeding joy ! And to the Father, the Son, and 
the Holy Ghost, be glory everlasting. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



275 



MONDAY. 



Matthew xvi. — 1. The Pharisees also with 
the Sadducees came, and, tempting, desired him 
that he would show them a sign from heaven. 

2. He answered and said unto them, When it is 
evening, ye say, It loill be fair weather; for the 
sky is red : 

3. And in the morning, It will be foul weather 
to-day; for the sky is red and lowering. O ye 
hypocrites ! ye can discern the face of the sky ; hut 
can ye not discern the signs of the times ? 

4. A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh 
after a sign ; and there shall no sign be given unto 
it but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he 
left them, and departed. 

5. And, when his disciples were come to the 
other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 

6. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and 
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the 
Sadducees. 



7. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, 
It is because we have taken no bread. 

8. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto 
them, ye of little faith! why reason ye 
among yourselves because ye have brought no 
bread ? 

9. Do ye not yet understand, neither remember 
the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many 
baskets ye took up ? 

10. Neither the seven loaves of the four thou- 
sand, and how many baskets ye took up ? 

11. How is it that ye do not understand that I 
spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should 
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the 
Sadducees ? 

12. Then understood they how that he bade 
them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of 
the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Saddu- 
cees. 



It required the whole term of our Lord's public ministry 
to educate his disciples to a just appreciation of his character 
and to a true faith in himself. That no amount of miraculous 
evidence could satisfy the Pharisees, filled as they were with 
prejudice, pride, and the spirit of unbelief, is not surprising; 
but that his own disciples should mentally, if not orally, 
demand new tokens of his power in the supply of their physi- 
cal wants, is both strange and humiliating. It was easy for 
Jesus to create bread for the body ; but how hard, alas ! to 
bring their minds to feed upon his truth, their hearts to rest 
in his love ! They might make an ado over miracles, and lay 
much stress upon the supernatural, and yet be oblivious of 
the spiritual signs of his grace, and void of faith in himself. 
So the Pharisees were fond of making predictions from the 
outward signs of nature, but altogether negligent of the 
evidences of God's presence in the spiritual sphere. Their 
teaching and spirit turned religion into hypocrisy ; and this is 



a form of corruption which spreads rapidly in times of spirit- 
ual declension, when the forms of religion may continue to 
give respectability and influence, and a repute for piety, 
though the spirit of godliness is utterly wanting in the life. 
No religion can live in the soul which is not fed by communion 
with God. 

Religious error commonly wears the semblance of truth ; 
often begins in the distortion or perversion of some particular 
truth to the neglect of other truths in their systematic and 
harmonious relations to the body of doctrine. Error in reli- 
gious faith or practice is likened to leaven, because, being 
within the system, its tendency is to spread, to infect whatever 
it touches, and to cause fermentation. The Church of Christ, 
if she would preserve Christianity in its purity, has need con- 
tinually to be on the lookout for signs of the two kinds of 
leaven indicated by our Lord, — the Pharisaic leaven of 
formalism, the Sadducean leaven of rationalism. 



Appropriate Htmns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 61, 120. 



Thou only, Lord ! makest us to dwell in safety. 
We lie down at night under the shadow of thy 
wings ; we awake in the morning to the light of 
thy love. We thank thee for another night of rest 
and comfort ; for another day of life, health, and 
hope. We praise thee that thou didst create us 
with powers of knowing and of loving, and hast 
made this world so full of wonders and beauties to 
feed our minds with knowledge, and to stir our 
hearts with love and joy. May the glory of the 
heavens, the richness and bounty of the earth, as 
adapted to our wants, fill us with admiration of thy 
power, thy wisdom, thy goodness ! and may the 
voices of gladness with which all Nature celebrates 
thy praise move our souls to bless and praise thee 
also ! Lord ! may we be found faithful to thee 
in the duties of this day ! and, amid its temptations 
and its trials, do thou sustain us, comfort us, keep 
us, and grant us grace in all we do to seek thy 
glory. May this household, which thou hast so 
blessed, serve thee, not at this altar only, but in all 



the walks of life ! As we engage in the business of 
the world, as we go into society, wherever we are, 
and whatever we do, may we remember thee, and 
do thy will ! Oh ! grant that every member of this 
family may be a child of God ; a humble, faithful 
follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bless all dear 
to us who are absent from us. Do thou, Lord ! 
dwell by thy Spirit in the hearts and the minds 
of all our friends. We supplicate thy mercy 
for the needy, the afflicted, the bereaved, and the 
sorrowing. Oh ! grant to all the consolations of 
thy gospel. 

Build up thy Church, Lord ! Fill our land 
with pure religion. Bless the industry of the peo- 
ple; and may its fruit be consecrated to the good 
of men ! May our rulers be faithful and just, walk- 
ing in thy fear ! And we beseech thee to bring all 
lands under the power and glory of thy kingdom. 
In thy great mercy, Lord ! forgive our sins, and 
bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus 
Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



276 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Matthew xvi. — 13. When Jesus came into 
the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disci- 
ples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of 
man, am ? 

14. And they said, Some say that thou art 
John the Baptist ; some, Elias ; and others, Jere- 
mias, or one of the prophets. 

15. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I 
am? 

16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou 
art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, 
Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona ; for flesh and 



blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Fa- 
ther which is in heaven. 

18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art 
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church ; 
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against 
it. 

19. And I will give unto thee the keys of tht 
kingdom of heaven ; and whatsoever tliou shalt 
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and 
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be 
loosed in heaven. 

20. Then charged he his disciples that they 
should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. 



This revelation of Jesus as the Son of God took place nei- 
ther at Jerusalem, where the King of the Jews was looked for, 
nor at Capernaum, where he had done his mightiest works ; 
but in a distant and lonely region, the northernmost boundary 
of the Holy Land, the northernmost point of our Lord's jour- 
neyings, near the sources of the Jordan, under the base of 
Mount Hermon. The locality is interesting in connection with 
the scene of the transfiguration, which almost directly followed. 
The prediction of Malachi, " Behold, I will send you Elijah 
the prophet," had awakened the expectation of the return of 
one of the great prophetic leaders, or the appearing of a pro- 
phet who should recall Moses, Elijah, or Jeremiah. John the 
Baptist was taken at first for " that prophet." 

Our Lord did not at once proclaim his divinity, even to his 
nearest disciples. Since, in the nature of the case, all who in 
after-times should confess his name must accept his mission in 
faith, and receive his grace by faith, he chose at the outset to 
develop the spirit of faith by manifesting his divinity, rather 
than declaring it ; by evoking from men the confession of the 
divinity in his works, rather than exacting that confession in a 
form of words. But the time was now ripe for such a confes- 
sion from those who for nearly three years had witnessed his 
works of power and love, and listened to his words of truth 
and grace ; and it was important that the feeling of his divin- 
ity, which had grown up with these experiences, should be 
brought out in a concrete form. The title, " Son of God," was 
sometimes given to kings, prophets, and other chosen servants 



of Jehovah; but the answer of Peter pointed to a personal 
vital union with God himself, " the Son of the living God." 
Jesus not only accepted this confession of his divinity, but de- 
clared that it was an express revelation from his Father. The 
name Peter, meaning " a rock," is masculine ; but the term 
" rock," in verse 18, is feminine, and refers, not to Peter per- 
sonally, but to his confession. Upon this confession, as upon 
a rock, the true Church of Christ is built, and shall forever 
stand. 

Peter, both by force of temperament and by the leadings 
of Providence, was the first to proclaim this foundation-doc- 
trine of the church to the Jews at the Pentecost, and after- 
wards to the Gentiles, through Cornelius, — thus opening to 
each the door of the kingdom ; and, on the other hand, in the 
case of Ananias and Sapphira, and of Simon Magus, his de- 
nunciation of hypocrisy was a shutting of the door against 
all but true believers. But this was simply as a minister of 
the truth of Christ, and not by any official prerogative or pri- 
macy. Precisely the same promise was made to all the disci- 
ples : and Peter never claimed to be the rock, nor to have the 
keys ; but, when he preached before the Sanhedrim, he dis- 
claimed any power or honor in the healing of the lame man, 
ascribing all to Jesus Christ : " This is the stone which was 
set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of 
the corner; neither is there salvation in any other." Who- 
ever confesses Christ, by that act enters into the Church, 
which is his kingdom. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 99, 137, 143. 



Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foun- 
dations of the earth ; and the heavens are the 
works of thine hands. They shall perish ; but thou 
remainest : and they shall wax old as doth a gar- 
ment ; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, 
and they shall be changed ; but thou art the same, 
and thy years shall not fail. In thee, Lord ! do 
we put our trust : let us never be confounded. 
With our affections on things above, may we be 
ever looking for that blessed hope, even the glo- 
rious appearing of the great God, our Saviour Jesus 
Christ, like waiting and expectant servants, seek- 
ing to occupy till our Lord comes ! Keep us from 
inactivity and sloth. Let our loins be girded, and 
our lamps burning. Let us be growing in faith 
and love, in charity and meekness, in diligence 
and faithfulness, rejoicing in hope of the glory of 
God. 

Father, glorify thy name. Darkness is still cov- 



ering the lands, and gross darkness the people ; 
but may the Lord arise, and his glory be seen on 
the earth ! May the time to favor Zion, yea, the 
set time, speedily come ! Revive thy work in the 
midst of the years ; in the midst of wrath do 
thou remember mercy. 

We bring to thee our personal and family wants, 
praying thee to guide, help, and bless us. [Give 
unto these children, Lord ! grace to serve thee 
in the morning of life, and in their thoughts and 
words, their studies and their play, always to please 
their Father in heaven.] Remember with thy 
mercy all our friends; visit with thy grace the 
homes of all who are dear to us. We come with 
thanksgiving for the mercies of the night and of 
our past lives; and for our future, trusting only 
in thy grace, we would commit our souls unto 
thee as to our faithful Creator. To whom be 
glory and dominion forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



277 



WEDNESDAY. 



Proverbs xvi. — 16. How much better is it to 
get wisdom than gold ! and to get understanding 
rather to be chosen than silver ! 

17. The highway of the upright is to depart 
from evil : he that keepeth his way preserveth his 
soul. 

18. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haugh- 
ty spirit before a fall. 

19. Better it is to be of a humble spirit with 
the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud. 

20. He that handleth a matter wisely shall find 
good ; and whoso trusteth an the Lord, happy is he. 

21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent ; 
and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. 

22. Understanding is a well-spring of life unto 
him that hath it ; but the instruction of fools is folly. 

25. There is a way that seemeth right unto a 
man ; but the end thereof are the ways of death. 

Matthew xvi. — 21. From that time forth be- 
gan Jesus to show unto his disciples how that he 
must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things 



of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be 
killed, and be raised again the third day. 

22. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke 
him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord : this shall 
not be unto thee. 

23. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get 
thee behind me, Satan ; thou art an offence unto 
me : for thou savorest not the things that be of 
God, but those that be of men. 

24. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any 
man will come after me, let him deny himself, and 
take up his cross, and follow me. 

25. For whosoever will save his life shall lose 
it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake 
shall find it. 

26. For what is a man profited if he shall gain 
the whole world, and lose his own soul ? or what 
shall a man give in exchange for his soul ? 

27. For the Son of man shall come in the glory 
of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall 
reward every man according to his works. 



How little warrant there is in the preceding verses for as- 
cribing to Peter a spiritual primacy is evident from the fact, 
that he who just before was promised the keys of the kingdom 
of heaven is here likened to Satan, and rebuked as himself 
lacking the spirit of heavenly things ! Peter, elated with his 
own spiritual insight and the blessing pronounced upon him- 
self and his confession, with the impetuosity of his nature at- 
tempted to take his Lord to account for apparently contradict- 
ing that confession by announcing his sufferings and death. 
But Jesus thus linked his humanity to his divinity, his work 
of redemption upon earth to his glory as the Son of God. 
The kingdom of heaven would be opened through his sacrifice 
upon the cross, and ever after through the preaching of Christ 
crucified. The confession of Christ, the Son of God, must 
be coupled with the confession of Jesus, the suffering In- 



appropriate Hymns,] 



deemer. Hence his disciples must follow him in the spirit 
of self-renunciation, — each for himself taking up his cross. 
The true life consists in spiritual union with Christ, in 
the culture of the soul in holiness, and in the realization 
of fellowship with God. This is the only blessedness. Such 
wisdom is better than gold ; such understanding is a well- 
spring of life. He who seeks his happiness in this world and 
its belongings will miss this inner life of the spirit, which 
is the life eternal ; and when he quits the world, and the 
world itself passes away, all that lie had gained of earth will 
avail nothing for the peace and salvation of the soul. The 
crucified Son of man shall one day manifest himself as the Son 
of God in the glory of his Father. They who would then be 
owned as in his kingdom must here confess and serve, with 
humility and sacrifice, their crucified Lord. 



Prayer. 

Our Father in heaven, we come to thee with 
wants which thou knowest far better than we, and 
for blessings which thou art more ready to give 
than we to ask. But thou hast bidden us to pray ; 
and we love to come, saying, Our Father. Oh, 
may we have the spirit of little children, and show 
our love and gratitude in lives of devotion ! Thou 
hast kept us in the watches of the night from every 
trouble, sorrow, and alarm ; and now we bless 
thee for the day, for life and health, for food and 
raiment, for home and friends, for means of edu- 
cation and of enjoyment, for means of occupation 
and of support, for means of improvement in the 
knowledge of thyself from thy works and thy 
Word, and for opportunities of doing good to 
others. Oh ! grant us grace that we may use to 
thy glory the lives which thou didst give, and 
which thy mercy doth continually spare. 

We acknowledge, Lord! our un worthiness 
and our sinfulness, and beseech thee to pardon our 
transgressions and heal our infirmities. Help us 



[Nos. 73, 89, 95. 

this day to live aright. In the business of life 
may we be diligent, faithful, and true ! and do thou, 
Lord, prosper the labor of our hands. In our in- 
tercourse with others, may we manifest the gentle- 
ness, the sincerity, the charity, of the gospel of 
Christ ! May we be patient under trials, meek 
under injuries, firm against temptation, bold for 
the truth, zealous for thy cause ! May we be kind 
to the poor, helpful to the suffering, gentle toward 
all men ! [Give unto these children, O Lord ! 
grace to serve thee in the morning of life, and in 
their thoughts and words, their studies and their 
play, always to please their Father in heaven.] 
Remember with thy mercy all our friends ; visit 
with thy grace the homes of all who are dear to 
us. Build up, Lord ! thy Church ; prosper thy 
kingdom in our land, and throughout the world. 
Ever guide, keep, and bless us. Bring us to the 
close of the day in peace, and to the close of life 
in a hope full of immortality, through Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 



278 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Ecclesiastes viii. — 2. I counsel thee to keep 
the king's commandment, and that in regard of 
the oath of God. 

3. Be not hasty to go out of his sight : stand 
not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever 
pleaseth him. 

4. Where the word of a king is, there is power; 
and who may say unto him, What doest thou ? 

5. Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel 
no evil thing ; and a wise man's heart discerneth 
both time and judgment. 

Romans xiii. — 1. Let every soul be subject 
unto the higher powers. For there is no power 
but of God : the powers that be are ordained of God. 

2. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, re- 
sisteth the ordinance of God ; and they that resist 
shall receive to themselves damnation. 

3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but 
to the evil. Wilt thou, then, not be afraid of the 
power ? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have 
praise of the same : 

4. For he is the minister of God to thee for 
good. But, if thou do that which is evil, be afraid ; 
for he beareth not the sword in vain : for he is the 
minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon 
him that doeth evil. 

5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only 
for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 



6. For for this cause pay ye tribute also; for 
they are God's ministers, attending continually 
upon this very tiling. 

7. Render therefore, to all, their dues : tribute to 
whom tribute is due ; custom to whom custom ; 
fear to whom fear ; honor to whom honor. 

8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one anoth- 
er ; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 

9. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery; 
Thou shalt not kill ; Thou shalt not steal ; Thou 
shalt not bear false witness ; Thou shalt not covet : 
and, if there be any other commandment, it is 
briefly comprehended in this saying ; namely, 
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 

10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor : there- 
fore love is the fulfilling of the law. 

11. And that, knowing the time, that now it is 
high time to awake out of sleep ; for now is our 
salvation nearer than when we believed. 

12. The night is-far spent ; the day is at hand : 
let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and 
let us put on the armor of light. 

13. Let us walk honestly, as in the day ; not in 
rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and 
wantonness, not in strife and envying : 

14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts 
tltereof. 



The early Christians were charged with hostility to the 
civil government. Even Christ was arraigned before Pilate 
for perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to 
Csesar ; and Paul was often accused of stirring up sedition. 
But Christianity, in its principles and spirit, tends to reform 
abuses in government, to abolish privileged classes, and to 
further the rights of the people. It does not violently assail 
the existing order of things, nor propose revolution as the 
standing remedy for civil oppression : on the contrary, it 
teaches that government, as t/orernment, without respect to 
its form, exists by the appointment of God, for the well-being 
of society, the safeguard against anarchy and chaos. Hence, 
as a rule, and so far as this can be done without violating 
conscience, the Christian is to set an example of obedience to 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



I law, even though the law seem unjust and oppressive. He is 
! to uphold the laws, not through fear of penalties, but as a 
matter of conscience. This instruction Paul gave to the 
Romans who were then living under the tyrant Nero. Chris- 
tianity inculcates respect for office, and for the proprieties of 
condition : in the private relations of life it enjoins honesty, 
honor, courtesy, good-will, fidelity, and all the social virtues, 
to be practised, not through constraint of law, but in the spirit 
of love, which is the fulfilling of all law. Better far than 
socialistic theories and experiments in communism is the 
spread of the gospel for lithe realization of that practical 
equality, through the spirit of justice, of order, of mutual 
good-will, of peaceful co-operation, which is the true broth- 
erhood of humanity. 



Prayer 

Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies, for 
the daily comforts of his providence and grace. 
Thy mercies, Lord ! are new every morning. 
Grant us grace daily to live unto thee, to do thy 
holy will, and to glorify thee in our bodies and 
spirits, which are thine. Suffer not the cares of life 
to distract our minds from thee ; but may we seek 
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness ! 

Give us, this day, our daily bread ; and feed our 
souls with that living bread which came down from 
heaven. May Christ be in us the hope of glory, 
and the power of an endless life ! Lord, the 
Maker and Ruler of all ! we bless thee for all thy 
marvellous works and for thy ways unto the chil- 
dren of men. Thou givest us rain from heaven, 



[Nos. 70, 129, 165. 

and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food 
and gladness. Bless the earth, we pray thee, with 
abundant harvests, that there may be seed for the 
sower, and bread for the eater. And, most mer- 
ciful Father ! do thou visit our land with plenteous 
showers of grace, making thy Word fruitful, reviv- 
ing thy Church, and causing righteousness to flour- 
ish and abound. Rule in the hearts of our rulers, 
and turn the people unto the things of thy king- 
dom. We commend unto thee all dear to us. We 
commit our souls unto thee for this day ; beseech- 
ing thee for Christ's sake to forgive our sins, to 
keep us unspotted from the world, and pure in thy 
sight. And to the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
Ghost, be glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



279 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm CXXXvii. — 1. By the rivers of Baby- 
lon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we 
remembered Zion. 

2. We hanged our harps upon the willows in 
the midst thereof. 

3. For there they that carried us away captive 
required of us a song ; and they that wasted us 
required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the 
songs of Zion. 

4. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a 
strange land ? 

5. If I forget thee, Jerusalem ! let my right 
hand forget her cunning. 

6. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue 
cleave to the roof of my mouth ; if I prefer not 
Jerusalem above my chief joy. 

7. Remember, Lord ! the children of Edom in 
the day of Jerusalem ; who said, Raze it, raze it, 
even to the foundation thereof. 

8. daughter of Babylon, who art to be de- 
stroyed! happy shall he be that rewardeth thee 
as thou hast served us. 

9. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth 
thy little ones against the stones. 



Jeremiah I. — 29. Call together the archers 
against Babylon : all ye that bend the bow, camp 
against it round about ; let none thereof escape : 
recompense her according to her work ; according 
to all that she hath done, do unto her : for she 
hath been proud against the Lord, against the 
Holy One of Israel. 

30. Therefore shall her young men fall in the 
streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in 
that day, saith the Lord. 

31. Behold, I am against thee, thou most 
proud ! saith the Lord God of hosts ; for thy day 
is come, the time that I will visit thee. 

32. And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and 
none shall raise him up ; and I will kindle a fire in 
his cities, and it shall devour all round about him. 

33. Thus saith the Lord of hosts : The children 
of Israel and the children of Judah ivere oppressed 
together: and all that took them captives held 
them fast ; they refused to let them go. 

34. Their Redeemer is strong ; the Lord of 
hosts is his name : he shall thoroughly plead their 
cause, that he may give rest to the land, and dis- 
quiet the inhabitants of Babylon. 



The Jews were punished for their apostasy by being carried 
as captives to Babylon, their city and temple being destroyed 
by fire. A captivity of seventy years cured them of their 
propensity to idolatry, and caused them to long for the land 
and the worship of their fathers. Babylon, in turn, was over- 
thrown for her pride, her idolatry, her luxury, and her cruelty. 
These last two verses of the psalm shock our Christian sensi- 
bilities : yet, when interpreted according to the customs of 
ancient warfare, they simply express the desire of victory ; for, 
" according to the barbarous usage of those days, the slaughter 
of infants belonged to the practice of war, when a fortress 
had been carried by storm. At a much later period, we find 
that the barbarity of the Greeks was so great, that, during an 
insurrection, the mob had the children of the rich trampled to 
death by oxen ; and, when the aristocracy had regained their 
power, they ordered their enemies, along with their wives and 
children, to be cast into the flames." Such imprecations in 
the Psalms should not be judged by that more merciful feel- 
ing which Christianity has infused into the code of war; 



neither should they be taken for the mere cry of personal or 
national revenge. The Jews had so far identified their capi- 
tal and kingdom with the kingdom of God upon earth, that 
an assault upon these was the double crime of sacrilege and 
rebellion against Jehovah ; and hence their patriotism was 
intensified by their religious faith. This comes out very 
beautifully and tenderly in the preceding verses of the psalm. 
The Jews were then in a land of great beauty and fertility ; 
and, though they were captives, the way to wealth and prefer- 
ment was open before them, if they should choose to adopt 
the country and its customs. But they clung to the memory 
of their beloved Zion. Though Jerusalem had been burned, 
and its walls razed to their foundations, it was yet to them 
the most precious spot of earth. No beauty of scenery, no 
diversion of society, no bribe of pleasure, could cause them to 
forget the sorrows of the Lord's house. So should we set 
the kingdom of God above all our joys, and account whatever 
evil befalls that kingdom a personal sorrow and disaster. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Xos. 12, 28, 32. 



Our Father in heaven, we bless thee for the gos- j 
pel of peace. Oh ! hasten the time when war and 
violence, oppression and cruelty, shall come to an 
utter end. 

Hear us while we plead with thee for the spread 
of thy gospel throughout the world. More especially 
do we entreat thee for thine ancient Israel, whom 
thou hast for so many ages preserved a separate 
people, witnessing among all nations to the truth 
of thy Word. We thank thee that in these latter 
days they arc so far exempt from the violence and 
persecutions of other times ; and pray, that, through 
their experience both of the goodness and the 
severity of God, they may be brought to a saving 



knowledge of thy grace in Christ. Almighty 
God, the Governor and Disposer of the world, 
grant that, in the history of its kingdoms and 
peoples, we may ever see thee preparing the way 
of thy Christ, and putting all things under his 
feet ; and grant that we, looking for the kingdoms 
of this world to become the kingdom of the Lord 
and of his Christ, may be found faithful at his 
appearing. 

Lord our Preserver ! we humbly thank thee 

I for thy merciful protection during the past night ; 
and we commit ourselves and all dear to us unto 

! thy gracious guidance this day, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Psalm XXXvii. — 1. Fret not thyself because of 
evil-doers, neither be thou envious against the 
workers of iniquity. 

2. For they shall soon be cut down like the 
grass, and wither as the green herb. 

3. Trust in the Lord, and do good : so shalt 
thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 

4. Delight thyself also in the Lord ; and he 
shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 

5. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also 
in him ; and he shall bring it to pass. 

6. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness 
as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 

7. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him : 
fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in 
his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked 
devices to pass. 

8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath : fret 
not thyself in any wise to do evil. 

9. For evil-doers shall be cut off; but those 
that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the 
earth. 

10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall 
not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his 
place, and it shall not be. 



11. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and 
shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 

23. The steps of a good man are ordered by the 
Lord ; and he delighteth in his way. 

24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast 
down ; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 

Romans xii. — 14. Bless them which persecute 
you ; bless, and curse not. 

15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep 
with them that weep. 

16. Be of the same mind one toward another. 
Mind not high things ; but condescend to men of 
low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 

17. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Pro- 
vide things honest in the sight of all men. 

18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, 
live peaceably with all men. 

19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but 
rather give place unto wrath : for it is written, 
Vengeance is mine ; I will repay, saith the Lord. 

20. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him ; 
if he thirst, give him drink : for in so doing thou 
shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 

21. Be not overcome of evil ; but overcome evil 
with good. 



The " wrath " here spoken of (verse 19) is the divine retri- 
bution which in the end awaits all evil-doers ; and we are ex- 
horted to that sublime and patient trust in the Lord which 
leaves in his hands our interests to be cared for, our rights to 
be maintained, our wrongs to be redressed, our character to 
be vindicated, our cause to be established, our salvation to be 
secured. This is, perhaps, the severest test of Christian love 
and faith. It is an impulse of human nature to resent an in- 
jury, — to wish that the wrong-doer might be " come up 
with," and made to suffer in turn ; but the gospel teaches 
us to repress all malice and revenge, to bless our enemies, — 
" bless, and curse not," — and to return good for evil. And, 



even where a great injustice has been done us, retribution is 
too dangerous a weapon to be intrusted to human hands, to 
the mistakes of human judgment and the infirmities of hu- 
man passion. Therefore, while we tone down our personal 
feelings, so that we shall be willing to do a kindness to an 
enemy, we should tone up our faith, so as to be willing to 
leave to God the vindication of our name and cause. Hush- 
ing ail earthly passions, we should stand aside, and make way 
for his righteous judgment. Such faith as this will keep us 
calm under provocation and injury; such love as this will 
make us like Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 45, 48, 82. 



Thou holy and blessed Son of God, who for our 
sakes didst endure such contradiction of sinners 
against thyself, grant us, we pray thee, the spirit of 
meekness and patience under injury, and of for- 
giveness toward all who do us wrong. How often 
have we grieved and offended thee ! Have mercy 
upon us, we beseech thee, and teach us to be mer- 
ciful unto all men. May we be followers of thee, 
doing good as we find opportunity ! 

Heavenly Father, we bless thee for thy loving- 
kindness toward us, so free, so constant, so abound- 
ing. We would show forth thy loving-kindness 
in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. 
Oh ! grant, that, walking in love, we may be the 
children of our Father in heaven. 

[May the children of this family set thy love be- 
fore them as their chief portion in life, and make 
thy Word their guide ! May they always speak the 
truth, and grow up free from guile ! May they hear 



the voice of Jesus, and follow him !] Be gracious, 
Lord ! to all our kindred. Visit thy Church 
with thy salvation. Inspire thy people with a 
readiness to testify of thy love, and to invite others 
to thy grace. May we behold even greater fruits 
of thy coming than were seen by thine own apos- 
tles ! Open thou the windows of heaven, and 
cause thy glory to shine forth, that all the ends 
of the earth shall acknowledge thee. 

God, whose blessed Son was manifested that 
he might destroy the works of the Devil ! grant 
us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we 
may purify ourselves even as he is pure ; that, 
when he shall appear again with power and 
great glory, we may be made like unto him in 
his eternal and glorious kingdom, where, with 
thee, Father! and thee, Holy Ghost! he 
liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without 
end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



281 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Leviticus viii. — 1. And the Lord spake unto 
Moses, saying, 

2. Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the 
garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for 
the sin-offering, and two rams, and a basket of un- 
leavened bread ; 

3. And gather thou all the congregation to- 
gether unto the door of the tabernacle of the con- 
gregation. 

4. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him ; 
and the assembly was gathered together unto the 
door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 

5. And Moses said unto the congregation, This 
is the thing which the Lord commanded to be 
done. 

6. And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and 
washed them with water. 

7. And he put upon him the coat, and girded 
him with the girdle, and clothed him with the 
robe, and put the ephod upon him ; and he girded 
him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and 
bound it unto him therewith. 

8. And he put the breast-plate upon him ; also 
he put in the breast-plate the Urim and the 
Thummim. 



9. And he put the mitre upon his head ; also 
upon the mitre, even upon his fore-front, did he 
put the golden plate, the holy crown ; as the Lord 
commanded Moses. 

10. And Moses took the anointing oil, and 
anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, 
and sanctified them. 

11. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar 
seven times, and anointed the altar and all his 
vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify 
them. 

12. And he poured of the anointing oil upon 
Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. 

13. And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put 
coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, 
and put bonnets upon them ; as the Lord com- 
manded Moses. 

14. And he brought the bullock for the sin-offer- 
ing ; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon 
the head of the bullock for the sin-offering. 

15. And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, 
and put it upon the horns of the altar round about 
with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured 
the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified 
it, to make reconciliation upon it. 



To provide for the worship of God in the wilderness, Moses 
had built a tabernacle according to the pattern shown him in 
the mount. This consisted first of a court a hundred cubits long 
and fifty broad, surrounded with curtains, but not covered. In 
the fore part of this court stood the altar for burnt-offerings, 
and the laver for the priests. Back of these was the sanctuary, 
twenty cubits long and ten feet high, curtained off, and con- 
taining the altar of incense, the table for show-bread, and the 
sacred candlesticks. Back of this, again, was the holy of 
holies, ten cubits square, enclosed upon all sides, and covered. 
Within this were the ark of the covenant, the mercy-seat, 



and the cherubims, — the symbols of the worship of Jehovah 
in heaven, and of his holy guardianship over his people. 
Into this most holy place only the high priest could enter, and 
he but once a year. For the service of the tabernacle, 
Aaron was consecrated with great solemnity. His breast- 
plate bore a striking resemblance to one worn by the presid- 
ing judge in Egypt as a symbol of justice and truth. The 
ritual of the Jews required a special priesthood of reputed 
sanctity ; but both the sacrifices and the priesthood were done 
away in Christ, who, as our great High Priest, by one offering 
hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 74, 94, 116. 



Lord, the Giver of life ! we bless thee that we 
are of the living to praise thee. Thou hast created 
us ; thou hast redeemed us ; thou hast preserved 
us : of thee, and through thee, and to thee, are all 
things ; and to thee, Lord ! be glory and praise 
forever. 

We bring to thee the homage of our hearts, de- 
siring to worship thee this day in spirit and in 
truth ; to celebrate thy glory in thy works ; to 
show forth thy loving-kindness to the children of 
men ; to praise and adore thee for thy great mercy 
in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Oh ! do thou for his 
sake take away our sins, which with one accord 
we now confess before thee ; and sanctify our hearts 
by thy truth and thy Spirit, that, being delivered 
from all corruption and evil, we may keep the sab- 
bath holy in thy rest. May the peace of God, that 
passeth all understanding, keep our hearts and 
minds in Christ Jesus ! Bless to us the reading 
and hearing of thy Word, the worship and order 



of thy house ; bless the assemblies of thy people, 
the communion of thy saints, the instruction of 
children, the visiting and teaching of thy servants 
among the poor, by the wayside, and from house 
to house. Command thy blessing upon Zion, even 
life forevermore. 

As a family we consecrate ourselves to thee, our 
Father in heaven ; giving thanks to thee for such 
a home, for such love and peace and prosperity, as 
it is ours to enjoy. We bless thee for the memory 
of the good who have gone before us, and have 
taught us thy way, and for the hope of immor- 
tality brought nigh to us in the gospel. May we 
so improve these earthly sabbaths, that by thy grace 
we shall come unto the fruition of this blessed hope 
with the spirits of just men made perfect in 
heaven, through Him who died and rose again, 
and ever liveth to make intercession for us ! — to 
whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, be all honor 
and glory. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Hebrews xiii. — 1. Let brotherly love continue. 

2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers ; for 
thereby some bave entertained angels unawares. 

3. Remember thein that are in bonds, as bound 
with them ; and them which suffer adversity, as 
being yourselves also in the body. 

5. Let your conversation be without covetous- 
ness ; and be content with such things as ye have : 
for be hath said, I will never leave tbee, nor for- 
sake thee. 

6. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my 
helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto 
me. 

7. Remember them which have the rule over 
you, who have spoken unto you the word of God : 
whose faith follow, considering the end of their 
conversation ; 

8. Jesus Christ the same, yesterday and to-day 
and forever. 

9. Be not carried about with divers and strange 
doctrines : for it is a good thing that the heart be 
established with grace ; not with meats, which 
have not profited them that have been occupied 
therein. 

10. We have an altar, whereof they have no 
right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 

11. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood 
is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest 
for sin, are burned without the camp. 



To be perfect, and this not in a single or special attainment, 
but in every good work; to be pleasing in the sight of God, 
and owned of Christ as his, — this is the consummation that 
every Christian must desire for himself, must pray for in the 
Church at large, and which is the desire of God concerning 
every man. The end can be reached only through the in- 
working of his own Spirit ; but, that this may be effectual, we 
ourselves must practise every good work, must cultivate every 
grace. In particular, we must shun covetousness, and cherish 
contentment ; we must use freely what we have for the good 



12. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify 
the people with his own blood, suffered without the 
gate. 

13. Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without 
the camp, bearing his reproach. 

14. For here have we no continuing city ; but we 
seek one to come. 

15. By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of 
praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our 
lips, giving thanks to his name. 

16. But to do good, and to communicate, forget 
not ; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 

17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and 
submit yourselves ; for they watch for your souls, 
as they that must give account, that they may do 
it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofit- 
able for you. 

18. Pray for us ; for we trust we have a good 
conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. 

19. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that 
I may be restored to you the sooner. 

20. Now the God of peace, that brought again 
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd 
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting 
covenant, 

21. Make you perfect in every good work, to do 
his will, working in you that which is well pleasing 
in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be 
glory for ever and ever. Amen. 



of others, and thank-offerings to God ; must be ready to make 
sacrifices for the cause of Christ ; must live with our heart 
and hope in the heavenly city. 

And for what else can we really live? Here nothing is 
permanent, nothing sure, nothing satisfying ; but there is a 
home, a treasure, a kingdom, complete, perfect, eternal. And 
the thought of that future possession can even now enable us 
to be strong against temptations, and serene under trials. 
Through Christ, God has become to us "the God of peace;" 
and that peace, ruling in our hearts, will make us perfect. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 26, 33, 37. 



God, who hast taught us in thy Word that 
there is still laid up a rest for thy people, and 
who hast given us a promise of entering into it ! 
grant to us, we beseech thee, that we fail not of 
that promise through unbelief and disobedience. 
Teach us to look for a house that hath founda- 
tions, of which thou art the maker and builder. 
Lift our hearts thither in earnest desire. 

Oh sabbath of eternal peace ! Oh haven where 
the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are 
at rest ! When shall we see thee, O Lord ! and be- 
hold the King in his beauty? When shall we 
meet the apostles and prophets, and the great mul- 
titude whom no man can number ? When shall 
we see again our dear friends who sleep in Jesus ? 

God the Father, who hast the times and sea- 



sons in thine own power ! let not that clay come 
upon us unawares. God the Son, who art gone 
to prepare a place for us ! in thine own time take 
us to thyself, that where thou art, there we may be 
also. God the Holy Ghost, the pledge of future 
glory in our hearts ! seal us until the redemption 
of the purchased possession. We bless thee for 
the help this day received through thy holy Word 
and the prayers and praises of thy Church. We 
supplicate thy favor upon all who have heard thy 
Word, and upon those who have it not. We bless 
thee for thy mercy to this household, and commit 
ourselves to thy fatherly protection for the night. 
Keep us under the shadow of thy wings ; and, O 
Father ! bring us, we pray thee, finally to rest in 
thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



MONDAY. 



Leviticus xix. — 1. And the Lord spake unto 
Moses, saying, 

2. Speak unto all the congregation of the chil- 
dren of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be 
holy; for I the Lord your God am holy. 

3. Ye shall fear every man his mother and his 
father, and keep my sabbaths : I am the Lord your 
God. 

4. Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to your- 
selves molten gods : I am the Lord your God. 

5. And, if ye offer a sacrifice of peace-offerings 
unto the Lord, ye shall offer it at your own will. 

9. And, when ye reap the harvest of your land, 
thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, 
neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy 
harvest. 

10. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, nei- 
ther shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard ; 
thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I 
am the Lord your God. 

11. Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, nei- 
ther lie one to another. 

12. And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, 
neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God : I 
am the Lord. 

13. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither 
rob him : the wages of him that is hired shall not 
abide with thee all night until the morning. 

14. Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a 
stumbling-block before the blind, but shalt fear thy 
God : I am the Lord. 



15. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment ; 
thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor 
honor the person of the mighty : but in righteous- 
ness shalt thou judge thy neighbor. 

16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale- 
bearer among thy people ; neither shalt thou 
stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the 
Lord. 

17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine 
heart : thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, 
and not suffer sin upon him. 

18. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge 
against the children of thy people ; but thou shalt 
love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord. 

32. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, 
and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy 
God : I am the Lord. 

33. And, if a stranger sojourn with thee in your 
land, ye shall not vex him. 

34. But the stranger that dwelleth with you 
shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou 
shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in 
the land of Egypt : I am the Lord your God. 

35. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, 
in mete-yard, in weight, or in measure. 

36. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, 
and a just hin, shall ye have : I am the Lord your 
God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. 

37. Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, 
and all my judgments, and do them: I am the 
Lord. 



The laws of Moses, of which only a few specimens are 
given here, are remarkable for their equity, their kindliness, 
their philanthropy, and for the deep religious motive to which 
all moral conduct is referred. Not only is oppression forbid- 
den, but love to the stranger is enjoined ; not only are fraud, 
theft, cheating, lying, condemned, but kindness to the poor in- 
culcated ; not only are open injuries to a neighbor denounced, 
but the spirit of malice and ill-will is rebuked. At the same 
time, one must be absolutely impartial ; biassed neither by 
sympathy for the poor, nor by the favor of the rich. Filial 
obedience, respect for the aged, a considerate regard for the 



infirmities of others, are classed with religious acts ; and the 
services of religion are to be freely and cheerfully rendered. 
And all these precepts are enforced by the sense of obligation 
to God. Children who should grow up in the spirit of these 
laws would make upright, honorable, benevolent men ; a com- 
munity that should govern itself by them would be well-nigh 
perfect. Were these laws, then, for the Jews alone 1 They 
are all summed up for us by Christ in these two command- 
ments : " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy 
heart, and thy neighbor as thyself." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 65,89, 118. 



Our waiting eyes are unto thee, Lord ! Each 
morning brings us to thee with new obligations of 
gratitude for thy loving-kindness in the night-sea- 
son, and of dependence for the day upon which we 
enter. We are not worthy of the least of all thy mer- 
cies ; for we have sinned, Lord ! — we have sinned 
against thy law, against thy love, against thy very 
grace in Christ our Saviour. Yet do we hope in 
thy mercy still, and cast ourselves upon thee alone. 

thou Spirit of truth and holiness ! we pray 
thee to keep us this day from sin. May we be 
mindful of thy presence as a holy guardianship 
from wrong ! Help us to be true and faithful, just 
and kind, gentle and loving, pure and holy. 



Great Shepherd of Israel, take, we beseech thee, 
each member of this family, and all that are dear 
to us, under thy care. Be thou the guide of the 
young, the staff of the aged, the strength of the 
burdened, the help of the weak, the joy and deliv- 
erer of every one that looketh unto thee. 

Bless thy Church in this community with thy 
reviving grace ; visit our land with thy salvation ; 
and fill the whole earth with thy praise. 

Finally, we pray thee, bring us to thyself in joy 
and glory everlasting ; bring us to the realization 
of thy presence, that we may be satisfied with thy 
likeness. And to the Father, the Son, and the 
Holy Spirit, be glory forever. Amen. 



284 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



James iv. — 1. Prom whence come wars and 
fightings among you? Come they not hence 
even of your lusts that war in your mem- 
bers? 

2. Ye lust, and have not; ye kill, and desire to 
have, and cannot obtain ; ye fight and war, yet ye 
have not, because ye ask not. 

3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, 
that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 

4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not 
that the friendship of the world is enmity with 
God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of 
the world, is the enemy of God. 

5. Do ye think that the scripture saith in 
vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to 
envy? 

6. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he 
saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace 
unto the humble. 

7. Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist 
the devil, and he will flee from you. 

8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to 
you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners ; and purify 
your hearts, ye double-minded. 

9. Be afflicted, and mourn and weep : let your 



The feeling of dependence upon God for all that we enjoy 
would render us unworldly, humble, temperate, patient, devout. 
Worldliness, pride, envy, contention, all evil passions, grow 
from the root of selfishness. Self-consciousness, self-seeking, 
self-assertion, — this spirit leads us to make alliance with the 
world as our portion ; and as we desire more of the world than 
we have, or can get, we become envious of others, and restive 
and resisting under the dispensations of God's providence. 
And yet all self-presumption is as empty and baseless as the 
vapor that vanishes almost as soon as it rises. Plans, ven- 
tures, successes, life itself, — what are these but the fleeting 
cloud ? Ah ! if, in our inmost souls, we felt that the Lord's 
will were our only wish and aim, how serene, thankful, joyful, 



laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to 
heaviness. 

10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, 
and he shall lift you up. 

11. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. 
He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth 
his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth 
the law; but, if thou judge the law, thou art not 
a doer of the law, but a judge. 

12. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save 
and to destroy: who art thou that judgest an- 
other ? 

13. Go to, now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow 
we will go into such a city, and continue there a 
year, and buy and sell, and get gain ; 

14. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the 
morrow. For what is your life? It is even a 
vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then 
vanisheth away. 

15. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, 
we shall live, and do this or that. 

16. But now ye rejoice in your boastings : all 
such rejoicing is evil. 

17. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, 
and doeth it not, to him it is sin. 



would be the lives now vexed with disappointments, distracted 
with contentions, overwhelmed with cares and sorrow ! Then 
our one anxiety would be to do good, our one care to avoid 
in. With the consciousness of this unity with the divine 
will and purpose, we should not only overcome the world, but 
should cause Satan to flee from us. The secret of true peace 
lies in the habit of submitting ourselves to God. He who 
sets out to have his own way in every thing will end in find- 
ing happiness in nothing. One must submit to circum- 
stances, to the laws of Nature, to invisible agencies and in- 
fluences beyond his control. How much better to begin with 
the voluntary submission of himself to the infinite wisdom, 
the infinite love, the infinite grace of God ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 30, 41, 72. 



We lift up our eyes unto the hills, whence com- 
eth our help : our help cometh from the Lord, which 
made heaven and earth. Thine angels, Lord! 
have encamped round about us in the night-sea- 
son, and thou hast given them charge concern- 
ing us to defend us from all evil. We open our 
eyes to the remembrance of thy mercy, to the con- 
sciousness of tby presence, to the sense of our 
dependence. Only our sins separate us from thee, 
our loving Father ; and we beseech thee to blot 
these out for thy name's sake, and to receive us 
in Christ as thy redeemed and reconciled chil- 
dren. 

Help us, Lord ! this day, to walk worthy of 
thy love, and, as obedient children, to do thy will. 
[May the children of this family remember thee in 
the days of their youth ! May every one of us daily 



acknowledge and serve thee !] Keep us, Lord ! 
we pray thee, from all evil and sin this day. In 
our intercourse with others may we be true and 
just, loving and patient, gentle and kind, and 
so may we commend unto all the gospel of thy 
grace ! 

May thy favor be upon the community in 
which we dwell, upon thy Church, upon our land ! 
Give peace in our time, O Lord ! and incline 
the hearts of our rulers to that which is just 
and lawful in thy sight. Have mercy upon the 
poor, the afflicted, the solitary, the bereaved ; 
and cause that the grace of thy gospel shall go 
forth everywhere to heal the sins and sorrows of 
all mankind. Finally bring us unto thine ever- 
lasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



285 



WEDNESDAY. 



Leviticus XXV. — 1. And the Lord spake unto 
Moses in Mount Sinai, saying, 

2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say 
unto them, When ye come into the land which I 
give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto 
the Lord. 

3. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six 
years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather 
in the fruit thereof; 

4. But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath 
of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord : 
thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy 
vineyard. 

5. That which groweth of its own accord of thy 
harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the 
grapes of thy vine undressed ; for it is a year of 
rest unto the land. 

6. And the sabbath of the land shall be meat 
for you : for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy 
maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stran- 
ger that sojourneth with thee, 

7. And for thy cattle, and for the beast that are 
in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat. 

8. And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of 
years unto thee, seven times seven years ; and the 
space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto 
thee forty and nine years. 

9. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the 
jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh 
month ; in the day of atonement shall ye make the 
trumpet sound throughout all your land. 



The best agriculture recognizes the importance of a rota- 
tion of crops, and of now and then letting the land lie fallow. 
But here is the rule laid down in this old law of Moses. 
Labor reformers and social reformers of modern times are 
seeking by various projects, sometimes violent, often unwise, 
commonly impracticable, to equalize the distribution of 
property, to secure to every man an interest in the soil, to 
remedy the inequalities of social life, and relieve the burdens 
of the poor. But this ancient provision of the jubilee, based 
upon an original distribution of the land among all the fami- 
lies of the people, brought around every fiftieth year relief 



10. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and 
proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all 
the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto 
you; and ye shall return every man unto his 
possession, and ye shall return every man unto his 
family. 

11. A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto 
you : ye shall not sow, neither reap that which 
groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it 
of thy vine undressed. 

12. For it is the jubilee ; it shall be holy unto 
you : ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the 
field. 

13. In the year of this jubilee ye shall return 
every man unto his possession. 

14. And if thou sell aught unto thy neighbor, 
or buyest aught of thy neighbor's hand, ye shall 
not oppress one another: 

15. According to the number of years after the 
jubilee thou shalt buy of thy neighbor, and ac- 
cording unto the number of years of the fruits he 
shall sell unto thee ; 

16. According to the multitude of years 
thou shalt increase the price thereof, and ac- 
cording to the fewness of years thou shalt 
diminish the price of it : for according to the 
number of the years of the fruits doth he sell 
unto thee. 

17. Ye shall not, therefore, oppress one another; 
but thou shalt fear thy God : for I am the Lord 
your God. 



from debt, from oppression, from poverty ; prevented monopo- 
ly, hoarding, slavery, and the manifold evils of caste and 
covetousness. Once in a generation it gave every man a 
chance to take a new start, and better his condition. Moses 
did not borrow this from Egypt ; for exactly the opposite 
system prevailed there : the monopoly of the land by the 
government reduced the mass of the people to virtual serfdom. 
The poor man has yet to learn that the Bible is his best 
friend ; the rich, that it is his best counsellor ; and both ru- 
lers and people, that its principles are the best guide of 
society. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 3, 7, 29. 



Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies, for 
the mercies of the past night ; for shelter, safety, 
comfort, rest, and peace. How precious are thy 
thoughts unto us, God ! how great is the sum of 
them! When we awake, we are still with thee. 
So would our hearts rise to thee, Lord ! with the 
morning light, with the incense of prayer and 
praise; yea, we would present our bodies unto 
thee a living sacrifice. May this, our reason- 
able service, be made holy through the blood of 
Jesus, and acceptable through the Spirit of all 
grace! May the Holy Spirit descend and rest 
upon us, making our home and our hearts the 
abode of peace ! 



Help us this day to live unto thee, and in all 
our works and ways to do that which is well pleas- 
ing in thy sight. Prosper the labor of our hands, 
our studies, our various callings ; bless to us the 
means of knowledge and improvement ; make us 
thoughtful of others, considerate of the poor and 
afflicted, wise and ready unto every good word and 
work. We commend unto thee our kindred and 
friends, beseeching thee to grant them the promise 
of the life that now is ; and in the world to come, 
life everlasting. We pray for thy holy Church uni- 
versal, for the coming of light, peace, and sal- 
vation in all the earth, through Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



THURSDAY. 



Acts xxii. — 12. And one Ananias, a devout 
man according to the law, having a good report of 
all the Jews which dwelt there, 

13. Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, 
Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same 
hour I looked up upon him. 

14. And he said, The God of our fathers hath 
chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and 
see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of 
his mouth. 

16. And, now, why tarriest thou ? Arise, and be 
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the 
name of the Lord. 

17. And it came to pass, that, when I was come 
again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the 
temple, I was in a trance ; 

18. And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, 
and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem ; for they 
will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 

19. And I said, Lord, they know that I im- 
prisoned, and beat in every synagogue, them that 
believed on thee ; 

20. And, when the blood of thy martyr Stephen 
was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting 
unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that 
slew him. 

21. And he said unto me, Depart ; for I will 
send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. 

22. And they gave him audience unto this word, 
and then lifted up their voice?, and said, Away 



The scene here described took place on the steps of the 
governor's castle in Jerusalem. A mob had set upon Paid in 
the temple ; and would have taken his life, had not the Roman 
captain with a band of soldiers rescued him, and then sum- 
moned him to make his defence. That defence consisted of 
the simple story of his conversion ; but that memorable scene 
near Damascus, which brought home Jesus of Nazareth to 
the heart of Saul, was to the apostle the inspiration of a 
new life, as fresh and vivid as at the first. But bigotry gives 
no heed to facts ; prejudice is not influenced by arguments : 
and, when these sticklers for Judaism heard that a Jew had 



with such a fellow from the earth ! for it is not fit 
that he should live. 

23. And as they cried out, and cast off their 
clothes, and threw dust into the air, 

24. The chief captain commanded him to be 
brought into the castle, and bade that he should 
be examined by scourging ; that he might know 
wherefore they cried so against him. 

25. And, as they bound him with thongs, Paul 
said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful 
for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and un- 
condemn ed ? 

26. When the centurion heard that, he went 
and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what 
thou doest ; for this man is a Roman. 

27. Then the chief captain came, and said unto 
him, Tell me, art thou a Roman ? He said, Yea. 

28. And the chief captain answered, With a 
great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul 
said, But I was free-hoxn. 

29. Then straightway they departed from him 
which should have examined him ; and the chief 
captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was 
a Roman, and because he had bound him. 

30. On the morrow, because he would have 
known the certainty wherefore he was accused of 
the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and com- 
manded the chief priests and all their council to 
appear, and brought Paul down, and set him be- 
fore them. 



proffered salvation to the Gentiles, their fury knew no bounds. 
In the midst of their rage, Paul was self-possessed and tran- 
quil. His father had in some way obtained the privilege of 
Roman citizenship, and Paul inherited this as a birthright. He 
many times took advantage of this to baffle his persecutors ; 
for it is always proper for a Christian, when oppressed, to 
invoke the protection of the law. Yet Paul's real strength 
lay in his personal faith in Christ. He had already begun to 
feel what he afterwards declared, " I can do all things through 
Christ, who strengthened! me." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 48, 68, 81. 



We thank thee, heavenly Father, ior the good- 
ness and mercy that have followed us all the days 
of our life. Thou hast watched over our going-out 
and our coming-in. Thou hast been our refuge from 
evil, and our strength in trouble. Continue to 
bless us, Father ! Let all things work together 
for our good. Give us thankful and submissive 
hearts, that we may recognize all our mercies as 
thy gifts, and may bow to thy holy will when thou 
dost see fit to send sorrow upon us. We bring 
thee thanks for thy favor in the past night: thou 
hast refreshed us with sleep, hast kept us from 
harm, hast brought us with new vigor to the light 
of this day. We beseech thee, guide us in all our 
duties, prosper the work of our minds and of our 



hands, and grant us in all things the joy of thine 
approval. [May these children be diligent in their 
duties, and gentle and loving in their conduct !] 
We commend our friends to thy care. 

Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, who 
dost comfort thy children in all their tribulation, 
we humbly beseech thee of thy goodness to succor 
and sustain all those who are in trouble, sorrow, 
need, sickness, or any other adversity; granting 
them strong consolation and good hope, and the 
abiding grace of thy Spirit. 

Our prayers are before thee ; our hope is in thy 
mercy. May we as a family, with all whom we 
love, dwell forever in the light of thy presence, 
through Jesus Christ, our only Saviour ! Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



287 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm xxxi. — 1. In thee, Lord! do I put 
my trust ; let me never be ashamed : deliver me in 
thy righteousness. 

2. Bow down thine ear to me ; deliver me 
speedily : be thou my strong rock, for a house of 
defence to save me. 

3. For thou art my rock and my fortress : there- 
fore, for thy name's sake, lead me and guide me. 

4. Pull me out of the net that they have laid 
privily for me ; for thou art my strength. 

5. Into thine hand I commit my spirit : thou 
hast redeemed me, Lord God of truth ! 

6. I have hated them that regard lying vanities ; 
but I trust in the Lord. 

7. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy ; for 
thou hast considered my trouble. 

23. Oh ! love the Lord, all ye his saints ; for the 
Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully re- 
wardeth the proud doer. 

24. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen 
your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. 

Acts xxiii. — 1. And Paul, earnestly beholding 
the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived 
in all good conscience before God until this day. 

2. And the high priest Ananias commanded 
them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 

3. Then -SSid Paul unto him, God shall smite 
thee, thou whited wall; for sittest thou to judge 
me after the law, and commandest me to be smit- 
ten contrary to the law? 



Paul stood upon his rights. The judge who was hearing 
his case had no excuse for treating him with violence. Still 
his retort betrayed a feeling of resentment quite unlike the 
meekness of his Lord under the same insult. " Paul admits 
that he had been thrown off his guard : the insult had touched 
him to the quick, and he had spoken rashly. But what can 
surpass the grace with which he recovered his self-possession, 
the frankness with which he acknowledged his error ! If his 
conduct in yielding to the momentary impulse was not that 
of Christ himself under a similar provocation, certainly the 
manner in which he atoned for his fault was Christ-like." 

Paul used another stroke in self-defence, which proved more 



4. And they that stood by said, Revilest thou 
God's high priest ? 

5. Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he 
was the high priest ; for it is written, Thou shalt 
not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. 

6. But when Paul perceived that the one part 
were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried 
out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a 
Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee : of the hope and 
resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 

7. And, when he had so said, there arose a dis- 
sension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees ; 
and the multitude was divided. 

8. For the Sadducees say that there is no resur- 
rection, neither angel nor spirit; but the Phari- 
sees confess both. 

9. And there arose a great cry : and the scribes 
that icere of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, 
saying, We find no evil in this man ; but, if a 
spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not 
fight against God. 

10. And, when there arose a great dissension, 
the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have 
been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the 
soldiers to go down and to take him by force from 
among them, and to bring him into the castle. 

11. And, the night following, the Lord stood by 
him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul ; for as thou 
hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou 
bear witness also at Pome. 



effective. According to Josephus and other Jewish writers, 
the Sadducees held that the souls of men perish with their 
bodies ; but the Pharisees believed in a future state of rewards 
and punishments, and in the resurrection of the dead. The 
resurrection of Christ, as a matter of fact, they denied ; for to 
have admitted this would have been to have conceded the 
divine mission of Jesus of Nazareth. Had Paul's judges 
been all Pharisees, they would have silenced his testimony to 
Christ's resurrection ; but, in the presence of the Sadducees, 
they felt bound to stand up for their own doctrine; and, by in- 
volving his judges in a dispute among themselves, Paul 
escaped the sentence of the council. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 5, 9, 39. 



O Lord, our heavenly Father ! we have nothing 
to bring to thee but our wants, and such poor re- 
turn of love and gratitude and praise as these 
hearts can render for thy goodness. As thou dost 
cause our lives to overflow with thy mercies, so do 
thou fill our hearts to overflowing with thy Spirit, 
that we may thank thee and praise thee as we 
ought. The morning calls us again to praise thee 
for thy loving-kindness in the night-season ; and 
every day renews the tokens of thy bounty. Every 
good gift cometh down from thee, the Father of 
lights; and though we are so changeful in our love, 
so inconstant in our service, with thee there is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind us 



to thyself, our Father ! by the mighty attraction 
of thy love. May the love of Christ, who died 
for us that we might live, constrain us to live ever 
unto thee ! 

We pray, Lord ! that thy kingdom may come ; 
that thy Church may increase ; that missions may 
prosper ; that thy Word may be given to all people, 
and the knowledge of the Lord may fill the earth 
as the waters fill the sea. We thank thee for our 
home, and pray thee to bless us with all things 
that we need as a family. Bless the absent who 
are dear to us ; and bring them, together with us, 
we beseech thee, unto thy heavenly kingdom; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Acts XXV. — 1. Now, when Festus was come into 
the province, after three days he ascended from 
Cesarea to Jerusalem. 

2. Then the high priest and the chief of the 
Jews informed him against Paul, and besought 
him, 

3. And desired favor against him, that he would 
send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way 
to kill him. 

4. But Festus answered, that Paul should be 
kept at Cesarea, and that he himself would depart 
shortly thither. 

5. Let them therefore, said he, which among you 
are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, 
if there be any wickedness in him. 

6. And, when he had tarried among them more 
than ten days, he went down unto Cesarea, and 
the next day, sitting on the judgment-seat, com- 
manded Paul to be brought. 

7. And, when he was come, the Jews which came 
down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid 



A special interest attaches to this narrative, because it 
shows how Paul was taken to Rome as a prisoner. At Jeru- 
salem a mob had been raised against him, and the Roman 
commandant had taken him into custody. Learning of a 
plot against the prisoner's life, he sent him by night to Cesa- 
rea, some sixty miles distant, upon the sea-coast, which was 
the residence of the governor-general of Syria. The corrupt 
and time-serving Felix, finding that he could make no personal 
interest or gain out of Paul, on retiring from office left him 
a prisoner, though convicted of no offence. Festus, his suc- 
cessor, a straight-forward man, was importuned by the Jewish 
leaders at Jerusalem to bring Paul once more within their 
power ; but he insisted upon looking into the case for himself. 



many and grievous complaints against Paul, which 
they could not prove ; 

8. While he answered for himself, Neither 
against the law of the Jews, neither against the 
temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any 
thing at all. 

9. But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, 
answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jeru- 
salem, and there be judged of these things before 
me ? 

10. Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment- 
seat, where I ought to be judged : to the Jews have 
I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 

11. For if I be an offender, or have committed 
any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die ; 
but, if there be none of these things whereof these 
accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I 
appeal unto Caesar. 

12. Then Festus, when he had conferred with 
the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto 
Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go. 



Though he desired to ingratiate himself into the favor of the 
Jews, he respected the rights of his prisoner, and gave him 
the option of a trial at Jerusalem. Paul, suspecting some plot 
against his life, used his right as a Roman citizen of appealing 
to the emperor in person. The appeal, at the moment, saved 
his life from his Jewish enemies ; yet, afterwards, Festus 
would have released him but for this very appeal to Caesar. 
And so Paul went to Rome, which he had long desired to 
see, but went there as a prisoner. Perhaps his preaching 
was even more effective because of his bonds ; and the 
churches owe to his long confinement at Rome several of 
his choicest epistles. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 77, 81, 108. 



Lord, who by the example of thy blessed 
apostle Paul hast taught us to forget those things 
which are behind, and to reach forth unto those 
things that are before ! give us grace this day that 
we may press toward the mark for the prize of our 
high calling of thee in Christ Jesus. May we 
lay aside every weight, and the sins which so easi- 
ly beset us, and run with patience the race set 
before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and 
finisher of our faith ! As he for the joy set be- 
fore him endured the cross, despising the shame ; 
even so may we ever have before us our heavenly 
reward, and in like manner not fear what men 
can do unto us, if we may only acceptably serve 
thee. 

From all idleness and carelessness ; from all 
self-conceit, and love of praise ; from all confidence 
in our own powers, and neglect of seeking thy 
grace, — Lord, preserve and keep us. 

From all want of love to one another ; from all 
lack of charity in thinking and speaking of men ; 



from all undue cleaving to our own likings and 
opinions, — Lord, preserve and keep us. 

From all unsocial and selfish feelings ; from 
taking advantage of the weakness or the igno- 
rance of others ; from slighting any one, or in- 
wardly despising any one, — Lord, preserve and 
keep us. 

In the constant sense of our membership of 
Christ ; in the unfailing thought that we are his 
soldiers and servants ; in the love for our Father's 
house, and the blessed hope of our eternal home, — 
Lord, preserve and keep us. 

For the mercies of the past night ; for the health 
and comfort with which we begin the day ; for the 
provision for our wants ; for means of improve- 
ment, of enjoyment, and of usefulness, — we hum- 
bly thank thee, the Giver of all good. Bless all 
dear to us ; multiply the preachers of thy gospel ; 
turn opposers and persecutors into witnesses for 
thee ; and subdue all hearts unto thyself, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



289 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Acts xxvi. — 19. Whereupon, King Agrip- 
pa ! I was not disobedient unto the heavenly 
vision ; 

20. But showed first unto them of Damascus, 
and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of 
Judsea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should 
repent and turn to God, and do works meet for re- 
pentance. 

21. For these causes the Jews caught me in the 
temple, and went about to kill me. 

22. Having therefore obtained help of God, I 
continue unto this day, witnessing both to small 
and great, saying none other things than those 
which the prophets and Moses did say should 
come ; 

23. That Christ should suffer, and that he should 
be the first that should rise from the dead, and 
should show light unto the people and to the 
Gentiles. 

24. And, as he thus spake for himself, Festus 
said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thy- 
self: much learning doth make thee mad. 

25. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Fes- 



tus ; but speak forth the words of truth and sober- 
ness. 

26. For the king knoweth of these things, be- 
fore whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded 
that none of these things are hidden from him ; for 
this thing was not done in a corner. 

27. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets ? 
I know that thou believest. 

28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou 
persuadest me to be a Christian. 

29. And Paul said, I would to God, that not 
only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were 
both almost and altogether such as I am, except 
these bonds. 

30. And, when he had thus spoken, the king 
rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they 
that sat with them ; 

31. And, when they were gone aside, they talked 
between themselves, saying, This man doeth noth- 
ing worthy of death or of bonds. 

32. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man 
might have been set at liberty if he had not ap- 
pealed unto Caesar. 



The speeches of Paul are as remarkable for their adaptation 
to the circumstances of his hearers, as for force of logic, and 
fervor of eloquence. Agrippa was a Jew by birth, and had 
been thoroughly trained in the Jewish faith and customs. 
Though a vassal of the Roman empire, he had by inheritance 
the title of king, and ruled over Northern and Eastern Pales- 
tine. Paul was within the jurisdiction of Festus, to whom 
Agrippa was paying a visit of courtesy. The apostle was not 
on trial before Agrippa ; but Festus, wishing partly to entertain 
his guest, and partly to obtain his advice, summoned this noted 
prisoner to explain his views. With great dignity and cour- 
tesy, Paul opened his address with a reference to Agrippa's 



knowledge of the law : he then gave the narrative of his own 
life and conversion, and the biblical argument for the Messiah 
as a suffering Saviour. The pagan Festus, like the philosophers 
at Athens, did not conceal his contempt for the doctrine of 
the resurrection ; but bis ridicule could not disturb the serene 
dignity of the apostle. Indeed, it is Paul who here stands 
forth as the judge and the king, with wondrous self-command 
dismissing the charge of Festus, with ineffable dignity invit- 
ing Agrippa and all the gay and noble circle of the court to 
share his blessedness without his pains. Such is the moral 
grandeur of Christian faith bome out by a worthy character. 
Who would not be altogether such a Christian ? 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 88, 101, 121. 



L 



Thine, Lord ! is the greatness, and the power, 
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty ; 
for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is 
thine : thine is the kingdom, Lord ! and thou art 
exalted as Head over all. We bless thee that thou 
hast given unto thy Son the kingdom in this 
world, and hast promised that the gates of hell 
shall not prevad against his Church ; and we be- 
seech thee, upon this thy holy day, so to bless thy 
truth and all the appointed means of grace, that a 
great multitude of souls shall be born into the 
kingdom of Christ through the power of the 
Holy Ghost. Make thy Word a comfort and a 
joy unto all believers, and the power of God 
unto salvation to the world that lieth in wicked- 
ness. ' 

We pray for the whole Church of Christ, that 
she may possess all the gifts of thy Holy Spirit ; 
for all Sunday schools, — oh! hear the hosannas 
of children, and show to them the love of Jesus 
their Saviour; for the poor and needy, sick and 



afflicted, widows and orphans ; for all whom thou 
hast given to be near and dear to us. Give them 
thy blessing, Lord ! for the sake of Him who 
hath taught us to love one another even as he hath 
loved us. Lord Jesus ! rule thou in our hearts ; 
by thy redeeming grace take away our sins ; by 
thy sanctifying presence fill our souls with thy 
peace. May we do all things to thy glory, and 
show forth thy praise in our lives ! 

We humbly thank thee, Lord! for the bless- 
ings of the past week ; for thy daily benefits to us, 
and to all dear to us. Bless this household, this 
day and always, with thy grace. May every one 
of us before thee, and all who are united with us 
in family-ties, be found within the kingdom of thy 
dear Son ! May we know the joy of a full conse- 
cration unto Him who hath redeemed us to God 
with his precious blood! and, having served him 
in his kingdom here, may we come to be partakers 
of his glory in the kingdom of his Father, for 
Christ's sake ! Amen. 



290 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



■ 1. Arise, shine ; for thy light is 
glory of the Lord is risen upon 



Isaiah Ix 

come, and the 
thee. 

2. For, hehold, the darkness shall cover the 
earth, and gross darkness the people ; but the 
Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall he 
seen upon thee. 

3. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and 
kings to the brightness of thy rising. 

4. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see : all 
they gather themselves together ; they come to 
thee : thy sons shall come from, far, and thy 
daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 

5. Then thou shalt see, and flow together ; and 
thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged ; because 
the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto 
thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto 
thee. 

6. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the 
dromedaries of Midian and Epbah ; all they from 
Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and in- 
cense, and they shall show forth the praises of 
the Lord. 

7. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to- 
gether unto thee ; the rams of Nebaioth shall min- 
ister unto thee : they shall come up with accept- 
ance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of 
my glory. 



This magnificent hymn of triumph, following close upon 
the lamentation of the prophet over the rejection of Israel, 
is like the accelerated movement of a symphony after the 
plaintive measure of the andante, when, as in the rapids above 
Niagara, all the waves of sound leap and rush together, 
crested with spray, flashing with light, glittering with rain- 
bows, as they whirl toward the tumultuous, deafening plunge 
of the finale. Yet as, through all the modulations of the sym- 
phony, the theme is ever the same ; so through the varying 
keys of this grand prophetic poem runs the theme of re- 
demption by Christ, from the burst of wonder over the child 
Irhmanuel, through the humiliation of the Man of sorrows, 
the anguish of the crucified Saviour, on to his triumph and 
glory in his Church. To that glory the prophet summons 
the true Israel, — the spiritual Zion, the Church of living 
souls. The presence of Christ is her illumination and joy ; 



8. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the 
doves to their windows ? 

9. Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the 
ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, 
their silver and their gold with them, unto the name 
of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, 
because he hath glorified thee. 

10. And the sons of strangers shall build up thy 
walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee ; 
for in my wrath I smote thee, but in rny favor 
have I had mercy on thee. 

11. Therefore thy gates shall be open contin- 
ually; they shall not be shut day nor night; 
that men may bring unto thee the forces of the 
Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. 

12. For the nation and kingdom that will not 
serve thee shall perish ; yea, those nations shall be 
utterly wasted. 

13. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, 
the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together, to 
beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will 
make the place of my feet glorious. 

14. The sons also of them that afflicted thee 
shall come bending unto thee: and all they that 
despised thee shall bow themselves down at the 
soles of thy feet ; and they shall call thee, The 
city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of 
Israel. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

God, whose mercy is from everlasting to ever- 
lasting ! we bless thee for all the tokens of promise 
given us in thy past mercies, for the hope of im- 
mortality, the joy unspeakable and full of glory 
brought to us in thy gospel and in the worship of 
thy house this day. At the end of the Lord's day, 
we would thank thee for its hours of rest, and for 
its means of grace. 

Hasten, Lord ! that blessed time when thy 
kingdom shall have come, and all shall know thee, 
from the least even to the greatest. Turn unto 
thyself the hearts of the heathen and the unbe- 
lieving. Pour out more and more upon thy people 



and, through the brightness of her shining, the nations are 
gathered to her seat, until her heart throbs and swells with 
wonder and exultation. I have seen in Egypt dovecots 
rising, gallery upon gallery, so that thousands of pigeons 
could flock together to their shelter ; and when, at evening, 
they came flying to their windows, the air was thick as with 
a cloud. Even so, while neighboring countries shall yield 
their tributes of flocks and merchandise, the fleets of the ocean, 
dense as clouds, swift as doves, shall come freighted with treas- 
ures from djstant lands. And so spontaneous and universal 
shall be the homage of the nations to Zion, that the abun- 
dance shall require no precautions for its safety. Her gates 
shall stand wide open the livelong night ; her very enemies 
shall serve her ; her old oppressors shall bow at her feet. 
Such a consummation may well find utterance in such a 
song. 



[Nos. 181, 194, 199. 



Prayer. 

the spirit of grace and supplication, the spirit of 
zeal and self-devotion, the spirit of holy fear and 
Christian love. 

To thee, heavenly Father, we commend our- 
selves this night. thou Good Shepherd ! watch 
over us, the sheep of thy pasture. Holy Ghost, 
the Comforter ! guide and hallow- our thoughts. 

Thou in whom all families are blessed, bless 
thou our kindred and friends. May all who are 
united to us be w r ith us united to thee; be with 
us presented by thee in the presence of thy Father 
with exceeding joy! And to the Father, the Son, 
and the Holy Ghost, be glory everlasting. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



291 



MONDAY. 



Revelation vi. — 12. And I beheld when he had 
opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great 
earthquake ; and the sun became black as sack- 
cloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 

13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, 
even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs when 
she is shaken of a mighty wind. 

14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it 
is rolled together ; and every mountain and island 
were moved out of their places. 

15. And the kings of the earth, and the great 
men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, 
and the mighty men, and every bondman, and 
every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in 
the rocks of the mountains ; 

16. And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall 
on us, and hide us from the face of him that sit- 
teth on the throne, and from the wrath of the 
Lamb : 

17. For the great day of his wrath is come ; and 
who shall be able to stand ? 

2 Corinthians v. — 11. Knowing therefore the 
terror of the Lord, we persuade men : but we are 
made manifest unto God ; and I trust, also, are 
made manifest in your consciences. 

12. For we commend not ourselves again unto 
you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, 
that ye may have somewhat to answer them 
which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 



The " terror of the Lord " is the wholesome fear of Christ 
as our Judge. Christianity is a religion of love ; yet it ap- 
peals to fear. It offers us heaven ; it warns us of hell. It is 
because there is a law, and is to be a judgment, that we have 
need of a gospel and a Saviour. Christ did not abolish the 
law, but came to deliver us from its curse. He did not set 
aside the judgment, but came to save us from its condemna- 
tion. A fear of the judgment is salutary, in producing the 
conviction of sin, and the longing for a" Saviour. But far 
more powerful for reform is the love of Christ. He was 
nailed to the cross as the representative of sin, — " made sin 



13. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to 
God ; or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. 

14. For the love of Christ constraineth us ; be- 
cause we thus judge, that if one died for all, then 
were all dead : 

15. And that he died for all, that they which 
live should not henceforth live unto themselves, 
but unto him which died for them, and rose 
again. 

16. Wherefore henceforth know we no man 
after the flesh ; yea, though we have known Christ 
after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him 
no more. 

17. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a 
new creature : old things are passed away ; behold, 
all things are become new. 

18. And all things are of God, who hath recon- 
ciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given 
to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling 
the world unto himself, not imputing their tres- 
passes unto them ; and hath committed unto us 
the word of reconciliation. 

20. Now, then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as 
though God did beseech you by us : we pray you 
in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 

21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who 
knew no sin ; that we might be made the righteous- 
ness of God in him. 



for us," — showing its heinousness and its desert, and, at the 
same time, destroj'ing its power. Though clothed with the 
prerogative of Judge, Christ came, not to condemn, but to 
reconcile ; not to charge our sins against us for punishment, 
but to take away sin and punishment through his redemptive 
sacrifice. The fact that for this he died for us shows how 
utterly dead and lost were we. This love should take hold 
upon us with a constraining power; should shut us up to 
living in and for Christ with all the fervor of gratitude, with 
all the joy of reconciliation, with all the freshness, the 
warmth, the enthusiasm, of a new life. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 95, 100, 108. 



O God, who hast spared our lives, and brought 
us to the beginning of another day! we lift up our 
hearts to thee. We thank thee for rest during 
the past night ; for life preserved, and strength re- 
newed; and for the many tokens of thy loving- 
kindness which surround us. May we ever have 
true gratitude for thy mercies, and never grieve 
thee by a hard and unthankful heart ! 

And now, Lord! prepare us for the duties and 
trials which this day may bring. May thy fear be 
before us all the day long ! Whatever we have to 
do, may we do it willingly and heartily, as unto 
thee, and not as unto men ! Give us grace to take 
up, each one of us, our peculiar cross, and in all 
things to follow our Master, constrained by his 
love to say, "For me to live is Christ." Make us 



more like him in lowliness and meekness ; tender- 
hearted, forgiving one another; ready to bear each 
other's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 
And, oh, may his grace abound to all men, and his 
salvation fill the earth ! 

Lord, watch over us, and all who are dear to us, 
this day. Defend our souls from the assaults of 
the Wicked One, and preserve our bodies in health 
and safety. May all thy wise and merciful dealings 
bind us to thee in newness of life ! May we walk 
in the light of thy countenance as thy children, 
reconciled through Christ, and filled with thine 
own Spirit ! Finally, prepare us to depart and be 
with Christ. Hear us, heavenly Father, and when 
thou hearest forgive, for the sake of Him who 
died that we might live. Amen. 



292 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Psalm cxxxii. — 1. Lord, remember David, and 
all his afflictions ; 

2. How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto 
the mighty God of Jacob : 

3. Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of 
my house, nor go up into my bed, 

4. I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber 
to mine eyelids, 

5. Until I find out a place for the Lord, a habi- 
tation for the mighty God of Jacob. 

6. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah ; we found it 
in the fields of the wood. 

7. We will go into his tabernacles ; we will wor- 
ship at his footstool. 

8. Arise, Lord ! into thy rest ; thou, and the 
ark of thy strength. 

13. For the Lord hath chosen Zion : he hath 
desired it for his habitation. 

14. This is my rest forever : here will I dwell ; 
for I have desired it. 

15. I will abundantly bless her provision : I will 
satisfy her poor with bread. 

16. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, 
and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 

Romans xii. — 1. I beseech you therefore, 
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present 
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto 
God, which is your reasonable service. 

2. And be not conformed to this world; but be 
ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that 



Religion must control the whole man : the very body must 
he consecrated to God, as a sacred offering upon his altar. 
Such an offering is dictated by reason, by gratitude, and by the 
law of consistency and propriety. The body, which has been 
the occasion and the organ of sin, should be sanctified to 
nobler uses ; and the supremacy of the spirit, as restored by 
grace, should be manifested through the active devotion of the 
entire man to the service of God. This comes to pass, first, 
through the renewing of the mind unto right feelings and 
aims ; next through carrying this spirit into all the details of 
life, and using every thing as a means of serving God. Busi- 



ye may prove what is that good and acceptable 
and perfect will of God. 

3. For I say, through the grace given unto me, 
to every man that is among you, not to think of 
himself 'more highly than he ought to think; but 
to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to 
every man the measure of faith. 

4. For as we have many members in one body, 
and all members have not the same office ; 

5. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, 
and every one members one of another. 

6. Having then gifts, differing according to the 
grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us 
prophesy according to the proportion of faith ; 

7. Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; 
or he that teacheth, on teaching; 

8. Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation ; he that 
giveth, let him do it with simplicity ; he that 
ruleth, with diligence ; he that showeth mercy, 
with cheerfulness. 

9. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor 
that which is evil ; cleave to that which is good. 

10. Be kindly affectioned one to another with 
brotherly love, in honor preferring one another ; 

11. Not slothful in business ; fervent in spirit ; 
serving the Lord; 

12. Rejoicing in hope ; patient in tribulation ; 
continuing instant in prayer; 

13. Distributing to the necessity of saints ; 
given to hospitality. 



ness is not to be neglected, even for specific religious services ; 
not to be regarded as alien to the religious spirit : but the 
same mind, which is so fervent in its devotion as to be ready 
at any moment for acts of worship or of charity, should be 
diligent in business ; "serving the Lord" in the necessary oc- 
cupations of life ; thankful in prosperity ; patient under dis- 
appointment ; not conformed to the world's ways in business ; 
abhorring every evil way, but cleaving resolutely to that which 
is good ; and thus making practical proof of what is good and 
acceptable and perfect in the sight of God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 67, 121, 125. 



Lord ! we beseech thee, grant us grace to with- 
stand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and 
the Devil, and with pure hearts and minds to fol- 
low thee. Suffer us never to fall away from 
Christ ; never, never to betray him. Oh ! keep 
us from all covetous and worldly desires. 

Lord Jesus, who art exalted to be a Prince and 
a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of 
sins ! we do repent of our sins before thee, and hum- 
bly beseech thee to receive us, according to thy 
promise that him that cometh unto thee thou wilt 
in no wise cast out. Give unto us, O Lord ! that 
sense of thy presence which shall preserve us 
from sin; that strength of faith which shall over- 
come evil ; that peace which the world cannot give. 



We bring thee thanks for the mercies of the 
night, and supplicate thy grace for our friends and 
neighbors, for the absent dear to us, for thy Church, 
for this family, yea, Lord, for the whole family of 
mankind, — the world which thou hast died to 
save. Oh ! raise up a faithful ministry, and keep 
thy servants pure. 

We beseech thee, Lord ! to instruct us in our 
duty, and help us to perform it ; to give us a 
tender conscience and an earnest spirit ; to uphold 
us in the slippery ways of the world, and give us 
sterling integrity of heart ; and finally to receive 
us to thy presence in the world of endless life. 
And to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, 
be glory forever. Amen. 



^i#»\MMl t &^ 




HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



WEDNESDAY. 



Job i. — 1. There was a man in the land of TTz, 
whose name was Job ; and that man was perfect 
and upright, and one that feared God, and es- 
chewed evil. 

2. And there were born unto him seven sons 
and three daughters. 

3. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, 
and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke 
of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very 
great household ; so that this man was the greatest 
of all the men of the east. 

4. And his sons went and feasted in their 
houses, every one his day; and sent and called 
for their three sisters to eat and to drink with 
them. 

5. And it was so, when the days of their feast- 
ing were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified 
them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered 
burnt-offerings according to the number of them 
all; for Job said, It maybe that my sons have 
sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did 
Job continually. 

13. And there was a day when his sons and his 
daughters were eating and drinking wine in their 
eldest brother's house : 

14. And there came a messenger unto Job, and 
said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feed- 
ing beside them ; 

15. And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took 
them away ; yea, they have slain the servants with 



The Book of Job is among the oldest books in the world ; 
and for this reason alone it would be of great value and inter- 
est for its pictures of primitive society in Arabia, and as a 
repository of early thought upon nature and the problems of 
life. The venerable patriarch, with his vast possessions, his 
large family, his numerous retinue, yet living in a grand sim- 
plicity, and more honored for his virtue than his wealth ; the 
protector of the poor, the friend of the widow and the father- 
less, the judge of the city, "unto whom men gave ear, and 
waited, and kSpt silence at his counsel," — such a picture is 
unsurpassed by Homer for vivid beauty. Upon the charge of 
Satan, that Job served God for the sake of temporal rewards, 
the patriarch was visited by a succession of disasters that must 
have uprooted any mere worldly confidence. But he bore this 
sudden and terrible calamity with meek and uncomplaining 



the edge of the sword ; and I only am escaped 
alone to tell thee. 

16. While he urns yet speaking, there came also 
another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from 
heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the 
servants, and consumed them ; and I only am es- 
caped alone to tell thee. 

17. While he was yet speaking, there came also 
another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three 
bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried 
them away, yea, and slain the servants with the 
edge of the sword ; and I only am escaped alone to 
tell thee. 

18. While he ivas yet speaking, there came also 
another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters 
were eating and drinking wine in their eldest 
brother's house : 

19. And, behold, there came a great wind from 
the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the 
house, and it fell upon the young men, and they 
are dead ; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 

20. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and 
shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, 
and worshipped, 

21. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's 
womb, and naked shall I return thither. The Lord 
gave, and the Lord hath taken away : blessed be 
the name of the Lord. 

22. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God 
foolishly. 



submission and devotion. Bereft of property, family, home, 
he was now subjected to a painful and loathsome disease which 
caused men to shun him. To aggravate his trials, three 
friends came, not to condole with him nor to succor him, but 
to accuse him of secret impiety, because he was visited with 
such judgments. This led to a long discussion of the method 
of God's dealings with men, in which Job vindicated the provi- 
dence of God, and asserted his own integrity, and his faith in im- 
mortality. But though men could not justly accuse him, yet, 
when he contemplated the majesty and glory of God in his 
works, and the holiness of God's character, he abhorred him- 
self, and repented in dust and ashes. Then the Lord remem- 
bered him in mercy, and " blessed the latter end of Job more 
than his beginning." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 26, 27, 108. 



Lord, make us to know our end, and the meas- 
ure of our days, what it is, that we may know how 
frail we are. Verily every man, at his best state, 
is altogether vanity. Yet, Lord, thou wilt not 
cast off forever : thou dost not afflict willingly nor 
grieve the children of men. We bless thee that 
thou hast spared us the punishment that we de- 
serve . for our sins ; and we beseech thee, for 
Christ's sake, to forgive and save us. 

We awake this morning to the light of thy love, 
to the sense of thy gracious protection, and the joy 
of thy presence ; and we would bring to thee our 



sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Oh ! keep 
us this day from sin ; bless us in our home, in our 
labors, in our studies ; bless all our friends with 
both temporal and spiritual good ; and remember 
all men in mercy. We beseech thee, Lord ! de- 
liver us from evil ; but, if calamity and sorrow shall 
overtake us, may we call to remembrance the pa- 
tience of thy servant Job, and, in humble faith, 
await the end of the Lord. Perfect in us all thy 
good pleasure ; and bring us at length to the in- 
heritance of thy saints in joy and glory everlast- 
ing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



294 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Numbers xiii. — 17. And Moses sent them to 
spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, 
Get you up this way southward, and go up into 
the mountain ; 

18. And see the land, what it is / and the peo- 
ple that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong 
or weak, few or many ; 

19. And what the land is that they dwell in, 
whether it be good or bad ; and what cities they be 
that tbey dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong- 
holds ; 

20. And what the land is, whether it be fat or 
lean ; whether there be wood therein, or not. And 
be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of 
the land. Now, the time was the time of the first 
ripe grapes. 

23. And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, 
and cut down from thence a branch with one 
cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two 
upon a staff: and they brought of the pome- 
granates, and of the figs. 

24. The place was called the brook Eshcol, be- 
cause of the cluster of grapes which the children 
of Israel cut down from thence. 

25. And they returned from searching of the 
land after forty days. 

26. And they went and came to Moses, and to 
Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children 
of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Ka- 
desh ; and brought back word unto them, and unto 
all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of 
the land. 

27. And they told him, and said, We came unto 
the land whither thou sentest us ; and surely it flow- 
eth with milk and honey ; and this is the fruit of it. 

28. Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell 
in the land, and the cities are walled, and very 



Eshcol has commonly been located in the vicinity of 
Hebron ; and one may now find clusters on the vines of that 
lovely valley which would corroborate the statement in verse 
23. But Mr. E. H. Palmer, who, in 1870, traversed the desert 
of Tih very thoroughly, places Eshcol farther south, near to 



great ; and, moreover, we saw the children of Anak 
there. 

29. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the 
south; and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and 
the Amorites, dwell in the mountains ; and the 
Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of 
Jordan. 

30. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, 
and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it ; for 
we are well able to overcome it. 

31. But the men that went up with him said, 
We be not able to go up against the people ; for 
they are stronger than we. 

32. And they brought up an evil report of the 
land which they had searched unto the children 
of Israel, saying, The land through which we have 
gone to search it is a land that eateth up the in- 
habitants thereof; and all the people that we saw 
in it are men of a great stature. 

33. And there we saw the giants, the sons of 
Anak, which come of the giants ; and we were in 
our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in 
their sight. 

Numbers xiv. — 1. And all the congregation 
lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people 
wept that night. 

2. And all the children of Israel murmured 
against Moses and against Aaron ; and the whole 
congregation said unto them, Would God that we 
had died in the land of Egypt ! or would God we 
had died in this wilderness ! 

3. And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto 
this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and 
our children should be a prey ? Were it not better 
for us to return into Egypt ? 

4. And they said one to another, Let us make a 
captain, and let us return into Egypt. 



'Ain el Gadis, in which he finds the ancient Kadesh. No 
doubt that region was once quite fertile ; and Mr. Palmer 
reports " miles of hillsides and valleys covered with the small 
stone heaps, in regular swaths, along which the grapes were 
trained, and which still retain the name of grape-mounds." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 127, 172, 184. 



Almighty and everlasting God, in whom we live 
and move, and have our being, we, thy needy crea- 
tures, render thee our humble praises for thy 
preservation of us from the beginning of our lives 
to this day, and especially for having delivered us 
from the dangers of the past night. We thank 
thee that we have been kept from the alarm of 
sickness, of fire, of robbers, of sudden death, and 
have awaked in peace to behold the day. Lord ! 
we beseech thee, lift upon us the light of thy 
countenance, that we may begin the day in the 
conciousness of thy love, and may spend it joyfully 
in doing thy will. [May the children of this fam- 



ily learn to please thee, their Father in heaven, 
in all that they think and say and do! and in 
these things may we all have the spirit of little 
children !] Keep us from malice and anger, from 
envy and pride, from covetousness, worldliness, 
and all sin. May we be useful in the world 
and in the Church of Christ ! May our kin- 
dred and friends he prospered in their lawful 
undertakings and desires, and all be partakers of 
thy grace ! Mercifully forgive our sins, lead us 
safely through the perils of this life unto the 
heavenly rest, and save us with an everlasting sal- 
vation, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



295 



FRIDAY. 



Numbers xiv. — 11. And the Lord said unto 
Moses, How long will this people provoke me ? 
and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all 
the signs which I have showed among them ? 

12. I will smite them with the pestilence, and 
disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater 
nation and mightier than they. 

13. And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the 
Egyptians shall hear it (for thou broughtest up 
this people in thy might from among them) ; 

14. And they will tell it to the inhabitants of 
this land: for they have heard that thou, Lord, art 
among this people ; that thou, Lord, art seen face to 
face ; and that thy cloud standeth over them ; and 
that thou goest before them, by day-time in a pillar 
of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. 

15. Now, if thou shalt kill all this people as 
one man, then the nations which have heard the 
fame of thee will speak, saying, 

16. Because the Lord was not able to bring this 
people into the land which he sware unto them, 
therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness. 

17. And now, I beseech thee, let the power of 
my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, 
saying, 

18. The Lord is long-suffering, and of great 
mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and 
by no means clearing the guilty ; visiting the in- 
iquity of the fathers upon the children unto the 
third and fourth generation. 



19. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this 
people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, 
and as thou hast forgiven this jieople, from Egypt 
even until now. 

20. And the Lord said, I have pardoned accord- 
ing to thy word ; 

21. But, as truly as I live, all the earth shall be 
filled with the glory of the Lord. 

22. Because all those men which have seen my 
glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and 
in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these 
ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice ; 

23. Surely they shall not see the land which I 
sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them 
that provoked me see it : 

24. But my servant Caleb, because he had an- 
other spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, 
him will I bring into the land whereinto he went ; 
and his seed shall possess it. 

25. To-morrow turn you, and get you into the 
wilderness by the way of the Bed Sea. 

26. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto 
Aaron, saying, 

28. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the 
Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do 
to you : 

29. Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; 
and all that were numbered of you, according to 
your whole number, from twenty years old and up- 
ward, which have murmured against me. 



In great and perilous enterprises, fear is oiten equivalent to 
failure. Even hesitation may render failure certain, where 
pluck would lead to victory. In business-affairs, caution, 
pressed to the extreme of timidity, may lose some great op- 
portunity of success. The fate of a campaign may turn 
upon the decision to strike a blow ; and to doubt is disaster 
and defeat. Doubt blinds the judgment, and paralyzes the 



will. TTho does not recall with sadness opportunities lost by 
want of faith in himself, in events, in God, and want of pluck 
to go forward ? So the Israelites failed to enter Canaan for 
lack of faith at the critical moment of God's opportunity. 
Let us take heed, lest, in our greater salvation, we fall after 
the same example of unbelief. To postpone the confession 
of Christ may prove our eternal ruin. 



Appropriate Htmns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 136, 161, 175. 



"We come to thee this morning, heavenly Father, 
with hearts full of thankfulness for the mercies of 
the night. We have rested in safety and in peace 
under the shadow of thy wing. Thou hast kept us 
quiet from the fear of evil : nor sickness, nor death, 
nor tempest, nor fire, nor any calamity, hath over- 
taken us or our dwelling. How sure are the mercies 
of thy covenant, Lord ! All thy promises in Christ 
Jesus are Yea and Amen. Eulfil unto us, we be- 
seech thee, these thy mercies and promises, and 
cause that this day we may rejoice in thy salva- 
tion. 

Bless to us thy "Word which we have now read. 
Oh ! sanctify us by thy truth ; and, while we re- 
ceive its instruction and comfort in our hearts, 
may we carry out its precepts in our lives, and 
f.dorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
things ! May every day witness some new victory 



over evil desires and passions within us, and over 
the evil that is in the world ! [Oh, may these 
children grow in grace as they grow in years and 
in knowledge ! May they shun evil companions 
and evil ways, and walk in the way of thy com- 
mandments !] Keep all dear to us even as the 
apple of thine eye. Bless our neighbors, and send 
thy Spirit upon this whole community. Bless our 
rulers, and the schools and churches in our land. 
May all who rule, and all who teach, be led and 
taught by thee ! Have pity upon the poor and the 
sorrowing; upon homes made desolate by famine, 
pestilence, or war. Stay thy judgments, Lord ! 
and send peace and salvation to all people. Mer- 
cifully forgive our sins, and bring us unto the per- 
fection of knowledge, of holiness, and of blessed- 
ness, in Jesus Christ our Lord ; to whom be glory 
forever. Amen. 



296 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Psalm xxxiv. — 1. I will bless the Lord at all 
times : his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

2. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord : 
the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 

3. Oh ! magnify the Lord with me, and let us 
exalt his name together. 

4. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and de- 
livered me from all my fears. 

5. They looked unto him, and were lightened ; 
and their faces were not ashamed. 

6. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, 
and saved him out of all his troubles. 

7. The angel of the Lord encampeth round 
about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 

8. Oh ! taste and see that the Lord is good : 
blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 

9. Oh ! fear the Lord, ye his saints ; for there is 
no want to them that fear him. 

16. The face of the Lord is against them that 
do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from 
the earth. 

17. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, 
and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 

18. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a 
broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite 
spirit. 

Numbers xxi. — 1. And when King Arad the 
Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that 
Israel came by the way of the spies, then he fought 
against Israel, and took some of them prisoners. 

2. And Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord, and 



That section of Arabia Petrasa through which the Israelites 
were at this time passing is infested with poisonous serpents : 
some are of a flaming color ; others, from the fiery sensation 
of their stings, are known as " serpents of the burning bite." 
These deadly creatures, infesting the camp, caused the utter- 
most consternation. Their bite was almost certain death, 
and a death of torture. The remedy is a striking example 
of the connection which the Bible so uniformly exhibits be- 
tween miracles of healing and personal faith. There could 
be no physical influence from the serpent of brass upon the 
bite of the serpent in the human body, nor could any effect 
upon the imagination have cured one of a deadly poison 
burning in his veins. The cure was the direct act of God, 



said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into 
my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. 

3. And the Lord hearkened to the voice of 
Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites ; and they 
utterly destroyed them and their cities : and he 
called the name of the place Hormah. 

4. And they journeyed from Mount Hor by the 
way of the Red Sea to compass the land of Edom ; 
and the soul of the people was much discouraged 
because of the way. 

5. And the people spake against God, and 
against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up 
out of Egypt to die in the wilderness ? for there is 
no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul 
loatheth this light bread. 

6. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the 
people, and they bit the people ; and much people 
of Israel died. 

7. Therefore the people came to Moses, and 
said, We have sinned ; for we have spoken against 
the Lord, and against thee : pray unto the Lord, 
that he take away the serpents from us. And 
Moses prayed for the people. 

8. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a 
fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole ; and it shall 
come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when 
he looketh upon it, shall live. 

9. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put 
it upon a pole ; and it came to pass, that if a ser- 
pent had bitten any man, when he beheld the ser- 
pent of brass, he lived. 



and might have been effected without a sign, or even a word. 
But, that the sufferer might realize and appreciate God's mer- 
ciful intervention, he was summoned to a naked act of faith, 
and the cure was associated with a symbol of the curse. The 
looking was the healing. To look, in penitence for the sin ; to 
look, in the agony of suffering, in the fear of perishing, in 
the conviction of a helpless, hopeless need ; to look, with a 
yearning for deliverance ; to look, with faith and hope and 
commitment, — this was salvation. Even so must we look 
to Jesus, who was lifted up upon the cross for our sins, that 
" whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have 
everlasting life." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 30, 86, 143. 



Thou who didst humble thyself to be born of 
a virgin, the everlasting Son of the Father, the 
Prince of peace ! we bless and adore thee for thy 
grace and compassion for us sinners. We give 
thanks unto the Father, who so loved the world, 
that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever 
believeth in him should not perish, but have ever- 
lasting life ; we praise and worship the Son, who 
took upon him our nature that he might redeem us 
to God. Oh ! grant us, we beseech thee, thy peace, 
through the forgiveness of sin, reconciliation with 
God, and the indwelling of the Spirit, that we may 



glorify and praise thee in our lives for all that we 
have heard and seen of thy grace. 

[May the children of this family remember that 
Jesus came as a little child to bless them ! May 
they give their hearts to his love !] And may we all, 
in the spirit of little children, love and serve Him 
who came into the world to save sinners! And, 
oh ! may the world be saved ; may all men come to 
Christ ; may peace reign on earth, and good will 
bind all hearts together for the glory of God ! 
And to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be honor 
and praise throughout all ages. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



297 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



John xii. — 1. Then Jesus, six days before the 
passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was 
which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 

2. There they made him a supper ; and Martha 
served : but Lazarus was one of them that sat at 
the table with him. 

3. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of 
spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of 
Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair ; and the 
house was filled with the odor of the ointment. 

4. Then saith one of his disciples (Judas Is- 
cariot, Simon's son, which should betray him), 

5. Why was not this ointment sold for three 
hundred pence, and given to the poor ? 

6. This he said, not tbat he cared for the poor, 
but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and 
bare what was put therein. 

7. Then said Jesus, Let her alone : against the 
day of my burying hath she kept this. 

8. For the poor always ye have with you ; but 
me ye have not always. 

9. Much people of the Jews, therefore, knew that 
he was there ; and they came, not for Jesus' sake 
only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom 
he had raised from the dead. 

10. But the chief priests consulted that they 
might put Lazarus also to death ; 



11. Because that, by reason of him, many of the 
Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. 

12. On the next day, much people that were 
come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was 
coming to Jerusalem, 

13. Took branches of palm-trees, and went forth 
to meet him, and cried, Hosanna ! Blessed is the 
King of Israel that cometh in the name of the 
Lord! 

14. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, 
sat thereon ; as it is written, 

15. Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy 
King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. 

16. These things understood not his disciples 
at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then 
remembered they that these things were written 
of him, and that they had done these things unto 
him. 

17. The people, therefore, that was with him 
when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and 
raised him from the dead, bare record. 

18. For this cause the people also met him, 
for that they heard that he had done this mira- 
cle. 

19. The Pharisees, therefore, said among them- 
selves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing ? Be- 
hold, the world is gone after him. 



The two sisters, Martha and Mary, here exhibit the same 
opposite characteristics which our Lord once commented upon 
when visiting at their house, — Martha full of energy to serve, 
and testifying her regard for Jesus by providing for his com- 
fort ; Mary full of loving devotion, waiting upon his every 
word and look, and forgetting every thing else in the desire to 
honor him as her Teacher and her Lord. The quick instinct 
of her affection taught her that this might be the last oppor- 
tunity of showing her regard ; and she poured forth the most 
costly ointment upon the feet of Jesus. This lavish gift ( the 
ointment was worth fifty dollars) our Lord accepted as for 
his burial, and, in reply to the carpings of avarice predicted 



that " wheresoever this gospel shall be preached, in the whole 
world, there shall also this that this woman hath done be 
told for a memorial of her." Thus did Jesus honor the af- 
fections of our nature, and the tribute of love to sorrow. The 
odor of that offering yet fills the wide sphere of human sym- 
pathy and of Christian devotion. 

The return of Jesus to Bethany quickened again the en- 
thusiasm which the raising of Lazarus had excited. The 
people, expecting nothing less than the manifestation of their 
royal Messiah in one who could do such mighty works, would 
have borne him in triumph to Jerusalem as their King : 
meantime hypocrisy and avarice were plotting his death. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 

Almighty Father, who hast given thine only 
Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our 
justification, grant, we humbly pray thee, that we 
may so truly partake of his death and resurrection 
as ourselves to be dead unto sin, and alive unto 
God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

May this holy day witness to us the grace of 
Christ in our redemption! and may thine Holy 
Spirit witness and seal within us the pardon and 
peace which that redemption brings ! Grant us the 
comforts of thy gospel, Lord ! the joy of thy salva- 
tion, the spirit of prayer and praise, the communion 
of thy saints, and, above all, communion with thyself. 

Bless thy Church, her worship and sacraments, 
her ministers and members : may the beauty of the 
Lord our God be upon her ! Bless the Sunday 
school, and guide teachers and scholars in thy Word. 



[Nos. 121, 157, 173. 

Have compassion upon those who disregard thy day, 
and upon all who know thee not ; and incline thy 
people to seek and save the lost. Be with the mis- 
sionaries of the cross, according to thy promise, 
Lord ! and make known thy way among the hea- 
then. Hasten the coming of thy kingdom in uni- 
versal peace and knowledge and righteousness. 
[We commend unto thy grace the children of this 
family ; praying that, in the morning of life, they 
may love the Saviour who died for them, and may 
know the joy of serving thee.] 

We humbly thank thee for the mercies of an- 
other week and the blessings of the past night. 
We commit to thy loving care this family, and all 
dear to us at home or abroad; and pray thee to 
bring us all together unto thy heavenly kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



20. And there were certain Greeks 
that came up to worship at the 



John xii.— 

among them, 
feast. 

21. The same came therefore to Philip, which 
was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, say- 
ing, Sir, we would see Jesus. 

22. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew; and, 
again, Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 

23. And Jesus answered them, saying, The 
hour is come that the Son of man should be 
glorified. 

24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a 
corn of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it 
abideth alone ; but, if it die, it bringeth forth much 
fruit. 

25. He that loveth his life shall lose it ; and he 
that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto 
life eternal. 

26. If any man serve me, let him follow me ; 
and where I am, there shall also my servant 
be : if any man serve me, him will my Father 
honor. 

27. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I 
say ? Father, save me from this hour ; but for this 
cause came I unto this hour. 

28. Father, glorify thy name 



Then came there 



a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified 
it, and will glorify it again. 

29. The people, therefore, that stood by, and 
heard it, said that it thundered. Others said, An 
angel spake to him. 

30. Jesus answered and said, This voice came, 
not because of me, but for your sakes. 

31. Now is the judgment of this world; now 
shall the prince of this world be cast out. 

32. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will 
draw all men unto me. 

33. (This he said, signifying what death he 
should die.) 

34. The people answered him, We have heard 
out of the law that Christ abideth forever ; and 
how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted 
up ? Who is this Son of man ? 

35. Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little 
while is the light with you. Walk while ye have 
the light, lest darkness come upon you; for he 
that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither 
he goeth. 

36. While ye have light, believe in the light, 
that ye may be the children of light. These 
things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide 
himself from them. 



These " Greeks " were Gentiles who had embraced Judaism, 
and were known as proselytes of the gate : hence their desire 
to see Jesus represents the longing of the Gentile world after 
light and salvation, in contrast with the unbelief of the Jewish 
leaders. Jesus took occasion from their coming to proclaim 
the universality of his redemption, that all men should be 
drawn to him through his cross. The fact that the Gentiles 
were seeking him, that the world was already longing for the 
Deliverer whom the Jews were rejecting, was another indi- 
cation that the hour of his triumph was at hand. But this 
triumph must be reached by yet further humiliation, this 
glory attained through suffering. Death is the unfolding 



of the germ for a new life, the expanding of the seed into 
the fruitful blade. Yet the soul of Jesus, overshadowed 
with the gloom of his last conflict, struggled with mortal 
anguish, and anticipated the cry of the garden, " If it be 
possible, let this cup pass from me." But, having come 
to this hour for the very purpose of making his soul an 
offering for sin, he would not shrink from the will of the 
Father. His Father answered by an approval audible to 
the bystanders ; and Jesus rose to the majesty of victory 
over the Prince of this world : sin, Satan, death, should 
all be vanquished through the suffering of the Son of man 
upon the cross. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 116, 164, 171. 



O Thou who art the Way ! we beseech thee to 
lead us ; Thou who art the Truth ! we beseech 
thee to teach us ; Thou who art the Life ! we 
beseech thee to preserve us unto the life everlasting. 
We thank thee, God! that in Christ we may know 
thee as our Father, reconciling us unto thyself. 

Transform us from day to day, and from week 
to week, more into the image of thy Son, that we 
may at last be presented faultless before the pres- 
ence of thy glory with exceeding joy. 

We praise thee for this sabbath and all its bless- 
ings, at home and in thy house. We pray for all 
who have worshipped with us this day. May 
grace, mercy, and peace be upon them, and upon 
the whole Israel of God! Extend thy cause and 
kingdom everywhere. May the glorious gospel of 
the blessed God speedily triumph over all the pride 
and wisdom and will-worship and delusion of man ! 



O Thou who didst bring from the dead the Lord 
Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through 
the blood of the everlasting covenant ! do thou 
make us perfect to do thy will, working in us that 
which is well pleasing in thy sight. 

May our friends who are at a distance from us 
be protected and guarded by thy gracious provi- 
dence ! Teach us how to walk as pilgrims and 
strangers on the earth, — sojourners, as all our 
fathers were, — looking for that blessed hope, even 
the glorious appearing of the great God our Sa- 
viour. Oh ! bring us at last to our Father's 
house in everlasting peace. 

As the curtains of the night are now drawing 
around us, be pleased to grant us thy guardian 
care. Lying down in thy fear, may we awake in 
thy favor, fitted for all the calls and duties of a new 
day ! And all this we ask for Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



MONDAY. 



Deuteronomy x. — 1. At that time the Lord 
said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like 
unto the first, and come up unto me into the 
mount, and make thee an ark of wood. 

2. And I will write on the tables the words that 
were in the first tables which thou brakest, and 
thou shalt put them in the ark. 

3. And I made an ark of shittim-wood, and 
hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and 
went up into the mount, having the two tables in 
mine hand. 

4. And he wrote on the tables, according to the 
first writing, the ten commandments, which the 
Lord spake unto you in the mount, out of the midst 
of the fire, in the day of the assembly ; and the 
Lord gave them unto me. 

12. And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy 
God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God, 
to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to 
serve the Lord thy God with all thine heart and 
with all thy soul, 

13. To keep the commandments of the Lord, 
and his statutes, which I command thee this day 
for thy good ? 

14. Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heav- 
ens is the Lord's thy God ; the earth also, with all 
that therein is. 



15. Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers 
to love them ; and he chose their seed after them, 
even you above all people, as it is this day. 

16. Circumcise, therefore, the foreskin of your 
heart, and be no more stiff-necked. 

17. For the Lord your God is God of gods, and 
Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, 
which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: 

18. He doth execute the judgment of the 
fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in 
giving him food and raiment. 

19. Love ye, therefore, the stranger ; for ye were 
strangers in the land of Egypt. 

20. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God : him 
shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and 
swear by his name. 

21. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that 
hath done for thee these great and terrible things 
which thine eyes have seen. 

22. Thy fathers went down into Egypt with 
threescore and ten persons ; and now the Lord 
thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for 
multitude. 

Deuteronomy xi. — 1. Therefore thou shalt love 
the Lord thy God. and keep his charge, and his 
statutes, and his judgments, and his command- 
ments, alway. 



The New Testament is sometimes put in contrast with the 
Old, as a spirit of love and of life. But love is no less the 
spirit of the law than of the gospel ; and though the law 
given by Moses, both as a national code and a ritual of wor- 
ship, required many specific and minute observances, yet its 
fundamental idea was spiritual consecration to God, as the 
spring of all duty, the substance of all devotion. Even cir- 
cumcision, so much insisted on as the seal of the covenant, 
had no value except as a sign of the separation of the heart 
from the world unto God : " He is a Jew which is one in- 
wardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and 
not in the letter." The law, therefore, instead of being se- 



vere and cumbersome, was reasonable in its demand, simple 
in its rule, and had in itself the inspiration of a true life. 
All its commandments were for good; all its requirements 
were summed up in the one word love. 

The reasons urged upon Israel for obedience are as telling 

for us to-day. These were, first, the loving-kindness of the 

Lord toward them as a people ; next, the greatness, the majesty, 

and the righteousness of Jehovah ; and, thirdly, his gentleness 

and compassion toward the weak, the needy, the helpless, the 

i neglected. With the severer aspects of the divine power and 

! justice the Scriptures continually blend his tenderness and 

I grace. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 154, 155, 172. 



thou Preserver of men ! in the multitude of 
thy mercies hast thou preserved us during the 
hours of sleep, and raised us up to the duties of 
another day in the possession of health and rea- 
son, and surrounded by the manifold tokens of thy 
favor. Accept our humble praise, and graciously 
keep us this day from sin and every evil. Bless 
us in all the labor of our hands, and in all things 
teach us to glorify thy holy name. Show thy pity 
upon us as a family ; ever keep us in thy love ; 
and may we all be numbered with thy saints in 
glory everlasting ! 

Thou who watchest over the fall of the sparrow, 
how gently and graciously thou has cared for us, 
in the least things as well as in the greatest ! We 
thank thee for this thy daily care, and commit 
ourselves to thy loving providence, [^lay these 



children learn to see thee in the birds and the 
flowers, in all the beautiful things which thou 
hast made, and to love and trust thee, their gra- 
cious Eather and Saviour !] 

Hear us, God ! when we pray that it may 
please thee to bless and keep all thy people ; that 
it may please thee to give to all nations unity, 
peace, and concord; that it may please thee to 
defend and provide for the fatherless children and 
widows, and for all that are desolate and oppressed ; 
that it may please thee to bring into the way of 
truth all such as have erred and are deceived ; 
that it may please thee to give us true repentance, 
to forgive us all our sins, to endue us with the 
grace of thy Holy Spirit ; and, after this present 
life, to take us to live and reign with thee and 
thy Son in glory everlasting. Amen. 



300 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Deuteronomy xi. — 8. Therefore shall ye keep 
all the commandments which I command you this 
day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess 
the land whither ye go to possess it ; 

9. And that ye may prolong your days in the 
land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to 
give unto them, and to their seed, a land that 
floweth with milk and honey. 

10. For the land whither thou goest in to pos- 
sess it is not as the land of Egypt from whence 
ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and 
wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs ; 

11. But the land whither ye go to possess it is 
a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of 
the rain of heaven ; 

12. A land which the Lord thy God careth for : 
the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, 
from the beginning of the year even unto the end 
of the year. 

13. And it shall come to pass, if ye shall heark- 
en diligently unto my commandments which I 
command you this day, to love the Lord your God, 
and to serve him with all your heart and with all 
your soul, 

14. That I will give you the rain of your land in 
his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, 



that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, 
and thine oil. 

,15. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy 
cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. 

16. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be 
not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other 
gods, and worship them ; 

17. And then the Lord's wrath be kindled 
against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there 
be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; 
and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land 
which the Lord giveth you. 

18. Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in 
your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a 
sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets 
between your eyes. 

19. And ye shall teach them your children, 
speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, 
and when thou walkest by the way, when thou 
liest down, and when thou risest up. 

20. And thou shalt write them upon the door- 
posts of thine house, and upon thy gates ; 

21. That your days may be multiplied, and the 
days of your children, in the land which the Lord 
sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days 
of heaven upon the earth. 



Egypt consists of a long, narrow valley, between two ridges 
of naked rock, which divide this valley from the desert, and 
of a delta or a fan-like deposit of alluvium, which widens out 
from Cairo to the shore of the Mediterranean. The Nile 
flows through the middle of the valley, and, below Cairo, di- 
vides into branches that spread over the delta. In Lower 
Egypt it seldom rains ; in Upper Egypt, almost never. The 
yearly inundation from the rising of the Nile, when the tropi- 
cal rains have swollen its sources, gives the first start to vege- 
tation ; but the water of the overflow is husbanded in canals 
and reservoirs, and from these is pumped up for irrigation by 
rude machines worked by the hand or the foot. Palestine, on 
the contrary, is a hilly country, with springs and streams 
that depend upon the stated rains, which fall chiefly from the 
beginning of November till towards April. Formerly the 



land was much more fertile than it now is : the cutting-away 
of the forests and the neglect of tillage have given it a general 
aspect of barrenness ; but enough of its natural fertility re- 
mains to justify the description of " a land that floweth with 
milk and honey." 

Moses provided for a system of national education through 
the family : every child was to be taught to read and write ; 
to be made acquainted with the history of his own country 
and of surrounding nations, and with the great national and 
religious law-book of the country. Parents were to be so im- 
bued with the word of God, that this should give tone to their 
daily conversation, and impress itself upon the very house. 
Only by such home-training can a nation be kept true to 
God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 14, 29, 197. 



Almighty God, we have erred and strayed from 
thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too 
much the devices and desires of our own hearts. 
We have offended against thy holy laws. We have 
left undone those things which we ought to have 
done, and we have done those things which we 
ought not to have done ; and there is no health in 
us. But thou, Lord ! have mercy upon us mis- 
erable offenders, and, for Christ's sake, grant us 
grace to shun every evil way, and to live in all 
things unto the glory of thy holy name. 

What shall we render unto thee, thou Preserver 
of men ! for thy goodness to this family ; for the 
comforts of our home ; for our means of education 
and enjoyment ; for health and prosperity, and all 
the favors wherewith thou dost enrich our lives ? 



Oh, may we ever make to thee the glad return of 
grateful and loving hearts, and, as stewards of thy 
bounty, distribute freely to others the good we have 
freely received ! We beseech thee, O Lord ! have 
mercy upon our land : preserve us from faction, 
violence, and misrule ; from luxury and impiety ; 
from neglect of thy Word and thy day. Give peace, 
O Lord ! in our time ; keep our rulers in thy fear, 
and save the nation from its sins. We commend 
unto thy mercy all who are in poverty or distress, 
in sickness or trouble ; we pray for all who are in 
ignorance, error, or sin, that thou wouldst graciously 
enlighten and save them. Purify and exalt thy 
Church, and make all thy people perfect to do thy 
will. Perfect thy will in us, O Lord ! and sanctify 
and save us for the Redeemer's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



301 



WEDNESDAY. 



Deuteronomy xxxii. — 48. And the Lord spake 
unto Moses that self-same day, saying, 

49. Get thee up into this Mountain Abariin, unto 
Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is 
over against Jericho ; and behold the land of Ca- 
naan which I give unto the children of Israel for a 
possession : 

50. And die in the mount whither thou goest up, 
and be gathered unto thy people ; as Aaron thy 
brother died in Mount Hor, and was gathered unto 
his people : 

51. Because ye trespassed against me among the 
children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, 
in the wilderness of Zin ; because ye sanctified me 
not in the midst of the children of Israel. 

52. Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but 
thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I 
give the children of Israel. 

Deuteronomy xxxiv. — 1. And Moses went up 
from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of 
ISTebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against 
Jericho ; and the Lord showed him all the land of 
Gilead unto Dan, 

2. And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim 
and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the 
utmost sea, 



3. And the south, and the plain of the valley of 
Jericho, the city of palm-trees, unto Zoar. 

4. And the Lord said unto him, This is the 
land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, 
and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy 
seed : I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes ; 
but thou shalt not go over thither. 

5. So Moses the servant of the Lord died there 
in the land of Moab, according to the word of the 
Lord. 

6. Ami he buried him in a valley in the land of 
Moab, over against Beth-peor; but no man know- 
eth of his sepulchre unto this day. 

7. And Moses was a hundred and twenty years 
old when he died : his eye was not dim, nor his 
natural force abated. 

10. And there arose not a prophet since in Is- 
rael like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to 
face, 

11. In all the signs and the wonders which the 
Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to 
Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his 
land, 

12. And in all that mighty hand, and in all the 
great terror which Moses showed in the sight of 
all Israel. 



Moses was the meekest and the most unselfish of men ; yet | 
he would have been more than human had he borne all the ■ 
provocations of the people without once betraying petulance, 
and all the honor and power of his station without once yield- 
ing to arrogance. When the people clamored for water at 
Meribah, Moses so far forgot himself, that, in a sudden burst 
of passion, he exclaimed, " Hear now, ye rebels ! must we fetch 
you water of this rock ? " thus assuming to himself the power 
and glory of the miracle. It was necessary that God should 
vindicate his own honor before the people, and should show 
the impartiality of his justice ; and so he decreed, that, for this 
offence, Moses should not enter the promised land. It was a 



great sorrow to the aged leader of the people to quit them just 
at the border of the promised possession ; but he acquiesced 
with meekness, gave the people his parting counsel, inaugu- 
rated Joshua his successor, and then went up Nebo to die. 
From a lofty mountain east of the Dead Sea, opposite Jeri- 
cho, he had a view, which, in that crystal atmosphere, took in 
all the great outlines of Palestine ; and, even as his eyes were 
swimming in its glory, his spiritual vision was unveiled to be- 
hold the true Canaan of his hope and rest. The secreting of 
his body prevented the people from making his tomb a place 
of worship. Centuries after, he stood in the midst of Canaan 
with the glorified Elijah and the transfigured Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns. 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 19, 34, 46, 161. 



God, who hast redeemed us by the precious 
blood of thy Son ! help us, we beseech thee, to live 
only and in every thing unto Him that loved us 
and died for us. We bless thee for the glory 
which is promised to his saints at his appearing. 
Oh, may we then be found in him ! 

God, who hast prepared for those who love 
thee such good things as pass man's understand- 
ing ! pour into our hearts such love toward thee, 
that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain 
thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

We thank thee, Lord ! for the precious com- 
fort that remains to us concerning dear friends 
who have departed in the faith; that to them 
heaven is even now a reality ; that they have no 
more want, nor sorrow, nor care, nor sin. Oh, 
may heaven be a reality to our faith ! and may the 



hope of it, yea, the assurance of it, as our home, 
lift us above all the temptations and trials of this 
present world ! Give to us strength for labors, 
courage for conflicts, patience under afflictions, 
fidelity to duty, and faith that shall endure to the 
end, and shall make us more than conquerors over 
death. 

We praise thee, Lord ! for the blessings of the 
present time ; for another night of rest ; for another 
morning of mercy and hope. Oh, may we this 
day love thee more, know thee more, serve thee 
better, than ever before ! In all that is given us 
to do, may we glorify thy name ! in all that we are 
called to bear, may we accept thy holy will ! So 
may we daily live to thee ; and, when the things 
of earth shall pass away, make us to be numbered 
with thy saints in glory everlasting, through Jesus 
Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



THURSDAY. 



Psalm CXX. — 1. In my distress I cried unto 
the Lord, and he heard me. 

2. Deliver my soul, Lord ! from lying lips, 
and from a deceitful tongue. 

3. What shall be given unto thee, or what 
shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue ? 

4. Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of 
juniper. 

5. Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that 
I dwell in the tents of Kedar ! 

6. My soul hath long dwelt with him that 
hateth peace. 

7. I am for peace ; but, when I speak, they are 
for Avar. 

Matthew xviii. — 5. Whoso shall receive one 
such little child in my name, receiveth me. 

6. But whoso shall offend one of these little 
ones which believe in me, it were better for him 
that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and 
that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 

7. Woe unto the world because of offences ! For 
it must needs be that offences come ; but woe to 
that man by whom the offence cometh ! 

8. Wherefore, if thy hand or thy foot offend 



Offences will come in a world fall of envy, backbiting 1 , and 
deceit. Temptations, snares, provocations, will be set for the 
righteous. _ The Psalmist found to his cost that " he was un- 
able to silence the discord of those about him by the most 
conscientious effort on his part not to provoke them. Paul, 
in exhorting us to live peaceably with all men, foreseeing that 
it does not depend entirely on ourselves, adds, ' If it be possible, 
as much as lieth in you.' " We are required to do all in our 
power to protect the innocent. In the parable of the sheep, 
our Lord gave an emphatic lesson of brotherly love, an em- 
phatic warning against jealousy and envious ambition. It 
was called forth by the dispute of the disciples among them- 
selves " who should be the greatest." Jesus likened his true 
disciples to little children ; and, since the maltreatment of a 
little child would be peculiarly offensive to Him who makes 
the feeble and helpless his special care, men are warned against 
those contentions and jealousies which selfishness engenders, 



thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee : it is 
better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, 
rather than, having two hands or two feet, to be 
cast into everlasting fire. 

9. And, if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, 
and cast it from thee : it is better for thee to enter 
into life with one eye, rather than, having two 
ej r es, to be cast into hell-fire. 

10. Take heed that ye despise not one of these 
little ones ; for I say unto you, That in heaven 
their angels do always behold the face of my 
Father which is in heaven. 

11. For the Son of man is come to save that 
which was lost. 

12. How think ye ? If a man have a hundred 
sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he 
not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the 
mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 

13. And, if so be that he find it, verily I say 
unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep than of 
the ninety and nine which went not astray. 

14. Even so it is not the will of your Father 
which is in h eaven that one of these little ones 
should perish. 



and which would cause offence or injury to one whom Jesus 
loves. Especially are they warned against provoking such to 
do wrong, or causing them to stumble. The very helpless- 
ness and hopelessness of their condition led the Son of man 
to come into the world to save them, just as the good shep- 
herd goes in quest of the missing lamb. All heaven, too, is 
concerned for their welfare. The angels, who stand in the 
immediate presence of God, deem it a service of honor to 
minister to these heirs of salvation ; and the infinite Father, 
who, loving them in Christ, has adopted them as children, will 
never lose sight of one of them, nor suffer one of them to 
perish through the malice of the world. How should we love 
and honor the Church which Christ has redeemed with his 
precious blood ! How careful should we be, never, in word or 
act, to do a slight to even the humblest and feeblest of Christ's 
disciples ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 53, 63, 93. 



thou holy Lamb of God ! take away our sins. 
Help us to follow thee in meekness under injury, 
and in patience under suffering. O thou holy, life- 
giving Spirit ! come thou to purify and comfort us. 

Lord, our heavenly Father ! we thank thee for 
thy preserving care in the night, and pray thee to 
bless us during the day now begun. As a family 
may we be under thy care, and seek, own, and 
serve thee in all the duties of the day. May 
we have grace to deny ourselves, and to take 
up our cross, and follow our blessed Master! 
Suffer us not by any carelessness of conduct 
to bring a reproach upon the Christian profession. 
Give us grace to bridle our tongues, to fight against 
the risings of sinful passion, to keep careful watch 
over our thoughts and affections. May we be will- 



ing to serve others in thy name! May we have 
the spirit of forbearance and charity, and be ready 
to forgive any who offend against us ! Oh ! keep 
us unspotted from the world. May we go about 
doing good, and be useful to all around us ! We 
pray thee give unto thy Church the spirit of 
peace and brotherly love ; and, oh ! defend thy 
little ones from the malice and evil of the world. 

We beseech thee, God ! to look favorably 
upon our country. Guide those in authority, and 
give them true wisdom. Make us to be a happy 
people, fearing and loving thee. Give unto thy dear 
Son the heathen for his inheritance, and the utter- 
most parts of the earth for his possession. Hear us, 
most merciful Father, and graciously answer us, for 
the sake of our only Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



303 



FRIDAY. 



— 1. Lord, I cry unto thee : make 
; give ear unto my voice when I 



Psalm cxii. - 

haste unto me 
cry unto thee. 

2. Let my prayer he set forth before thee as 
incense, and the lifting-up of my hands as the 
evening sacrifice. 

3. Set a watch, Lord ! before my mouth ; 
keep the door of my lips. 

4. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to 
practise wicked works with men that work iniqui- 
ty ; and let me not eat of their dainties. 

5. Let the righteous smite me ; it shall be a 
kindness : and let him reprove me ; it shall be 
an excellent oil, which shall not break my head : 
for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. 

Matthew xviii. — 15. Moreover, if thy brother 
shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his 
fault between thee and him alone : if he shall 
hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 

16. But if he will not hear thee, then take 
with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of 



To avoid giving offence is not easy ; and so much offence 
comes of hasty speaking, that every one has need to set a 
watch before his mouth. To accept a deserved reproof with 
meekness, and even with thankfulness, is not easy to average 
human nature; but he who receives rebuke in the true spirit 
will find it an excellent oil, that does not break, but heal. 
Hardest of all is it to forgive those who offend us. 

No doubt Peter imagined himself very magnanimous in 
proposing to forgive seven times. It is said that the rule laid 
down by the rabbins was to forgive three times, and no more. 
But we read in Proverbs that " a just man falleth seven 
times, and riseth up again ; " and " seven times " is a stand- 
ard expression in the Bible for that which is large, much, or 
complete. But the gospel teaches that the spirit of forgive- 
ness in our hearts should be unlimited; for the injunction to 
forgive has respect, not to the nature or number of the offences, 
nor to the character and disposition of the offender, but to 
the effect upon our own minds of an unforgiving temper. 
We must forgive in the measure in which we pray to be for- 
given. But it is our duty also to seek a reconciliation with 
the offender, and endeavor to bring him to a proper frame of 



two or three witnesses every word may be estab- 
lished. 

17. And, if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it 
unto the church ; but, if he neglect to hear the 
church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man 
and a publican. 

18. Verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall 
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven ; and 
whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed 
in heaven. 

19. Again I say unto you, That, if two of you 
shall agree on earth as touching any thing that 
they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my 
Father which is in heaven. 

20. For where two or three are gathered together 
in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 

21. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, 
how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I 
forgive him ? till seven times ? 

22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, 
Until seven times ; but, Until seventy times s'even. 



mind ; and we owe duties to the community, which, in certain 
kinds of offence, we are not at liberty to omit. One may for- 
give a personal wrong, and have no spirit of revenge, and yet 
be bound to bring the criminal to justice for the protection 
of society. 

In cases of offence between members of the same church, 
our Lord requires that we shall proceed upon the assumption 
that the offender is a Christian, and will be sorry for his fault 
when it is brought to his notice. Therefore we must not 
blazon his fault abroad, nor shun his acquaintance, but go to 
him in the candor of love with a view to heal the difficulty. 
Not until this has been honestly tried, and has failed, are we 
at liberty to speak of the offence to another, and then only to 
invoke his good offices for a reconciliation. If both these ef- 
forts fail, the matter should be brought before the Church in 
the same spirit of love and reconciliation. But the Church is 
bound to cast out from its communion one who refuses to con- 
fess and renounce an offence against a brother. Christ vested 
the supreme power of discipline in the assembled Church, act- 
ing solemnly and prayerfully in his name. No pre-eminence 
was here given to Peter, nor to the apostles as a body. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 53, 6.3, 95. 



God, who hast spared our lives, and brought 
us to the beginning of another day! we lift up our 
hearts to thee. We thank thee for rest during 
the past night; for life preserved, and strength re- 
newed ; and for the many tokens of thy loving- 
kindness which surround us. May we ever have 
true gratitude for thy mercies, and never grieve 
thee by a hard and unthankful heart ! 

And now, Lord ! prepare us for the duties and 
trials which this day may bring. Give us grace to 
take up, each one of us, our peculiar cross ; to ex- 
ercise constant self-denial ; and in all things to 
follow the Master. Make us more like him in 
lowliness and meekness ; tender-hearted, forgiving 
one another ; ready to bear each other's burdens, 
and so fulfil the law of Christ. 



Let not the world with its cares and vanities fill 
our hearts, and so make us forget the worth of our 
souls, the love of our Saviour, and the nearness of 
eternity. Whilst we are busy in the world, may 
our hearts rise above it ! 

Lord, watch over us, and all who are dear to us, 
this day. Defend our souls from the assaults of 
the Wicked One, and preserve our bodies in health 
and safety. May we walk in the light of thy 
countenance, and know the happiness of those 
who have the Lord for their God ! Finally, pre- 
pare us to depart and be with Christ. Hear us, 
heavenly Father, and when thou hearest forgive, 
for the sake of Jesus our Saviour ; who, with thee 
and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, 
world without end. Amen. 



304 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Deuteronomy xxiv. — 10. "When thou dost lend 
thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his 
house to fetch his pledge: 

11. Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to 
whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge 
abroad unto thee ; 

12. And, if the man he poor, thou shalt not sleep 
with his pledge : 

13. In any case thou shalt deliver him the 
pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he 
may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee ; and 
it shall be righteousness unto thee before the Lord 
thy God. 

Matthew xviii. — 23. Therefore is the kingdom 
of heaven likened unto a certain king which would 
take account of his servants. 

24. And, when he had begun to reckon, one was 
brought unto him which owed him ten thousand 
talents. 

25. But, forasmuch as he had not to pay, his 
lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and 
children, and all that he had, and payment to be 
made. 

26. The servant, therefore, fell down and wor- 
shipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, 
and I will pay thee all. 

27. Then the lord of that servant was moved 



No one can read this parable and not feel that the unjust 
servant was rightly dealt with. He deserved his punishment for 
his ingratitude toward his master, for his selfish greed, for his 
hard-hearted cruelty toward his fellow-servant. The imagery 
or dress of the parable is borrowed from Oriental customs : 
slavery, including the sale of the family of the debtor, was a 
common punishment for debt ; and sovereigns were sometimes 
very decided and severe in the punishment even of favorites 
who had defrauded them. Torture was sometimes added to 
captivity or imprisonment, both to increase the severity of 
the punishment, and to extort a confession of concealed treas- 
ures. Modern Egyptians will often submit to the bastinado 
rather than disclose their property to the tax-gatherer. 



with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him 
the debt. 

28. But the same servant went out, and found 
one of his fellow-servants which owed him a hun- 
dred pence ; and he laid hands on him, and took 
him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou 
owest. 

29. And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, 
and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, 
and I will pay thee all. 

30. And he would not, but went and cast him 
into prison till he should pay the debt. 

31. So, when his fellow-servants saw what was 
done, they were very sorry, and came and told 
unto their lord all that was done. 

32. Then his lord, after that he had called him, 
said unto him, thou wicked servant ! I forgave 
thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me : 

33. Shouldest not thou also have had compas- 
sion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on 
thee? 

34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him 
to the tormentors till he should pay all that was 
due unto him. 

35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do 
also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not 
every one his brother their trespasses. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Lord ! we beseech thee, grant us grace to with- 
stand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and 
the Devil, and with pure hearts and minds to fol- 
low thee ; and, forasmuch as without thee we are 
not able to please thee, mercifully grant that thy 
Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our 
hearts through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Lord Jesus, who art exalted to be a Prince and 
a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of 
sins ! we do repent of our sins before thee, and hum- 
bly beseech thee to receive us, according to thy 
promise that him that cometh unto thee thou wilt 
in no wise cast out. Give unto us Lord! that 
rest which thou hast promised to the weary and 
heavy-laden ; that peace which the world cannot 
give nor take away. As we shall go forth into the 
world this day, may thy presence guide and keep us ! 



In the structure of an Eastern household of rank, and 
especially of a court, there would be under-servants dependent 
upon the steward, as he, in turn, was subject to his lord. 
All this is the costume of the parable : its deep meaning is 
that we owe to God every thing ; that we have kept back 
every thing for ourselves, and have nothing wherewith to 
pay ; that he is ready to forgive us all, but that the effect 
of the forgiveness of our infinite debt should be to cherish 
in us the spirit of gentleness, forbearance, and forgive- 
ness toward our fellow-men. " If ye forgive not men their 
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your tres- 
passes." 



[Nos. 78, 115. 



Prayer. 

We bring thee thanks for the mercies of the 
night, and supplicate thy grace for our friends and 
neighbors, for the absent dear to us, for thy Church, 
for this family, yea, Lord, for the whole family of 
mankind, — the world which thou hast died to 
save. 

We beseech thee, Lord ! to instruct us in our 
duty, and help us to perform it ; to give us a 
tender conscience and an earnest spirit ; to uphold 
us in the slippery ways of the world, and give us 
sterling integrity of heart; to save us from the 
enmity of men, from the malice of Satan, and 
from our own faults and follies ; to support us in 
the hour of death ; and finally to receive us to thy 
presence in the world of endless life. And to the 
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be glory 
forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



305 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Joel iii. — 14. Multitudes, multitudes, in the 
valley of decision ; for the day of the Lord is near 
in the valley of decision. 

15. The sun and the moon shall he darkened, 
and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 

16. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and 
utter his voice from Jerusalem ; and the heavens 
and the earth shall shake : but the Lord will be 
the hope of his people, and the strength of the 
children of Israel. 

17. So shall ye know that I am the Lord your 
God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain : then 
shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no stran- 
gers pass through her any more. 

18. And it shall come to pass in that day that 
the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the 
hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Ju- 
dah shall flow with waters ; and a fountain shall 
come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall 
water the valley of Shittim. 

19. Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall 
be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against 
the children of Judah, because they have shed in- 
nocent blood in their land. 

20. But Judah shall dwell forever, and Jerusa- 
lem from generation to generation. 

Micah iv. — 1. But in the last days it shall 
come to pass that the mountain of the house of 



In vain should we search the history of Israel for the fulfil- 
ment of this blessed and glowing promise. Centuries of 
calamity, civil war, invasion, captivity, subjugation by foreign 
powers, terminating at last in the destruction of Jerusalem and 
the Temple, and the dispersion of the Jews among all nations, 
have blighted whatever hope this prediction may have inspired 
in the ancient people of God. Indeed, the prophet had already 
foretold that Zion should be ploughed as a field, and Jerusalem 
become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places 
of the forest. Neither has any period of human history fur- 
nished the picture of peace, safety, plenty, and righteousness, 
that is here described. Alas ! at the very moment that these 
lines are written, the two greatest nations of Europe, rivals for 
leadership in the civilization of the future, are waging a most 
deadly and desolating war ! 



the Lord shall be established in the top of the 
mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills ; 
and people shall flow unto it. 

2. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, 
and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and 
to the house of the God of Jacob ; and he will 
teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his 
paths : for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the 
word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 

3. And he shall judge among many people, and 
rebuke strong nations afar off; and 'they shall beat 
their swords into ploughshares, and their spears 
into pruning-hooks : nation shall not lift up a 
sword against nation, neither shall they learn war 
any more. 

4. But they shall sit every man under his vine and 
under his fig-tree, and none shall make them afraid ; 
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. 

5. For all people will walk every one in the 
name of his god, and we will walk in the name of 
the Lord our God for ever and ever. 

6. In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble 
her that halteth ; and I will gather her that is 
driven out, and her that I have afflicted ; 

7. And I will make her that halted a remnant, 
and her that was cast far off a strong nation : and 
the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion 
from henceforth, even forever. 



It was of the final triumph of the Messiah's kingdom that 
the prophet spake. The "last days" denote "the point 
which lies on the outermost limits of the horizon." History 
is filling up the intermediate spaces, and we are moving 
toward the glorious consummation. Christianity has already 
done much to humanize war, and to mitigate its horrors. It 
is yet to abolish it altogether. For it is through the preva- 
lence of this spiritual, peaceful, and loving religion, the exalta- 
tion of the word and the worship of God, that the nations 
shall be subdued to peace. When its principles shall pre- 
vail, the very weapons of war shall be turned into imple- 
ments of husbandry ; production shall take the place of 
destruction ; armies shall be disbanded ; private rights shall 
be respected ; and every home shall be the abode of peace, 
love, and devotion. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 120, 121, 130. 



Lord, most gracious Saviour, who on this day 
didst rise again from the dead ! raise up our souls 
unto newness of life, granting us repentance from 
dead works, and planting us in the likeness of thy 
resurrection. 

Lord ! we beseech thee so to purify our hearts 
this day, that we may worship thee acceptably, 
with reverence and godly fear. Incline us to re- 
ceive thy Word into honest and good hearts, and to 
bring forth fruit with patience ; that we may at 
last inherit everlasting life, through the mediation 
of our great High Priest, who has passed into the 
heavens, and who liveth evermore. 

Thou Lord of the evening and morning, we bless 



thee for thy love which shines upon us in the 
morning light. As thy goodness hath preserved 
us in the night, may thy grace attend and keep us 
this day ! As we shall study thee in thy works 
and Word, fill our minds with thy truth, and our 
hearts with thy love. Teach the children thy 
grace in the gospel of thy Son, that they may 
consecrate to thee the dew of their youth. 

Let thy special blessing, Lord ! rest on all our 
relations, friends, and neighbors, and upon thy 
whole Church. Oh ! hasten the final coming of 
Christ our Saviour; to whom, with the Bather and 
the Holy Ghost, be all praise and thanksgiving 
forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Job iv. — 12. Now, a thing was secretly brought 
to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. 

13. In thoughts from the visions of the night, 
when deep sleep falleth on men, 

14. Fear came upon me, and trembling, which 
made all my bones to shake. 

15. Then a spirit passed before my face ; the 
hair of my flesh stood up : 

16. It stood still ; but I could not discern the 
form thereof :. an image was before mine eyes; 
there was silence; and I heard a voice, saying, 

17. Shall mortal man be more just than God? 
shall a man be more pure than his Maker ? 

18. Behold, he put no trust in his servants ; and 
his angels he charged with folly: 

19. How much less in them that dwell in houses 
of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are 
crushed before the moth !_ 

20. They are destroyed from morning to even- 
ing ; they perish forever without any regarding it. 

21. Doth not their excellency which is in them 
go away? They die, even without wisdom. 

2 Corinthians v. — 1. For we know, that, if 
our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, 
we have a building of God, a house not made with 
hands, eternal in the heavens. 



2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to 
be clothed upon witli our house which is from 
heaven ; 

3. If so be, that, being clothed, we shall not be 
found naked. 

4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, 
being burdened; not for that we would be un- 
clothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be 
swallowed up of life. 

5. Now, he that hath wrought us for the self- 
same thing is God, who also hath given unto us 
the earnest of the Spirit. 

6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing 
that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are 
absent from the Lord ; 

7. (For we walk by faith, not by sight :) 

8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to 
be absent from the body, and to be present with 
the Lord. 

9. Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or 
absent, we may be accepted of him. 

10. For we must all appear before the judg- 
ment - seat of Christ, that every one may 
receive the things done in his body, according 
to that he hath done, whether it be good or 
bad. 



The Egyptians called the abodes of the living inns, because 
they are occupied only for a limited period ; but the sepul- 
chres of the dead they called eternal habitations. The apos- 
tle here calls the body itself a tent ; and, by contrast, the abode 
prepared for the spirit after death a building immaterial and 
everlasting. The apparent dissolution of the body, so far 
from being the destruction of the soul, is its liberation for 
the higher life. The death of the body is in reality the tri- 
umph of the life-principle in the soul over the burdens and 
pains of its mortal appendage : the life then swallows up 
all that is mortal in its belongings, and enters upon a con- 
dition of perpetual freedom, security, and joy. Hence the 
New Testament never represents death as a matter of gloom 
or apprehension to the believer; hardly speaks, indeed, of 



his dying, but of his falling asleep, his going to be with 
Christ. 

Now, this life which death cannot destroy, cannot so much 
as impede, is begun in the soul by faith in the Lord Jesus 
Christ ; and is, in its nature and power, the eternal life. He 
who walks by faith walks with Christ unseen ; and, when 
death draws the veil, he finds himself present with the Lord. 

How marked the contrast between the New Testament and 
the Old in the clearness and confidence with which the gospel 
speaks of departed saints ! The Old Testament so far as- 
sumed the immortality of the soul, and intimated the resur- 
rection of the body, that these both becr.me articles of the 
Jewish faith ; but Christ, by his teaching and his resurrec- 
tion, brought life and immortality to light. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 10G, 126, 146. 



God, who hast taught us in thy Word that 
there is still laid up a rest for thy people, and 
who hast given us a promise of entering into it ! 
grant to us, we beseech thee, that we fail not of 
that promise through unbelief and disobedience. 
Teach us to look for a house that hath founda- 
tions, of which thou art the "maker and builder. 
Lift our hearts thither in earnest desire. 

Oh sabbath of eternal peace ! Oh haven where 
the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are 
at rest ! When shall we see thee, O Lord ! and be- 
hold the King in his beauty? When shall we 
meet the apostles and prophets, and the great 
multitude whom no man can number ? When 
shall we see again our dear friends who sleep in 
Jesus ? 

God the Father, who hast the times and sea- 



sons in thine own power ! let not that day come 
upon us unawares. God the Son, who art gone 
to prepare a place for us ! in thine own time take 
us to thyself, that where thou art, there we may be 
also. God the Holy Ghost, the pledge of future 
glory in our hearts ! seal us until the redemption 
of the purchased possession. We bless thee for 
the help this day received through thy holy Word 
and the prayers and praises of thy Church. We 
supplicate thy favor upon all who have heard thy 
Word, and upon those who have it not. We bless 
thee for thy mercy to this household, and commit 
ourselves to thy fatherly protection for the night. 
Keep us under the shadow of thy wings ; and, 
Father ! bring us, we pray thee, finally to rest in 
thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 
Amen. 



MONDAY. 



Joshua iii. — 5. And Joshua said unto the peo- 
ple, Sanctify yourselves ; for to-morrow the Lord 
will do wonders among you. 

6. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, 
Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over 
before the people. And they took up the ark of 
the covenant, and went before the people. 

7. And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day 
will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all 
Israel, that they may know, that as I was with 
Moses, so I will be with thee. 

8. And thou shalt command the priests that 
bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are 
come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall 
stand still in Jordan. 

9. And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, 
Come hither, and hear the words of the Lord 
your God. 

10. And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that 
the living God is among you, and that he will 
without fail drive out from before you the Canaan- 
ites, and the Hittites, and the fiivites, and the 
Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, 
and the Jebusites. 

11. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of 
all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. 

12. ISTow, therefore, take you twelve men out of 
the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 



The last public act of Moses was a charge to Joshua, in 
sight of all Israel, to lead the people over Jordan, and put 
them in possession of the promised land. At the expiration 
of the thirty days of mourning for Moses, Joshua was sum- 
moned to this task by the voice of Jehovah. Having learned 
through spies sent to Jericho that the Canaanites were filled 
with terror of the threatened invasion, he made prepara- 
tions for crossing the river in military order. As the current 
of the Jordan is strong, this was no easy matter ; though there 
are shallows near Jericho which can be forded when the river 
is low. But it was now harvest-time ; and at that season the 
melting of the snows on Lebanon causes the Jordan to rise 
rapidly, and to overflow its banks. This exigency was met by 



13. And it shall come to pass, as soon as the 
soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark 
of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest 
in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jor- 
dan shall be cut off from the waters that come 
down from above ; and they shall stand upon a 
heap. 

14. And it came to pass, when the people 
removed from their tents to pass over Jordan, and 
the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before 
the people, 

15. And as they that bare the ark were come 
unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare 
the ark were dipped in the brim of the water (for 
Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of 
harvest), 

16. That the waters which came down from 
above stood and rose up upon a heap very far 
from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan ; 
and those that came down toward the sea of 
the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were 
cut off: and the people passed over right against 
Jericho. 

17. And the priests that bare the ark of the 
covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in 
the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed 
over on dry ground, until all the people were passed 
clean over Jordan. 



the direct intervention of God, who caused the running water 
to stop, and to pile back upon the channel above, so that this 
vast multitude passed over on dry ground. This miracle was a 
pledge, that, though Moses was dead, he who led their fathers 
through the Red Sea was still among them, the living God ; and, 
in place of Moses and his rod, not Joshua and his sword, but 
the ark, should be the token of Jehovah's presence and power. 

Jordan has become the hallowed and beautiful symbol of 
the river of death, with the heavenly Canaan beyond. At the 
end of life's pilgrimage, if our faith holds on, we shall see 
the waters divide before us ; or, like Bun3'an's pilgrim, shall 
behold the shining ones waiting at the brink to bear us across 
the river to the celestial city. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 14, 19, 34. 



AVhom have we in heaven but thee, God ! and 
there is none upon earth that we desire besides 
thee. Thus far, the Lord hath led us on. The ark 
of thy covenant hath gone before us, guiding our 
wav, defending us from our enemies, and assuring 
us of thy presence and thy favor. Through all the 
journey of life thou hast watched over us with more 
than a father's care, and hast blessed us with more 
than a father's love. So do thou go with us still ; 
ever guide, defend, and save us ; and. when at last 
we shall come to the river of death, do thou, 
Lord ! divide the waters before us, and lead us unto 
thy rest. 

Heavenly Father, we thank thee for another 
night of quiet and repose, and that we have been 



strengthened and refreshed for the duties of the 
returning day. Bless thou us, God ! and we 
shall be blessed. Ever make thy face to shine 
upon us. Lift up the light of thy countenance 
upon those whom we love, and upon thy whole 
Church. Bless all mankind. Pitifully look upon 
the poor, the tried, the tempted, the forsaken, 
the oppressed, and all the children of sorrow. 
Be very near to such as are drawing nigh to 
death. 

And now, our Father ! grant that we, being 
made thy children by adoption and grace, may 
be kept by the power of thy Holy Spirit, and at 
last rise to the life immortal, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Joshua vii. — 10. And the Lord said unto 
Joshua, Get thee up : wherefore liest thou thus 
upon thy face ? 

13. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify 
yourselves against to-morrow; for thus saith the 
Lord God of Israel : There is an accursed thing in 
the midst of thee, Israel ! thou canst not stand 
before thine enemies until ye take away the ac- 
cursed thing from among you. 

14. In the morning, therefore, ye shall be 
brought according to your tribes : and it shall 
be, that the tribe which the Lord taketh shall 
come according to the families thereof; and the 
family which the Lord shall take shall come by 
households, and the household which the Lord 
shall take shall come man by man. 

15. And it shall be, that he that is taken with 
the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and 
all that he hath ; because he hath transgressed the 
covenant of the Lord, and because he hath wrought 
folly in Israel. 

16. So Joshua rose up early in the morning, 
and brought Israel by their tribes ; and the tribe 
of Judah was taken : 

17. And he brought the family of Judah, and 
he took the family of the Zarhites ; and he brought 
the family of the Zarhites man by man ; and Zab- 
di was taken : 

18. And he brought his household man by man ; 
and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the 
son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 

19. And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, 
I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and 



The miraculous passage of the Jordan was followed by the 
capture of Jericho without striking a blow ; the walls of the 
city falling as the priests blew their trumpets, and the panic- 
stricken inhabitants becoming an easy prey. Prom Jericho, 
Joshua marched in a north-westerly direction, up a compara- 
tively broad and accessible watly, to Ai, — the very spot from 
which Abraham and Lot had looked over upon the Plain of 
Jordan before they parted. Here the Israelites met with a 
severe check, which so oppressed Joshua that he fell upon his 
face before the ark, crying, " O Lord ! what shall I say when 
Israel turncth their backs before their enemies 1 and what wilt 
thou do unto thy great name? " The cause of the disaster 
was a form of insubordination and immorality, which, if suf- 



make confession unto him : and tell me now what 
thou hast done ; hide it not from me. 

20. And Achan answered Joshua, and said, In- 
deed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, 
and thus and thus have I done. 

21. When I saw among the spoils a goodly 
Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of 
silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, 
then I coveted them, and took them ; and, behold, 
they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, 
and the silver under it. 

22.- So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran 
unto the tent ; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, 
and the silver under it. 

23. And they took them out of the midst of the 
tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all 
the children of Israel, and laid them out before the 
Lord. 

24. And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took 
Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the 
garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and 
his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his 
sheep, and his tent, and all that he had ; and they 
brought them unto the valley of Achor. 

25. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled 
us ? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all 
Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them 
with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 

26. And they raised over him a great heap of 
stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from 
the fierceness of his anger: wherefore the name of 
that place was called The valley of Achor, unto 
this day. 



fered to spread, would have demoralized the whole camp. The 
extermination of the Canaanites was an act of divine retribu- 
tion for the most monstrous sins. Had the Israelites turned 
this judicial mission into a war of conquest and plunder, they 
would have become corrupted in turn : hence all captured 
treasure was held to be sacred, and no private looting was 
allowed. In stealing and secreting plunder, Achan had vio- 
lated an express prohibition, and endangered a necessary 
policy. The exigencies of military discipline, and the sanctity 
and authority of the religious leadership of the people, required 
his exemplary though terrible punishment. Alas ! in what 
calamities may one involve a family, a community, a nation, 
by his sins ! and how sure it is that our sins will find us out ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 91, 95, 97. 



Almighty God, we render thee our humble praises 
for thy preservation of us from the beginning of our 
lives to this day, and especially for having delivered 
us from the dangers of the past night. We thank 
thee that we have been kept from the alarm of 
sickness, of fire, of robbers, of sudden death, and 
have awaked in peace to behold the day. Lord ! 
lift upon us the light of thy countenance, that 
we may begin the day in the concionsness of thy 
love, and may spend it joyfully in doing thy will. 



Keep us from malice and anger, from envy and 
pride, from covetousness, worldliness, and ail sin. 
May we be useful in the world and in the Church 
of Christ ! May our kindred and friends be pros- 
pered in their lawful undertakings and desires, 
and all be partakers of thy grace ! Mercifully for- 
give our sins, lead us safely through the perils of 
this life unto the heavenly rest, and save us with 
an everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



309 



WEDNESDAY. 



Joshua viii. — 1. And the Lord said unto Josh- 
ua, Fear not ; neither be thou dismayed. Take all 
the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to 
Ai : see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, 
and his people, and his city, and his land. 

2. And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as 
thou didst unto Jericho and her king : only the 
spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take 
for a prey unto yourselves : lay thee an ambush 
for the city behind it. 

3. So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, 
to go up against Ai ; and Joshua chose out thirty 
thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them 
away by night. 

4. And he commanded them, saying, Behold, 
ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind 
the city. 

28. And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap 
forever, even a desolation unto this day. 

29. And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree 
until even-tide ; and, as soon as the sun was down, 
Joshua commanded that they should take his car- 
cass down from the tree, and cast it at the entering 
of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great 
heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day. 

30. Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord 
God of Israel in Mount Ebal, 



As soon as the morale of the Israelitish camp was restored, 
Ai was taken by laying an ambush upon one side of the city, 
which rose up and set it on fire, after Joshua, by a feigned 
flight, had drawn out all the men of the city in pursuit upon 
the other side. From Ai the victorious army marched north- 
ward to the Vale of Shechem, in the very heart of Palestine. 
Here the people, divided into two sections, were ranged along 
the slopes of Ebal and Gerizim, which face one another, at about 
a third of a mile apart, the whole length of the valley. Here, 
in the clear, resonant air, the whole law of Moses was read, 
and its blessings and curses were invoked, by these answering 
choirs, according as the people should obey or disobey its pre- 
cepts. With the exception of the giving of the law at Sinai 



31. As Moses the servant of the Lord com- 
manded the children of Israel ; as it is written 
in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of 
whole stones, over which no man hath lifted 
up any iron : and they offered thereon burnt- 
offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace- 
offerings. 

32. And he wrote there upon the stones a copy 
of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the pres- 
ence of the children of Israel. 

33. And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, 
and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on 
that side before the priests the Levites, -which 
bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well 
the stranger as he that was born among them ; 
half of them over against Mount Gerizim, and half 
of them over against Mount Ebal ; as Moses the 
servant of the Lord had commanded before, that 
they should bless the people of Israel. 

34. And afterward he read all the words of the 
law, the blessings and cursings, according to all 
that is written in the book of the law. 

35. There was not a word of all that Moses com- 
manded which Joshua read not before all the con- 
gregation of Israel, with the women, and the little 
ones, and the strangers that were conversant 
among them. 



forty years before, which only a part of that assembly had 
witnessed, this was the most majestic spectacle in the history 
of Israel. Before being divided to their several allotments, all 
the tribes as one nation here entered into a solemn covenant 
of allegiance to the same constitution. In this vale, Abraham 
built the first altar to the true God that was erected in Canaan ; 
here Jacob purchased a field which contained a valuable well ; 
here the bones of Joseph were buried ; and here Jesus, sitting 
by Jacob's well, proclaimed the superiority of the truth to the 
place and time in which it was uttered, and the spirituality of 
worship, above all names and forms, all places and people. 
The benediction of his love reaches forth to these latter days, 
— higher than the mountains, broader than the sea. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 22, 93, 101. 



We lift up our eyes unto the hills, whence Com- 
eth our help : our help cometh from the Lord, which 
made heaven and earth. Thine angels, Lord ! 
have encamped round about us in the night-sea- 
son, and thou hast given them charge concerning 
us to defend us from all evil. We open our eyes 
to the remembrance of thy mercy, to the conscious- 
ness of thy presence, to the sense of our depend- 
ence. Only our sins separate us from thee, our 
loving Father ; and we beseech thee to blot these 
out for thy name's sake, and to receive us in Christ 
as thy redeemed an8 reconciled children. 

Help us, O Lord ! this day, to walk worthy of 
thy love, and, as obedient children, to do thy will. 
[May the children of this family remember thee in 
the days of their youth ! May every one of us daily 



acknowledge and serve thee!] Keep us, Lord! 
we pray thee, from all evil and sin this day. In 
our intercourse with others may we be true and 
just, loving and patient, gentle and kind, and 
so may we commend unto all the gospel of thy 
grace ! 

May thy favor be upon the community in which 
we dwell, upon thy Church, upon our land ! Give 
peace in our time, Lord ! and incline the hearts 
of our rulers to that which is just and lawful in thy 
sight. Have mercy upon the poor, the afflicted, 
the solitary, the bereaved ; and cause that the 
grace of thy gospel shall go forth everywhere to 
heal the sins and sorrows of all mankind. Finally 
hring us unto thine everlasting kingdom, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



til 



310 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



I Corinthians xii. — 12. For as the body is one, 
and hath many members, and all the members of 
that one body, being many, are one body ; so also 
is Christ. 

13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into 
one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether 
we be bond or free ; and have been all made to 
drink into one Spirit. 

14. For the body is not one member, but many. 

15. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the 
hand, I am not of the body ; is it, therefore, not of 
the body ? 

16. And if the ear shall say, Because I am not 
the eye, I am not of the body ; is it, therefore, not 
of the body ? 

17. If the whole body were an eye, where were 
the hearing ? If the whole were hearing, where 
were the smelling? 

18. But now hath God set the members every 
one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 

19. And, if they were all one member, where 
were the body ? 

20. But now are they many members, yet but 
one body. 

21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I 
have no need of thee ; nor again the head to the 
feet, I have no need of you. 

22. Nay, much more those members of the 



body which seem to be more feeble are neces- 
sary; 

23. And those members of the body which we 
think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow 
more abundant honor ; and our uncomely parts 
have more abundant comeliness. 

24. For our comely farts have no need : but 
God hath tempered the body together, having 
given more abundant honor to that fart which 
lacked ; 

25. That there should be no schism in the body, 
but that the members should have the same care 
one for another. 

26. And whether one member suffer, all the 
members suffer with it ; or one member be hon- 
ored, all the members rejoice with it. 

27. Now, ye are the body of Christ, and mem- 
bers in particular. 

28. And God hath set some in the church, first 
apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, 
after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, 
governments, diversities of tongues. 

29. Are all apostles ? are all prophets ? are all 
teachers ? are all workers of miracles ? 

30. Have all the gifts of healing ? do all speak 
with tongues ? do all interpret ? 

31. But covet earnestly the best gifts. And yet 
show I unto you a more excellent way. 



Under this striking and beautiful symbol of the body is set 
forth the unity, the harmony, the proportionate and co-opera- 
tive efficiency, of the Church of Christ. That equality of the 
brotherhood which our Lord laid down as a fundamental 
principle in the constitution of his Church does not imply 
equality of function, nor of official place and work. In 
primitive times, when miraculous gifts were widely shared by 
the Church, there were marked diversities in those gifts, and 
in the official position of persons thus endowed. And now 
the equality of the brotherhood does not displace the divine 



law of arrangement, distribution, adaptation, in the body. 
For the Church is not a society; it is a hodij : and the equal- 
ity of its members consists first in the fact of membership 
in Christ, their common Head ; next in community of privi- 
leges ; next in dependence upon one another for sympathy 
and support ; next in co-operation toward the same end, 
under the authority and direction of the one Head. And 
the humblest may now obtain the greatest gifts, which in 
the next chapter the apostle defines to be faith, hope, 
charity. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 50, 62, 104. 



Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be 
thy name ; thy kingdom come ; thy will be done 
in earth as it is in heaven. Oh, may thy kingdom 
fully come in our hearts, casting out all sin ! may 
thy will take possession of our wills, so that in all 
things we shall please and serve thee ! Thy mercy, 
O Lord ! of which every night and morning bears 
witness, binds us to thee in love and gratitude ; 
and we dedicate ourselves to thee this day as 
obedient children. Help us to fulfil our vows. 
Keep us from the love of this world, and from the 
power of evil. O Lord ! strengthen, defend, de- 
liver all thy servants, and maintain thy cause. 

"We pray for thy holy Church universal, that it 
may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, 
that all who call themselves Christians may be led 
into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity 



of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteous- 
ness of life. Send thy Word, O Lord ! to those 
who have it not : may it have free course and be 
glorified ! and may the whole world be saved ! 

O God, the protector of all that trust in thee, 
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is 
holy ! increase and multiply upon us thy mercy ; 
that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so 
pass through things temporal, that we finally lose 
not the things eternal. Dwell thou in our hearts 
by thy Spirit ; yea, make our very bodies temples 
of the Holy Ghost : and may all sin be put far 
away from us ! O Lord our Saviour ! make this 
home thy habitation. [May the children gather 
about thee with songs of praise, with hearts and 
hands to do thy will !] And finally bring us unto 
our Father's house, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



311 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm cxxiii. — 1. Unto thee lift I up mine 
eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens ! 

2. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the 
hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maid- 
en unto the hand of her mistress ; so our eyes wait 
upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy 
upon us. 

3. Have mercy upon us, Lord ! have mercy 
upon us ; for we are exceedingly filled with con- 
tempt. 

Luke xiv. — 1. And it came to pass, as he went 
into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat 
bread on the sabbath day, that they watched 
him. 

2. And, behold, there was a certain man before 
him which had the dropsy. 

3. And Jesus, answering, spake unto the law- 
yers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on 
the sabbath day ? 

4. And they held their peace. And he took 
him, and healed him, and let him go ; 

5. And answered them, saying, Which of you 
shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and 
will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath 
day? 

6. And they could not answer him again to 
these things. 



The " rooms " here spoken of were places at the table. 
The table itself was spread upon the floor ; a mat or a sheet of 
leather being first laid down for cleanliness, and the platter 
set upon a stool in the middle. Surrounding the table were 
cushions at a higher level, upon which the guests reclined, 
leaning upon the left side, with their faces toward the dish. 
Each cushion commonly accommodated three ; and the middle 
place was regarded as the most eligible and the most honor- 
able. The dignity of the places depended also upon their 
proximity to the host or " master of the feast." Guests who 
were full of vanity, and forward to claim precedence, would 
thrust themselves into these favorite places on the cushions; 
but the modest would wait to have a place assigned them by 



7. And he put forth a parable to those which 
were bidden, when he marked how they chose out 
the chief rooms ; saying unto them, 

8. When thou art bidden of any man to a wed- 
ding, sit not down in the highest room, lest a more 
honorable man than thou be bidden of him ; 

9. And he that bade thee and him come and say 
to thee, Give this man place ; and thou begiu with 
shame to take the lowest room. 

10. But, when thou art bidden, go and sit down 
in the lowest room ; that, when he that bade thee 
cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up 
higher : then shalt thou have worship in the pres- 
ence of them that sit at meat with thee. 

11. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be 
abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be ex- 
alted. 

12. Then said he also to him that bade him, 
When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not 
thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, 
nor thy rich neighbors ; lest they also bid thee 
again, and a recompense be made thee. 

13. But, when thou makest a feast, call the poor, 
the maimed, the lame, the blind ; 

14. And thou shalt be blessed : for they cannot 
recompense thee ; for thou shalt be recompensed at 
the resurrection of the just. 



the host, according to his preference. Our Lord thus reads 
us a lesson of humility in the common intercourse of life. 
Those who push themselves forward, though for a while they 
seem to get consideration, sooner or later meet with rebuffs, 
and come to grief; while modest worth is by and by appreci- 
ated and exalted. Having rebuked vanity and envy in the 
guests, our Lord likewise rebuked ostentation in the host. 
Social festivity should not be an occasion for sumptuous dis- 
play ; least of all should a costly entertainment be resorted to 
as a bid for social recognition. Better, far better, make our 
largest outlays for the relief of the needy, — for the happiness 
of such as can give us only gratitude in return. Such a feast 
lasts forever. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 10, 17, 30. 



Thou only, Lord ! makest us to dwell in safety. 
We lie down at night under the shadow of thy 
wings ; we awake in the morning to the light of 
thy love. We thank thee for another night of rest 
and comfort ; for another day of life, health, and 
hope. Lord ! may we be found faithful to thee 
in the duties of this day ! and, amid its temptations 
and its trials, do thou sustain us, comfort us, keep 
us, and grant us grace in all we do to seek thy 
glory. May this household, which thou hast so 
blessed, serve thee, not at this altar only, but in all 
the walks of life ! As we engage in the business of 
the world, as we go into society, wherever we are, 
and whatever we do, may we remember thee, and 
do thy will ! Oh ! grant that every member of this 
family may be a child of God ; a humble, faithful 



follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bless all dear 
to us who are absent from us. Do thou, Lord ! 
dwell by thy Spirit in the hearts and the minds 
of all our friends. We supplicate thy mercy 
for the needy, the afflicted, the bereaved, and the 
sorrowing. Oh ! grant to all the consolations of 
thy gospel. 

Build up thy Church, O Lord ! Pill our land 
with pure religion. Bless the industry of the peo- 
ple ; and may its fruit be consecrated to the good 
of men ! May our rulers be faithful and just, walk- 
ing in thy fear ! And we beseech thee to bring all 
lands under the power and glory of thy kingdom. 
In thy great mercy, Lord ! forgive our sins, and 
bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus 
Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



312 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Proverbs ix. — 1. Wisdom hath builded her 
house ; she hath hewn out her seven pillars ; 

2. She hath killed her beasts ; she hath mingled 
her wine ; she hath also furnished her table ; 

3. She hath sent forth her maidens ; she crieth 
upon the highest places of the city, 

4. Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither : as 
for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to 
him, 

5. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the 
wine which I have mingled. 

6. Forsake the foolish, and live ; and go in the 
way of understanding. 

Luke xiv. — 15. And, when one of them that 
sat at meat with him heard these things, he said 
unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the 
kingdom of God. 

16. Then said he unto him, A certain man made 
a great supper, and bade many ; 

17. And sent his servant at supper-time to say 
to them that were bidden, Come ; for all things are 
now ready. 



18. And they all with one consent began to 
make excuse. The first said unto him, I have 
bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go 
and see it : I pray thee have me excused. 

19. And another said, I have bought five yoke 
of oxen, and 1 go to prove them : I pray thee have 
me excused. 

20. And another said, I have married a wife ; 
and therefore I cannot come. 

21. So that servant came, and showed his lord 
these things. Then the master of the house, being 
angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the 
streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither 
the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the 
blind. 

22. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as 
thou hast commanded ; and yet there is room. 

23. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out 
into the highways and hedges, and compel them 
to come in, that my house may be filled ; 

24. For I say unto you, that none of those men 
which were bidden shall taste of my supper. 



That careful observer of Oriental life, Dr. W. H. Thomson, 
states, that, in Lebanon, the custom of repeating the invitation 
to a feast still exists. " If a sheik, bey, or emir, invites, he 
always sends a servant to call you at the proper time. This 
servant often repeats the very formula mentioned in Luke 
xiv. 17, Tcfuddul a, el'asha hdder, — 'Come; for the supper is 
ready.' The fact that this custom is mainly confined to the 
wealthy and the nobility is in strict agreement with the para- 
ble, where the certain man who made the great supper, and 
bade many, is supposed to be of this class. It is true, now 
as then, that to refuse is a high insult to the maker of the 
feast ; nor would such excuses as those in the parable be more 
acceptable to a Druse emir than they were to the lord of this 
great supper." 



The feast in the parable is the grace of the gospel ; and 
Christ is the provider : it is prepared upon the amplest scale : 
the invitation is freely given, and is urged by repeated mes- 
sengers. All the excuses proceed from worklliness, and are 
mere pretexts. The Jews who read the first invitation, especi- 
ally those to whom the calls of the prophets were familiar, 
rejected their Messiah : the apostles were sent with urgency 
to the poor, the despised, the outcast, in Israel itself; and the 
first-fruits of the gospel were gathered from these. But no 
limits of nation, race, or time, could confine this free salva- 
tion : they must go with it into all the world, to every creature. 
Millions have already come ; " and yet there is room." None 
are debased save by their own refusal ; and all who come and 
taste the grace should swell the call, " There yet is room." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 11, 42, 93. 



Our Father in heaven, we come to thee with 
wants which thou knowest far better than we, and 
for blessings which thou art more ready to give 
than we to ask. But thou hast bidden us to pray ; 
and we love to come, saying, Our Father. Oh, 
may we have the spirit of little children, and show 
our love and gratitude in lives of devotion ! Thou 
hast kept us in the watches of the night from every 
trouble, sorrow, and alarm ; and now we bless thee 
for the day, for life and health, for food and rai- 
ment, for home and friends, for means of education 
and of enjoyment, for means of occupation and of 
support, for means of improvement in the knowl- 
edge of thyself, and for opportunities of doing good 
to others. Oh ! grant us grace that we may use to 
thy glory the lives which thou didst give, and 
which thy mercy doth continually spare. 

We acknowledge, Lord ! our un worthiness 
and our sinfulness, and beseech thee to pardon our 
transgressions, and heal our infirmities. Help us 
this day to live aright. In the business of life 



may we be diligent, faithful, and true ! and do thou, 
Lord, prosper the labor of our hands. In our in- 
tercourse with others, may we manifest the gentle- 
ness, the sincerity, the charity, of the gospel ot 
Christ ! May we be patient under trials, meek 
under injuries, firm against temptation, bold for 
the truth, zealous for thy cause ! May we be kind 
to the poor, helpful to the suffering, gentle toward 
all men ! [Give unto these children, Lord ! 
grace to serve thee in the morning of life, and in 
their thoughts and words, their studies and their 
play, always to please their Father in heaven.] 
Remember with thy mercy all our friends. 
Build up, Lord ! thy Church ; prosper thy king- 
dom in our land, and throughout the world. Ever 
guide, keep, and bless us. May we live as pil- 
grims in the world, seeking that better country 
which is the home of thy saints ! Bring us to the 
close of the day in peace, and to the close of life 
in a hope full of immortality, through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



313 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Psalm xcv. — 1. Oh! come, let us sing unto the 
Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of 
our salvation. 

2. Let us come before his presence with thanks- 
giving, and make a joyful noise unto him with 
psalms. 

3. For the Lord is a great God, and a great 
King above all gods. 

4. In his hand are the deep places of the earth : 
the strength of the hills is his also. 

5. The sea is his, and he made it ; and his hands 
formed the dry land. 

6. Oh ! come, let us worship, and bow down ; let 
us kneel before the Lord our maker. 

7. For he is our God ; and we are the people of 
his pasture, aud the sheep of his hand. 

Isaiah xl. — 9. Zion, that briugest good 
tidings ! get thee up into the high mountain : 
Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings ! lift up thy 
voice with strength ; lift it up ; be not afraid ; say 
unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 

10. Behold, the Lord God will come with strong 
hand, and his arm shall rule for him : behold, his 
reward is with him, and his work before him. 



11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he 
shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry 
them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those 
that are with young. 

12. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow 
of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, 
and comprehended the dust of the earth in a 
measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, 
and the hills in a balance ? 

13. Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, 
or, being his counsellor, hath taught him ? 

14. With whom took he counsel, and who in- 
structed him, and taught him in the path of judg- 
ment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to 
him the way of understanding? 

15. Behold, the nations are as a drop of a 
bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the 
balance : behold, he taketh up the isles as a very 
little thing. 

16. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor 
the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt-offering. 

17. All nations before him are as nothing ; and 
they are counted to him less than nothing, and 
vanity. 



Zion is the type of the Church, the seat of spiritual life 
and power, which has received the good tidings of salvation 
to be carried to all people. Conscious of her Saviour's pres- 
ence, of the dignity of her calling, of the strength of her 
position, of the glory of her office, of the rewards of her 
work, she should go forward courageously to proclaim the 
message of the Most High. Does the wisdom of this world 
affect to scorn that message 1 Is the preaching of the cross 
foolishness ? But what progress has science yet made toward 
measuring the heavens, and weighing the earth, and fathom- 
ing the deep ? How far short does it come of comprehending 
the works of God ! And where is the philosophy that has yet 
begun to comprehend God himself? that has fathomed his 
understanding, or divined his counsel ? What human spirit 



has measured the Spirit of the Lord ? The scheme of redemp- 
tion is so vast and glorious, that only the Infinite Mind could 
have conceived it, and only Infinite Love could have brought 
it to pass. 

Do the powers of this world attempt to hinder the Church 
of God ? But in his sight all the gathered nations are as a 
drop, as the dust that a breath would puff away. No empire 
— Rome, France, Spain, Turkey, Austria — can stand against 
the march of the divine ideas. Yet this God of infinite power 
and majesty, of infinite wisdom and truth, is gentle and loving 
to his people as a shepherd to his flock, guarding the weak- 
est and most delicate with the tenderest care. Never shall 
the taunts or threats of the world separate us from such 
love! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 79, 93, 100. 



We adore thee, Lord our God ! that thou hast 
not merely revealed to us a heaven to come, but 
hast assured us that there are yet good things in 
store for this earth which we inhabit, and which 
has so long groaned under the curse of sin. We 
pray that thou wilt shorten these days of igno- 
rance, wickedness, and folly, and hasten the reign 
of the Lord Jesus. Help us, Lord our God! 
that we may not rnerely pray, but may also labor 
to the utmost to spread thy gospel and extend 
thy kingdom. Grant, Lord, upon this thy day, 
that thy Church may be filled with thy Spirit, 
and may shine in the beauty of holiness. Show 
forth thy glory among the heathen, and let all the 
ends of the earth see the salvation of God. 

Oh ! fill us with the love of Him who went about 
doing good. May we glorify thee by bringing forth 
much fruit ! Thou hast commanded and encour- 
aged us, Lord ! to make prayers and intercessions 



for all men. We commend to thee the members 
of this family, present or absent. May all be par- 
takers of th}' grace ! [Bless the children. Cause 
them to remember thee, their Creator, in the days 
of their youth. Sanctify them by thy grace ; 
guide them by thy Spirit; and enable them in 
all things to prove themselves thy faithful and 
obedient children. Preserve them in health and 
strength, if it seem good in thy sight ; but oh ! 
above all, save them with an everlasting salva- 
tion.] 

We commend ourselves to thy merciful protec- 
tion and kindness for this day. Preserve us from 
all evil ; and, in all our thoughts and words and 
actions, may we honor our Lord and Saviour ! 

And unto Him who has been with us all our life 
long, — our Creator, our Preserver, our Benefactor, 
and our Redeemer, — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
— be glory both now and forever. Amen. 



314 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



I Kings xix. — 15. And the Lord said unto 
him [Elijah], Go, return on thy way to the wilder- 
ness of Damascus ; and, when thou comest, anoint 
Hazael to be king over Syria : 

16. And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou 
anoint to be king over Israel ; and Elisha the son 
of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to 
be prophet in thy room. 

17. And it shall come to pass that him that 
escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay ; and 
him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall 
Elisha slay. 

18. Yet I have left vie seven thousand in 
Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto 
Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed 
him. 

19. So he departed thence, and found Elisha the 
son of Shaphat, who was ploughing with twelve 
yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth ; 
and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle 
upon him. 

20. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, 
and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and 
my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he 
said unto him, Go back again ; for what have I 
done to thee ? 

21. And he returned back from him, and took 
a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their 
flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave 
unto the people, and they did eat. Then he 



How beautiful appears the faith of these early disciples in 
giving up all their living for the service of Christ ! and this 
for no motive of earthly reward. They did not act from an 
impulse of enthusiasm. They had been followers of John 
the Baptist, had heard his testimony to Jesus, and had 
attached themselves to the new teacher. They had witnessed 
his knowledge of Nathanael's heart and life, his first miracle 
at Cana of Galilee, and other signs of his divine power, and 
so had come to look upon him as at least a mighty prophet, 
and probably the promised Messiah. At this very time, as 
Luke narrates it, Jesus had guided these fishermen by his 
word ; so that, after a night of fruitless toil, they now caught 
" a great multitude of fishes." They had good evidence of 



arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto 
him. 

Matthew iv. — 18. And Jesus, walking by the 
Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called 
Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into 
the sea ; for they were fishers. 

19. And he saith unto them, Eollow me, and I 
will make you fishers of men. 

20. And they straightway left their nets, and 
followed him. 

21. And, going on from thence, he saw other 
two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John 
his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, 
mending their nets ; and he called them. 

22. And they immediately left the ship and 
their father, and followed him. 

23. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching 
in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of 
the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness 
and all manner of disease among the people. 

24. And his fame went throughout all Syria : 
and they brought unto him all sick people that 
were taken with divers diseases and torments, and 
those which were possessed with devils, and those 
which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy ; 
and he healed them. 

25. And there followed him great multitudes of 
people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and 
from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from 
beyond Jordan. 



his character to go upon in obeying him ; but their simple- 
hearted confidence is none the less beautiful. It is as hard for 
a poor man to give up his livelihood as for a rich man to 
give up property. But these men gave up all ; and this for 
no temporal gain, but that they rcnght bring others to Christ. 
So Elisha left his home, his parents, his occupation, and 
hastened to enroll himself as a prophet of the Lord. So 
the Master now calls upon many a young man to give up all 
worldly prospects, and devote himself to the ministry. So he 
calls upon every one in heart to renounce all things for his 
sake. But whoever does this shall have the sure and eternal 
rewards of his kingdom. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 5, 42, 93. 



God, whose mercy is from everlasting to ever- 
lasting ! we bless thee for all the tokens of promise 
given us in thy past mercies, for the hope of im- 
mortality, the joy unspeakable and full of glory 
brought to us in thy gospel and in the worship of 
thy house this day. At the end of the Lord's day, 
we would thank thee for its hours of rest, and for 
its means of grace. 

Hasten, Lord ! that blessed time when thy 
kingdom shall have come, and all shall know thee, 
from the least even to the greatest. Turn unto 
thyself the hearts of the heathen and the unbe- 
lieving. Pour out more and more upon thy people 
the spirit of grace and supplication, the spirit of 



zeal and self-devotion, the spirit of holy fear and 
Christian love. We beseech thee to raise up many 
who shall preach the gospel of tlvy grace, that the 
world may be filled with thy praise. 

To thee, heavenly Father, we commend ourselves 
this night. thou Good Shepherd ! watch over 
us, the sheep of thy pasture. Holy Ghost, the 
Comforter ! guide and hallow our thoughts. 

Thou in whom all families are blessed, bless 
thou our kindred and friends. May all who are 
united to us be with us united to thee ; be with 
us presented by thee in the presence of thy Father 
with exceeding joy! And to the Father, the Son, 
and the Holy Ghost, be glory everlasting. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



315 



MONDAY. 



Acts xxvii. — 21. But, after long abstinence, 
Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, 
Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not 
have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this 
harm and loss. 

22. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer ; 
for there shall be no loss of any man's life among 
you, but of the ship. 

23. For there stood by me this night the angel 
of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 

24. Saying, Pear not, Paul ; thou must be 
brought before Csesar: and, lo, God hath given 
thee all them that sail with thee. 

25. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer ; for I be- 
lieve God, that it shall be even as it was told me. 

26. Howbeit, we must be cast upon a certain 
island. 

27. But, when the fourteenth night was come, 
as we were driven up and down in Adria, about 
midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near 
to some country ; 

28. And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms ; 
and, when they had gone a little farther, they 
sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 

29. Then, fearing lest we should have fallen 
upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the 
stern, and wished for the day. 

30. And as the shipmen were about to flee out 
of the ship, when they had let down the boat into 
the sea, under color as though they would have 
cast anchors out of the foreship, 

31. Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, 
Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 



32. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the 
boat, and let her fall off. 

33. And, while the day was coming on, Paul be- 
sought them all to take meat, saying, This day is 
the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and con- 
tinued fasting, having taken nothing. 

34. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat ; 
for this is for your health : for there shall not a 
hair fall from the head of any of you. 

35. And, when he had thus spoken, he took 
bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them 
all ; and, when he had broken it, he began to eat. 

38. And, when they had eaten enough, they 
lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into 
the sea. 

39. And, when it was day, they knew not the 
land ; but they discovered a certain creek with a 
shore, into the which thej r were minded, if it were 
possible, to thrust in the ship. 

41. And, falling into a place where two seas met, 
they ran the ship aground ; and the forepart stuck 
fast, and remained unmovable ; but the hinder 
part was broken with the violence of the waves. 

42. And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the 
prisoners, lest any of them should swim out and 
escape. 

43. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, 
kept them from their purpose, and commanded 
that they which could swim should cast them- 
selves first into the sea, and get to land ; 

44. And the rest, some on boards, and some 
on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to 
pass that they escaped all safe to land. 



Paul had advised against the voyage which now came to 
such a disastrous end. The soundness of his judgment, to- 
gether with the character he had exhibited in danger, inspired 
such confidence, that the seamen, worn out by watching, 
fasting, and toil, were revived by his assurance of their safety. 
His practical good sense was again shown in preventing the 
desertion of the sailors, without whose strength and skill the 
passengers could not hope to be saved. Here is a striking 
illustration of the harmony of God's foreknowledge with 
human freedom. An angel had announced to Paul without 
qualification, that, though the ship would be wrecked, not a 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



life should be lost. But Paul was no fatalist : he used his 
common sense ; and, when he saw the sailors trying to escape, 
he said, " Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved." 
Both statements were true ; and a third thing was also true, — 
that the sailors would be kept on board, and this by the free 
agency of Paul and the centurion. God's foreseeing does not 
hinder man's free acting. 

The scene of this shipwreck was the Island of Malta; and 
the name, " St. Paul's Bay," has been given to a small tongue 
of land where " two seas meet ; " and, during a storm, the 
waves beat strongly from opposite quarters. 



Prayer 

Heavenly Pather, we bless thee for the light of 
the morning. Oh for a heart to love thee, to 
praise thee, to serve thee, as we ought ! Thou 
didst create us for thy glory ; thou hast enriched 
us with thy bounty ; thou hast redeemed us with 
the precious blood of thy Son ; thou hast sent forth 
thy Spirit into our hearts to quicken us to a new 
life, that we might receive the adoption of chil- 
dren. Disobedient and unthankful children we 
have been ; and we confess our waywardness and 
our sin. Forgive us, we beseech thee, our 
Pather ! for the sake of thy dear Son. 



[Nos. 69, 168, 178. 

We pray thee this day to deliver us from tempta- 
tion, to defend us from evil. Make sure to this 
family the mercies of thy covenant. Remember 
all dear to us. Visit, Lord ! with thy grace, the 
community in which we live. Bless thy Church 
here, and in our land, and throughout the world. 
Oh ! send thy salvation to all people. We beseech 
thee to comfort the poor, the sick, the sorrow- 
ing, the dying ; and, Lord ! when heart and 
flesh shall fail us, be thou the strength of our 
heart, and our portion forever, for Christ's sake. 
Amen. 



»d 



316 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Acts xxviii. — 1. And when they were escaped, 
then they knew that the island was called Melita. 

2. And the barbarous people showed us no little 
kindness ; for they kindled a fire, and received us 
every one, because of the present rain, and be- 
cause of the cold. 

3. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of 
sticks, and laid 'them on the fire, there came a 
viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 

4. And, when the barbarians saw the venomous 
beast hang on his hand, they said among them- 
selves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, 
though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suf- 
fereth not to live. 

5. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and 
felt no harm. 

6. Howbeit, they looked when he should have 
swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly ; but after 
they had looked a great while, and saw no harm 
come to him, they changed their minds, and said 
that he was a god. 

7. In the same quarters were possessions of the 
chief man of the island, whose name was Publius ; 
who received us, and lodged us three days cour- 
teously. 



8. And it came to pass that the father of Pub- 
lius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody-flux ; to 
whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his 
hands on him, and healed him. 

9. So, when this was done, others also which 
had diseases in the island came, and were healed ; 

10. Who also honored us with many honors ; 
and, when we departed, they laded us with such 
things as were necessary. 

11. And, after three months, we departed in a 
ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the 
isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. 

12. And, landing at Syracuse, we tarried there 
three days. 

13. And from thence we fetched a compass, 
and came to Rhegium : and after one day the 
south wind blew, and we came the next day to 
Puteoli, 

14. Where we found brethren, and were desired 
to tarry with them seven days ; and so we went 
toward Rome. 

15. And from thence, when the brethren heard 
of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii-forum 
and the Three Taverns ; whom when Paul saw, 
he thanked God, and took courage. 



The term " barbarians " here means nothing more than 
that the natives of Malta used a language foreign to the 
Greek and the Roman. The island lay in the great highway 
of commerce : it had a Roman governor, and its people were 
civilized and friendly. The belief in a retributive Providence 
is well-nigh universal in the human mind ; and the tendency 
to connect particular calamities with specific sins, though 
often misleading, is but one phase of the testimony of con- 
science to the deserts of wrong-doers. " The viper was prob- 
ably in a torpid state, and was suddenly restored to activity 
by the heat." A viper will dart at its enemy, sometimes sev- 
eral feet at a bound. Sudden collapse and death ensue often 
from the bite of serpents. Shakspeare speaks as a naturalist 
when he says of the asp-bitten Cleopatra, — 



" Trembling she stood, and on the sudden dropped." 

It was human nature to jump from the abhorrence of Paul 
as a murderer to the worship of him as a god ; though we 
more commonly see the process reversed. 

Whoever visits Naples should not fail to drive out to Poz- 
zuoli, eight miles distant, and see the remains of the ancient 
pier upon which Paul landed when his feet first touched the 
coast of Italy. Here he was greeted with a fraternal wel- 
come, and refreshed with Christian sympathy. Though the 
ancient pride of castles and palaces that once adorned that 
coast has long since crumbled into ruin, the great apostle 
lives, not as a memory merely, but as a perpetual power. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 27, 32, 44. 



Lord, our heavenly Father ! we have nothing 
to bring to thee but our wants, and such poor re- 
turn of love and gratitude and praise as these 
hearts can render for thy goodness. As thou dost 
cause our lives to overflow with thy mercies, so do 
thou fill our hearts to overflowing with thy Spirit, 
that we may thank thee and praise thee as we 
ought. The morning calls us again to praise thee 
for thy loving-kindness in the night-season ; and 
every day renews the tokens of thy bounty. Every 
good gift cometh down from thee, the Father of 
lights ; and though we are so changeful in our love, 
so inconstant in our service, with thee there is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning. Bind us 
to thyself, our Father ! by the mighty attraction 
of thy love in Christ our Saviour. 

We pray thee keep us this day from temptation, 
evil, and sin. Prosper us in our lawful undertak- 



ings : may we be upright in our dealings, true and 
kind in our speech, gentle and patient in our 
spirit, pure and holy in our walk ! May we do 
good to all as we shall have opportunity, and so ex- 
hibit in our lives the graces of the gospel, that we 
shall win others to the love of Christ ! And we 
pray that multitudes may be won to the Saviour; 
that thy Church may increase ; that missions may 
prosper ; that thy Word may be given to all people. 
Have mercy upon the poor, the outcast, the suffer- 
ing, the afflicted and bereaved ; and grant unto all 
the consolations of thy grace. 

We thank thee for our home, and pray thee to 
bless us with all things that we need as a family. 
Bless the absent who are dear to us; and bring 
them, together with us, we beseech thee, unto thy 
heavenly kingdom ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



317 



WEDNESDAY. 



Acts xxviii. — 16. And, when we came to Rome, 
the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain 
of the guard ; hut Paul was suffered to dwell hy 
himself, with a soldier that kept him. 

17. And it came to pass, that, after three days, 
Paul called the chief of the Jews together. And, 
when they were come together, he said unto them, 
Men and brethren, though I have committed 
nothing against the people, or customs of our fa- 
thers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem 
into the hands of the Romans ; 

18. Who, when they had examined me, would 
have let me go, because there was no cause of 
death in me. 

19. But, when the Jews spake against it, I was 
constrained to appeal unto Caesar ; not that I had 
aught to accuse my nation of. 

20. For this cause, therefore, have I called for 
you, to see you, and to speak with you ; because 
that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this 
chain. 

21. And they said unto him, We neither re- 
ceived letters out of Judaea concerning thee, nei- 
ther any of the brethren that came showed or 
spake any harm of thee. 

22. But we desire to hear of thee, what thou 
thinkest ; for, as concerning this sect, we know 
that everywhere it is spoken against. 

23. And, when they had appointed him a day, 
there came many to him into his lodging ; to 
whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of 



So long a time had elapsed since the arrest of Paul at Je- 
rusalem, that his accusers had neglected to arrange for the 
prosecution of his trial before Caesar ; and the Roman gov- 
ernment had not begun to concern itself about Christianity, 
which it regarded as merely a form of belief among the Jews. 
Moreover, at this time, the wise, upright, and amiable Seneca 
still had influence over his wayward pupil Nero, and a friend 
of Seneca was in command at Rome. No doubt the centu- 
rion had spoken a good word for Paul ; and so he was allowed 
liberty, with the single exception of being chained by his 
wrists to a soldier. 



God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out 
of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from 
morning till evening. 

24. And some believed the things which were 
spoken, and some believed not. 

25. And, when they agreed not among them- 
selves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken 
one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias 
the prophet unto our fathers, 

26. Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hear- 
ing ye shall hear, and shall not understand ; and 
seeing ye shall see, and not perceive. 

27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, 
and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes 
have they closed; lest they should see with their 
eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand 
with their heart, and should be converted, and I 
should heal them. 

28. Be it known, therefore, unto you, that the 
salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and 
that they will hear it. 

29. And, when he had said these words, the 
Jews departed, and had great reasoning among 
themselves. 

30. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his 
own hired house, and received all that came in 
unto him, 

31. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teach- 
ing those things which concerned the Lord Jesus 
Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding 
him. 



Had Paul chosen to keep quiet, and to study favor, he 
might soon have gained his discharge. But he had yearned 
to preach Christ at Rome ; and the Lord had sent him there 
to bear witness for the gospel. Therefore, though he knew 
that his doctrine would stir up the enmity of the Jews, he 
preached with all boldness concerning Christ. For two years 
he was unmolested, though still a prisoner held for trial. But, 
at the end of that time, Nero, having married an infamous 
Jewess, was stirred up by her to persecute the Christians. 
Paul was put in close confinement, brought twice to trial, 
and finally beheaded. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 5, 84, 88. 



Lord, who by the example of thy blessed 
apostle Paul hast taught us to forget those things 
which are behind, and to reach forth unto those 
things that are before ! give us grace this day that 
we may press toward the mark for the prize of our 
high calling of thee in Christ Jesus. May we 
lay aside every weight, and the sins which so easi- 
ly beset us, and run with patience the race set 
before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and 
finisher of our faith ! As he for the joy set be- 
fore him endured the cross, despising the shame; 
even so may we ever have before us our heavenly 
reward, and in like manner not fear what men can 
do unto us, if we may only acceptably serve thee. 



In the constant sense of our membership of 
Christ ; in the unfailing thought that we are his 
soldiers and servants ; in the love for our Father's 
house, and the blessed hope of our eternal home, — 
Lord, preserve and keep us. 

For the mercies of the past night ; for the health 
and comfort with which we begin the day ; for the 
provision for our wants ; for means of improve- 
ment, of enjoyment, and of usefulness, — we hum- 
bly thank thee, the Giver of all good. Bless all 
dear to us ; multiply the preachers of thy gospel ; 
turn opposers and persecutors into witnesses for 
thee ; and subdue all hearts unto thyself, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



318 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Judges v. — 1. Then sang Deborah and Barak 
the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, 

2. Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, 
when the people willingly offered themselves. 

4. Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when 
thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth 
trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also 
dropped water. 

5. The mountains melted from before the Lord, 
even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel. 

6. In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in 
the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, 
and the travellers walked through by-ways. 

7. The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they 
ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I 
arose a mother in Israel. 

19. The kings came and fought, then fought the 
kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Me- 
giddo : they took no gain of money. 

20. They fought from heaven : the stars in their 
courses fought against Sisera. 

21. The River of Kishon swept them awaj% that 
ancient river, the River Kishon. O my soul ! thou 
hast trodden down strength. 

22. Then were the horse-hoofs broken by the 
means of the prancings, the prancings of their 
mighty ones. 

23. Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, 
curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof ; because 



After the death of Joshua, the want of a strong central 
government and of a recognized leader soon made itself felt. 
The tribes which had moved: together as one camp, and had 
fought as one compact army, now assumed a local independ- 
ence which tended to draw them apart. Some of them affili- 
ated with the native population, and even adopted their gods. 
To the north, the Canaanites, yet unsubdued, kept up a border 
warfare ; and a famous general, Sisera, made himself such a 
terror, that villages were abandoned, and the highways de- 
serted. He threatened to overrun the whole country. In 
this state of things, a woman of poetic and prophetic gifts ral- 
lied her countrymen to make a stand. The two armies met in 
the great Plain of Jezreel, or Esdraelon. . This plain stretches 
across Central Palestine, from the Mediterranean to the Jor- 
dan. On the north it is bounded by the hills of Galilee, on 



they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help 
of the Lord against the mighty. 

24. Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of 
Heber the Kenite be ; blessed shall she be above 
women in the tent. 

25. He asked water, and she gave him milk: 
she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. 

26. She put her hand to the nail, and her right 
baud to the workmen's hammer; and with the ham- 
mer she smote Sisera; she smote off his head when 
she had pierced and stricken through his temples. 

27. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down ; 
at her feet he bowed, he fell : where he bowed, 
there he fell down dead. 

28. The mother of Sisera looked out at a win- 
dow, and cried through the lattice, Why is his 
chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels 
of his chariots? 

29. Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she re- 
turned answer to herself, 

30. Have they not sped ? have they not divided 
the prey ? to every man a damsel or two ; to Sisera 
a prey of divers colors, a prey of divers colors of 
needle-work, of divers colors of needle-work on both 
sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil ? 

31. So let all thine enemies perish, Lord ! but 
let them that love him be as the sun when he 
goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest 
forty years. 



the south by Carmel ; and toward the east it is divided into 
forks by Little Hermon and the mountains of Gilboa. On 
the northern fork stands Mount Tabor, where Barak gathered 
his troops. As these swept down upon the enemy, a terrific 
storm scattered the hosts of Sisera; and multitudes were 
drowned in the River Kishon, which, under a sudden rain, rises 
rapidly to a great flood. Sisera, fleeing, took refuge in the 
tent of Jael, who drove a tent-pin through his head as he lay 
asleep. The grandeur of the tempest — the heavens in array 
against the enemy — is followed by a touching and most wo- 
manly picture of the mother of Sisera awaiting his trium- 
phant return. The eurse upon those Israelitish cities that 
refused to help their brethren is a perpetual warning to the 
sluggish and time-serving in the Church. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 56,85, 101. 



Lord God! our fathers trusted in thee, and 
were not ashamed ; and in thy love we would con- 
fide for ever and ever. In health and in sickness, 
in hope and in sorrow, in enjoyment and in suffer- 
ing, we would look up to the hills, whence cometh 
our help; and we pray that we may have the per- 
fect peace of those whose minds are stayed upon 
the Lord. 

We thank thee for the mercies of another night, 
and for the goodness thou hast provided with the 
opening day. The sun has spread its light over 
the world ; the earth is bringing forth renewed 



supplies of good. We bless thee, Lord ! for all 
thy gifts, and pray thee be merciful to us in our 
renewed wants, and visit us with thy salvation. 
Continue to us, we entreat thee, the gifts of thy 
providence ; and pour upon us the blessings of thy 
grace. Go forth with us, Lord! to the engage- 
ments, the trials, the duties, and the pleasures which 
await us to-day. Oh ! keep us from evil and sin. 
Bless all who are dear to us by any tie ; all who are 
in any want, trouble, or sorrow. Deliver thy Clmrch 
in her conflicts, and hasten the final triumph of 
thy kingdom, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



319 



FRIDAY. 



Judges vii. — 2. And the Lord said unto Gide- 
on, The people that are with thee are too many for 
me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest 
Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine 
own hand hath saved me. 

3. Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the 
people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let 
him return, and depart early from Mount Gilead. 
And there returned of the people twenty and two 
thousand ; and there remained ten thousand. 

4. And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people 
are yet too many : bring them down unto the wa- 
ter, and I will try them for thee there : and it 
shall be that of whom I say unto thee, This shall 
go with thee, the same shall go with thee ; and of 
■whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go 
with thee, the same shall not go. 

5. So he brought down the people unto the wa- 
ter: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one 
that lappeth of the water with his tongue as a dog 
lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise 
every one that boweth down upon his knees to 
drink. 

6. And the number of them that lapped, put- 
ting their hand to their mouth, were three hun- 
dred men ; but all the rest of the people bowed 
down upon their knees to drink water. 

7. And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three 



For forty years after Barak's victory, the Israelites were 
unmolested ; but by degrees they relapsed into the idolatry 
which had provoked their former chastisements, and, in this 
state of moral degeneracy, again became a prey to their neigh- 
bors. The roving tribes of the Arabian desert, like locusts for 
multitude, first laid waste the southern border of Palestine; 
then, passing to the east, swarmed over the Jordan into the 
Plain of Jezreel. But the Lord had raised up a new cham- 
pion for Israel in a devout and resolute man of the tribe of 
Manassah. Gideon had boldly overthrown the altar of Baal, 
and had begun a religious reformation. God had given him 
a twofold sign of his call, — first in a fleece of wool made moist 
with dew while the ground was dry, and next in the same 
fleece kept dry while there was a heavy dew all around it. 



hundred men that lapped will I save you, and de- 
liver the Midianites into thine hand ; and let all 
the other people go every man unto his place. 

16. And he divided the three hundred men into 
three companies ; and he put a trumpet in every 
man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps with- 
in the pitchers. 

17. And he said unto them, Look on me, and do 
likewise ; and, behold, when I come to the outside 
of the camp, it shall be, that as I do, so shall ye do. 

18. When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that 
are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on 
every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of 
the Lord and of Gideon. 

19. So Gideon, and the hundred men that tcere 
with him, came unto the outside of the camp in 
the beginning of the middle watch ; and they had 
but newly set the watch : and they blew the trum- 
pets, and brake the pitchers that were in their 
hands. 

20. And the three companies blew the trumpets, 
and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their 
left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands 
to blow withal ; and they cried, The sword of the 
Lord and of Gideon. 

21. And they stood every man in his place 
round about the camp ; and all the host ran and 
cried and fled. 



As Jehovah had punished, so now Jehovah would deliver 
in a way to manifest his glory. Gideon's army was reduced 
to a number ridiculously small in a military point of view; 
but these three hundred picked men were alert and resolute. 
A panic in an army is contagious, and soon becomes incon- 
trollable. This is notably true of the great, motley, undis- 
ciplined hordes of an Eastern army. The stratagem of 
Gideon caused such a panic. Startled in the night by the 
sound of trumpets and the glare of torches on all sides of 
the camp, and by a war-cry echoing along the hills, the 
Midianites supposed themselves surrounded, and in the dark- 
ness and fright fell upon one another, and fled in a com- 
plete rout. So the Lord can make all our enemies to flee 
before us. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 133, 149, 193. 



God, who makest the outgoings of the morn- 
ing and the evening to rejoice ! we bless thee that 
ours has not been a night of anguish and sorrow. 
We lift up our hearts to thee with thanksgiving for 
the joy of another day ; for vigor for its duties, ap- 
petite for its pleasures, and readiness for its oppor- 
tunities of good. Bless us in our labors, keep us 
pure in our enjoyments, incite us to do thy will ; 
and oh ! we beseech thee, preserve us from harm, 
from temptation, and from sin. Keep us from 
that love and that fear of this world which would 
estrange us from thee. 

Seeing that we know not what a day may bring 
forth, we pray, that, if trials and disappointments 



shall come, we may have grace to meet them and 
to profit by them ; that in all events we may see 
the hand of our Father, and may say, "Thy will be 
done." Conscious of our weakness, humbly confess- 
ing our sins, we cast ourselves upon thine infinite 
grace in Christ our Saviour for pardon, strength, 
and sanctification. May we as a family honor thee 
in our daily walk and conversation ! May old and 
young alike know the beauty of holiness, the joy 
of consecration to Christ ! Grant thy grace to all 
who are dear to us ; and grant us grace to hold all 
men dear for Christ's sake, and to win them to the 
knowledge of his gospel. And to him, with the 
Father and the Spirit, be glory forever. Amen. 



320 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Judges xvi. — IS. And, when Delilah saw that 
he [Samson] had told her all his heart, she sent 
and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, 
Come up this once ; for he hath showed me all his 
heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up 
unto her, and brought money in their hand. 

19. And she made him sleep upon her knees ; 
and she called for a man, and she caused him to 
shave off the seven locks of his head ; and she 
began to afflict him, and his strength went from 
him. 

20. And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, 
Samson ! And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, 
I will go out as at other times before, and shake 
myself. And he wist not that the Lord was de- 
parted from him. 

21. But the Philistines took him, and put out 
his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and 
bound him with fetters of brass ; and he did 
grind in the prison-house. 

22. Howbeit, the hair of his head began to grow 
again after he was shaven. 

23. Then the lords of the Philistines gathered 
them together for to offer a ^reat sacrifice unto Da- 
gon their god, and to rejoice ; for they said, Our god 
hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. 

24. And, when the people saw him, they praised 
their god : for they said, Our god hath delivered 
into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of 
our country ; which slew many of us. 



From Gideon, the type of moral courage, we turn to 
Samson, the hero of physical strength. The Philistines 
still held the coast of the Mediterranean from Carmel 
down to Gaza, and had even subjugated the Israelites 
upon their immediate borders. Samson was consecrated 
to the Lord under the vow of a Nazarite, which forbade 
his head to be shorn. While yet a young man, he tore 
asunder a lion that rushed upon him from the woods. A 
swarm of wild bees made honey in the lion's carcass ; and 
Samson, who married a Philistine, put forth a riddle to 
the young men who came to his wedding-feast : " Out of 
the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came 
forth sweetness." They got his wife to coax the answer 



25. And it came to pass, when their hearts 
were merry, that they said, Call for Samson 
that he may make us sport. And they called 
for Samson out of the prison-house, and he 
made them sport ; and they set him between 
the pillars. 

26. And Samson said unto the lad that held him 
by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars 
whereupon the house standeth, that I niay lean 
upon them. 

27. Now, the house was full of men and women ; 
and all the lords of the Philistines were there; 
and there were upon the roof about three thousand 
men and women, that beheld while Samson made 
sport. 

28. And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, 
Lord God ! remember me, I pray thee, and 
strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, God ! 
that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines 
for my two eyes. 

29. And Samson took hold of the two middle 
pillars upon which the house stood, and on which 
it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, 
and of the other with his left. 

30. And Samson said, Let me die with the 
Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his 
might ; and the house fell upon the lords, and 
upon all the people that were therein. So the 
dead which he slew at his death were more than 
they which he slew in his life. 



out of him : " What is sweeter than honey 1 and what is 
stronger than a lion ? " Incensed at their duplicity, Sam- 
son took revenge upon the Philistines, and made his name 
a terror throue;hout their country. At last, they pre- 
vailed upon his wife to entice from him the secret of his 
strength ; and when, at last, he told it, they deprived him of 
sight, and mocked him as their prisoner. The terrible ven- 
geance which he executed upon his enemies helped to rid his 
country of their power. The character of Samson is not a 
model, but a warning, showing how extraordinary gifts from 
God may be abused by strong sensual passions ; and the 
greatest hero, by dallying in the lap of pleasure, may be shorn 
of his strength and renown. 



Appropriate Htmns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 132, 136, 140. 



God, who hast spared our lives, and brought 
us to the beginning of another day! we lift up 
our hearts to thee. We thank thee for rest 
during the past night ; for life preserved, and 
strength renewed ; and for the many tokens of 
thy loving-kindness which surround us. May 
we ever have true gratitude for thy mercies, 
and never grieve thee by a hard and unthank- 
ful heart ! 

Lord, watch over us, and all who are dear 
to us, this day. Let not the world with its 
cares and vanities fill our hearts, and so make 
us forget the worth of our souls, the love of our 



Saviour, and the nearness of eternity. Whilst 
we are busy in the world, may our hearts rise 
above it ! 

Defend our souls from the assaults of the 
Wicked One, and preserve our bodies in health 
and safety. May we walk in the light of thy 
countenance, and know the happiness of those 
who have the Lord for their God ! Finally, pre- 
pare us to depart and be with Christ. Hear us, 
heavenly Father, and when thou hearest forgive, 
for the sake of Jesus our Saviour ; who, with thee 
and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, 
world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



321 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Romans vi. — 1. What shall we say, then? 
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 

2. God forbid ! How shall we, that are dead to 
sin, live any longer therein ? 

3. Know ye not that so many of us as were 
baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his 
death? 

4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism 
into death ; that like as Christ was raised up from 
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we 
also should walk in newness of life. 

5. For, if we have been planted together in the 
likeness of his death, we shall be also in the like- 
ness of his resurrection ; 

6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified 
with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, 
that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

7. For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

8. Now, if we be dead with Christ, we believe 
that we shall also live with him : 

9. Knowing that Christ, being raised from the 
dead, dieth no more ; death hath no more dominion 
over him. 

10. For in that he died, he died unto sin once ; 
but in that he liveth, he liveth unto Cod. 

11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be 
dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 

12. Let not sin, therefore, reign in your mortal 
body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 

13. Neither yield ye your members as instru- 
ments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield your- 



selves unto God as those that are alive from the 
dead, and your members as instruments of right- 
eousness unto God : 

14. For sin shall not have dominion over you ; 
for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 

15. What then ? shall we sin because we are 
not under the law, but under grace ? God forbid ! 

16. Know ye not that to whom ye yield your- 
selves servants to obey, his servants ye are to 
whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of 
obedience unto righteousness? 

17. But God be thanked that ye were the ser- 
vants of sin ; but ye have obeyed from the heart 
that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 

18. Being then made free from sin, ye became 
the servants of righteousness. 

19. I speak after the manner of men, because 
of the infirmity of your flesh ; for as ye have 
yielded your members servants to un cleanness, and 
to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now yield your 
members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 

20. For, when ye were the servants of sin, ye 
were free from righteousness. 

21. What fruit had ye then in those things 
whereof ye are now ashamed ? for the end of 
those things is death. 

22. But now, being made free from sin, and be- 
come servants to God, ye have your fruit unto 
holiness, and the end everlasting life. 

23. For the wages of sin is death ; but the gift 
of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. 



The real seat of sin is in the will, alienated from God, and 
set upon the gratification of self. The motives to sin, and its 
agents also, are the passions and desires of our lower nature, 
— the flesh as acted upon by the enticements of the world. 
The senses and members of the body become the occasions 
and the instruments of unrighteousness But, through yield- 
ing to these, the will itself becomes their slave ; and the man 
who should rule the body and have dominion over the world 
by his spiritual nature, which is the image of God, subjects 
that nature to the body, and is ruled by the world, the flesh, 
and the Devil. 



From this fearful and degrading bondage Christ is our 
deliverer. But our emancipation must come through the 
voluntary consecration of ourselves, body, soul, and spirit, to 
his service. We must look to his cross as if it were our own, 
as the crucifixion of our sins, severing us from habits of sin 
as completely as death separates one from his connections 
with this world. Then, in the power of Christ's resurrection, 
and by the energy of his Spirit, the spiritual in us may regain 
its dominion over the carnal, and we be made "alive unto 
God." But whereas death follows sin as "wages," or desert, 
this life is the " gift " of divine grace alone. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 6, 16, 30. 



Thine, Lord ! is the greatness, and the power, 
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty ; 
for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is 
thine : thine is the kingdom, Lord ! and thou art 
exalted as Head over all. We bless thee that thou 
hast given unto thy Son the kingdom in this 
world, and hast promised that the gates of hell 
shall not prevail against his Church ; and we be- 
seech thee hasten the day when Zion shall be a 
joy and praise in all the earth. Make thy Word a 
comfort and a joy unto all believers, and the power 
of Gol unto salvation to the world that lieth in 
wickedness. Lord Jesus ! rule thou in our 



hearts ; by thy redeeming grace take away our 
sins ; by thy sanctifying presence fill our souls 
with thy peace. May we do all things to thy 
glory, and show forth thy praise in our lives ! 
We humbly thank thee, Lord ! for the blessings 
of the past night ; for thy daily benefits to its, and 
to all dear to us. Bless this household, this day 
and always, with thy grace. May we know the 
joy of a full consecration unto Him who hath 
redeemed us to God with his precious blood ! and, 
having served him in his kingdom here, may we 
come to be partakers of his glory in the kingdom 
of his Father, for Christ's sake! Amen. 



322 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Ezekiel viii. — 1. And it came to pass in the 
sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of 
the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders 
of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord 
God fell there upon me. 

2. Then I beheld, and, lo, a likeness as the ap- 
pearance of fire : from the appearance of his loins 
even downward, fire ; and from his loins even up- 
ward, as the appearance of brightness, as the color 
of amber. 

3. And he put forth the form of a hand, and 
took me by a lock of mine head ; and the spirit 
lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, 
and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, 
to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward 
the north ; 

4. And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel 
was there, according to the vision that I saw in 
the plain. 

2 Corinthians xii. — 1. It is not expedient for 
me, doubtless, to glory. I will come to visions and 
revelations of the Lord. 

2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years 
ago (whether in the body, I cannot tell ; or wheth- 
er out of the body, I cannot tell : God knoweth) : 
such a one caught up to the third heaven. 

3. And I knew such a man (whether in the 



body, or out of the body, I cannot tell : God 
knoweth) : 

4. How that he was caught up into paradise, 
and heard unspeakable words, which it is not 
lawful for a man to utter. 

5. Of such a one will I glory ; yet of myself I 
will not glory, but in my infirmities. 

6. For, though I would desire to glory, I shall 
not be a fool ; for I will say the truth : but now I 
forbear, lest any man should think of me above that 
which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 

7. And, lest I should be exalted above measure 
through the abundance of the revelations, there 
was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger 
of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted 
above measure. 

8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, 
that it might depart from me. 

9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient 
for thee ; for my strength is made perfect in weak- 
ness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory 
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may 
rest upon me. 

10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in 
reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in dis- 
tresses, for Christ's sake ; for when I am weak, 
then am I strong. 



Many have a craving to communicate with the world of 
spirits ; to gain some definite knowledge of the sphere and 
the occupations of the departed. But Paul, who in a vision' 
or a trance was caught up into that world, was not suffered 
to unveil its realities, nor to bring back to us one word of its 
unutterable mysteries. The discipline of faith is our best 
preparation for participating in the knowledge and the glory 
of that world. This rare exaltation did not exempt Paul 
from mortal weaknesses : on the contrary, lest his vision of 
good angels should tempt him to spiritual pride, a hostile 
spirit was permitted to harass him with a painful and humili- 
ating infirmity. And this he could not combat by spiritism, 



by seeking to renew his intercourse with disembodied powers. 
No " medium " could help him ; no revelation from the spirit- 
world could relieve his distemper. No : even after the abun- 
dance of the revelations, Paul was reduced to the same trials 
that we suffer, and must meet these with the same grace which 
is provided for us all. Let us, then, be content with the knowl- 
edge and the helps which God has given us in his Word ; let 
us walk by faith in the grace of Christ. That grace is suffi- 
cient for every need : we can never exhaust it, and it will never 
be withheld. The trial may not be taken away ; but the grace 
shall be provided, and shall never fail. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Praj^er. 



[Nos. 155, 179, 181. 



God, who hast taught us in thy Word that 
there is still laid up a rest for thy people, and 
who hast given us a promise of entering into it ! 
grant to us, we beseech thee, that we fail not of 
that promise through unbelief and disobedience. 
Teach us to look for a house that hath founda- 
tions, of which thou art the maker and builder. 
Lift our hearts thither in earnest desire. 

Oh sabbath of eternal peace ! Oh haven where 
the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are 
at rest ! When shall we see thee, Lord ! and be- 
hold the King in his beauty? When shall we 
meet the apostles and prophets, and the great 
multitude whom no man can number ? When 
shall we see again our dear friends who sleep in 
.Jesus ? 

God the Father, who hast the times and sea- 



sons in thine own power! let not that day come 
upon us unawares. God the Son, who art gone 
to prepare a place for us ! in thine own time take 
us to thyself, that where thou art, there we may be 
also. God the Holy Ghost, the pledge of future 
glory in our hearts ! seal us until the redemption 
of the purchased possession. We bless thee for 
the help this day received through thy holy Word 
and the prayers and praises of thy Church. We 
supplicate thy favor upon all who have heard thy 
Word, and upon those who have it not. We 
bless thee for thy mercy to this household, and 
commit ourselves to thy fatherly protection for 
the night. Keep us under the shadow of thy 
wings ; and, Father ! bring us, we pray thee, 
finally to rest in thee, through Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



323 



MONDAY. 



Psalm XXXix. — 4. Lord, make me to know mine 
end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that 
I may know how frail I am. 

5. Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand- 
Dread th ; and mine age is as nothing before thee : 
verily every man at his best state is altogether 
vanity. 

6. Surely every man walketh in a vain show ; 
surely they are disquieted in vain : he heapeth 
up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather 
them. 

7. And now, Lord, what wait I for ? My hope 
is in thee. 

9. I was dumb ; I opened not my mouth ; be- 
cause thou didst it. 

10. Remove tby stroke away from me : I am 
consumed by the blow of thine hand. 

11. When thou with rebukes dost correct man 
for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume 
away like a moth : surely every man is vanity. 

12. Hear my prayer, Lord ! and give ear unto 
my cry ; hold not tby peace at my tears : for I am 
a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my 
fathers were. 

13. Oh ! spare me, that I may recover strength 
before 1 go hence and be no more. 

Acts ix. — 32. And it came to pass, as Peter 
passed throughout all quarters, he came down also 
to the saints which dwelt at Lydda ; 

33. And there he found a certain man named 
Eneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and 
was sick of the palsy. 



Joppa was the nearest seaport to Jerusalem, and was used 
by Hiram, king of Tyre, as the landing-place for the timber 
sent from Lebanon for Solomon's Temple. It was a very 
ancient harbor and town of the Philistines, and is still in 
existence under the name of Jaffa. Directly back of Jaffa 
is an extensive plain ; and some ten miles distant, in a south- 
easterly direction, is the village of Lud, which represents the 
ancient Lydda. Peter had left Jerusalem upon a missionary 
tour among the churches of Judaea ; and he would naturally 
visit Lydda on his way to the coast. As, during the life of 
our Lord, women were among his personal followers ; so, 
wherever Christianity was diffused, their faith and love were 



34. And Peter said unto him, Eneas, Jesus 
Christ maketh thee whole : arise, and make thy 
bed. And he arose immediately. 

35. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw 
him, and turned to the Lord. 

36. Now, there was at Joppa a certain disciple 
named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called 
Dorcas : this woman was full of good works and 
alms-deeds which she did. 

37. And it came to pass in those days that she 
was sick, and died ; whom when they had washed, 
they laid her in an upper chamber. 

38. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to 
Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was 
there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him 
that he would not delay to come to them. 

39. Then Peter arose, and went with them. 
When he was come, they brought him into the 
upper chamber ; and all the widows stood by him 
weeping, and showing the coats and garments 
which Dorcas made while she was with them. 

40. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled 
down, and prayed, and, turning him to the body, 
said, Tabitha, arise ! And she opened her eyes ; 
and, when she saw Peter, she sat up. 

41. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her 
up ; and, when he had called the saints and widows, 
he presented her alive. 

42. And it was known throughout all Joppa ; 
and many believed in the Lord. 

43. And it came to pass that he tarried many 
days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner. 



active in its ministries of sympathy and beneficence. Tabi- 
tha, which is now regarded as a homely name, except for the 
favorite house-cat, means literally a gazelle, and no doubt 
was first given as an epithet of beauty and grace. But this 
Tabitha had what was far more than personal beauty, — the 
spirit of Christian benevolence. What richer tribute could we 
ask than this spontaneous gathering of the poor and the 
widows, from every quarter, to testify of her loving care for 
them ? The name of Dorcas is perpetuated in thousands of 
societies for the relief of the poor. Oh that her spirit might 
dwell in the hearts of all women to whom God has given 
means and the opportunity of usefulness ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 71, 158, 166. 



Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies, for 
the mercies of the past night ; for shelter, safety, 
comfort, rest, and peace. How precious are thy 
thoughts unto us, God ! how great is the sum of 
them ! When we awake, we are still with thee. 
So would our hearts rise to thee, Lord ! with the 
morning light, with the incense of prayer and 
praise ; yea, we would present our bodies unto thee 
a living sacrifice. May this, our reasonable service, 
be made holy through the blood of Jesus ! Help 
us this day to live unto thee, and in all our works 
and ways to do that which is well pleasing in thy 
sight. Prosper, we beseech thee, the labor of our 



hands, our studies, our various callings ; bless to 
us the means of knowledge and improvement ; 
make us thoughtful of others, considerate of the 
poor and afflicted, wise and ready unto every good 
word and work. We commend unto thee our 
kindred and friends, beseeching thee to. grant 
them the promise of the life that now is ; and in 
the world to come, life everlasting. We pray for 
thy holy Church universal, for the coming of light 
and peace and salvation in all the earth, through 
Christ our Lord. For his sake, forgive our sins ; 
and to thy name be power and glory and domin- 
ion, world without end. Amen. 



324 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Ephesians iv. — 17. This I say therefore, and 
testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as 
other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 

18. Having the understanding darkened, being 
alienated from the life of God through the igno- 
rance that is in them, because of the blindness of 
their heart ; 

19. Who, being past feeling, have given them- 
selves over unto lasciviousness, to work all unclean- 
ness with greediness. 

20. But ye have not so learned Christ, 

21. If so be that ye have heard him, and have 
been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus : 

22. That ye put off concerning the former con- 
versation the old man, which is corrupt according 
to the deceitful lusts, 

23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind ; 
21. And that ye put on the new man, which 

after God is created in righteousness and true 
holiness. 

25. Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every 



man truth with his neighbor; for we are mem- 
bers one of another. 

26. Be ye angry, and sin not : let not the sun go 
down upon your wrath ; 

27. Neither give place to the devil. 

28. Let him that stole steal no more ; but rather 
let him labor, working with Ms hands the thing 
which is good, that he may have to give to him 
that needeth. 

29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out 
of your mouth, but that which is good to the use 
of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the 
heai'ers. 

30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, 
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 

31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and 
clamor, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, 
with all malice ; 

32. And be ye kind one to another, tender- 
hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for 
Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 



Every one feels, at times, that, if he could live his life over, 
he would make it better than it has been. Now, this new and 
better life, which every one wishes for, the gospel provides for 
and requires. It sets before us the pattern of the new man, 
of man as God created him to be, of man as restored in 
Christ to a true and holy life. Such we are required to be- 
come by putting off that type of selfish, sinning man which 
is as old as Adam, by retrieving the spirit of the mind from 
its long subjection to the propensities and passions of the 
flesh, and putting on the new Adam, the true type of man, 
whose characteristics are a childlike obedience to God, an un- 
selfish regard for others, a self-sacrificing devotion to truth, 
duty, and love. This is a renewal " in the spirit of the mind," 
— a radical change in its objects of thought, in its aims and 



desires, in the bent and purpose of living. It is effected 
through the gracious influence of the Spirit of God; but it 
can be effected only by our doing that to which the Holy 
Ghost incites us, and renouncing that which grieves him. In 
the early converts from heathenism, this renewal was marked 
by striking changes in the outward life ; and the transforma- 
tion wrought in such characters was a most weighty confirma- 
tion of the gospel. But the gospel requires of every one the 
same inward radical change, — a change that affects the 
tongue, the temper, the desire, the act, the whole heart and 
life. There is not a sin which the gospel does not condemn ; 
there is not a virtue which it does not commend : but it goes 
deeper than this, — to the root and spring of all character 
and conduct in " the spirit of the mind." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 90, 91, 95. 



Lord ! make clean our hearts before thee. 
Baptize us with thine own Spirit, that, being re- 
newed in the spirit and temper of our minds, we 
may exhibit in our daily walk all the virtues and 
graces of the Christian life. 

We render thanks to thee for thy loving care in 
the night-season. We thank thee that health and 
home and friends and country are preserved to us. 
We thank thee for all thy goodness to us as a 
family. We would trust in the Lord at all times ; 
and we pray thee, our Saviour ! to abide with us 
ever. 

[May the children of this family set thy love 
before them as their chief portion in life, and make 
thy Word their guide ! May they always speak 
the truth, and grow up free from guile ! May they 
hear the voice of Jesus, and follow him.] 

Lord ! we beseech thee to visit us this day 
with thy loving-kindness. Give us grace to dis- 
charge faithfully our duties to thee and to each 
other. May we remember, that, as stewards, we 



must give account of our talents, our property, and 
the use of all thy gifts ! May we be kind and 
courteous unto all men, honest in our dealings, 
truthful in our words, guileless in our thoughts ! 
Strengthen us to bear with patience whatever trials 
or sufferings may be in store for us, preserve us 
from the sins which do most easily beset us, and 
enable us to walk worthy of our Christian calling, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Lord Jesus ! we long for thy coming in power 
and glory among the nations. May thy Church 
arise, and make straight the way of the Lord ! 

almighty and most merciful Father ! we com- 
mend to thee ourselves and all that belong to us, 
all who pray for us, and all who have at any time 
asked our prayers for them. Have pity upon the 
poor, the sick, the dying, and the sorrowing. In- 
cline thine ear to us, and hear us, we beseech 
thee, and order all our ways, this and every day, 
according to thy will, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



325 



WEDNESDAY. 



Ephesians vi. — 1. Children, obey your parents 
in the Lord ; for this is right. 

2. Honor thy father and mother (which is the 
first commandment with promise), 

3. That it may he well with thee, and thou may- 
est live long on the earth. 

4. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to 
wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and ad- 
monition of the Lord. 

5. Servants, be obedient to them that are your 
masters according to the flesh, with fear and trem- 
bling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ ; 

6. Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as 
the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from 
the heart ; 

7. With good will doing service as to the Lord, 
and not to men ; 

8. Knowing that, whatsoever good thing any 
man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, 
whether he be bond or free. 

9. And, ye masters, do the same things unto 
them, forbearing threatening ; knowing that your 
Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect 
of persons with him. 

10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, 
and in the power of his might. 

11. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye 



may be able to stand against the wiles of the 
devil. 

12. For we Avrestle not against flesh and blood, 
but against principalities, against powers, against 
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against 
spiritual wickedness in high places. 

13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor 
of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the 
evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 

14. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about 
with truth, and having on the breastplate of right- 
eousness ; 

15. And your feet shod with the preparation of 
the gospel of peace ; 

16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, where- 
with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts 
of the wicked. 

17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the 
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God ; 

18. Praying always with all prayer and suppli- 
cation in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with 
all perseverance and supplication for all saints ; 

19. And for me, that utterance may be given 
unto me, that I may open my mouth boldlj-, to 
make known the mystery of the gospel, 

20. For which I am an ambassador in bonds ; 
that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 



The gospel of Christ would regulate every relation of life 
in the spirit of love. The fifth commandment, which carries 
with it the promise of God's blessing upon obedient children, 
is enforced by the teaching and the example of Christ. But, 
as an encouragement to filial obedience, it is required of par- 
ents that they shall not irritate children by unreasonable 
blame or vexatious commands, but by example, as well as by 
discipline and precept, shall nurture them in the Lord. So, 
too, while honesty, fidelity, and good-will are enjoined upon 
servants, all injustice and oppression are forbidden to masters. 
Both stand upon the same level before God. 

All duties are summed up in doing the will of God ; and 
for this we must equip ourselves with the armor which he has 
provided, — a panoply for the whole man, — truth girding him 
about with its support; righteousness, wrought for him by 



Christ, wrought within him by the Spirit, defending his brea? t ; 
his feet clothed with the gospel, read}- to run swiftly on the 
errand of peace ; in his left hand the shield of faith, broad 
enough to cover his whole person, and to catch every dart of 
the enemy ; his head crowned with salvation, as a helmet 
strong and sure ; in his right hand the all-penetrating, all- 
conquering Word of God, which, wielded in the Spirit by 
the might of prayer, is sharper than am- two-edged sword. 

At the gate of Pompeii was found the skeleton of a sentinel 
in armor, who had stood upright at his post, spear in hand, 
until he was smothered by the ashes : so must the Christian 
stand firmly at his post, though all the powers of darkness 
and evil should gather about him, and the world seem buried 
in night. At the last, he shall have the reward of him that 
overcometh. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Xos. 53, 124. 



Thou holy and blessed Son of God, who for our 
sakes didst endure such contradiction of sinners 
against thyself, grant us, we pray thee, the spirit of 
meekness and patience under injury, and of for- 
giveness toward all who do us wrong. How often 
have we grieved and offended thee ! Have mercy 
upon us, we beseech thee, and teach us to be mer- 
ciful unto all men. 

[May the children of this family set thy love be- 
fore them as their chief portion in life, and make 
thy Word their guide ! May they always speak the 
truth, and grow up free from guile ! May they hear 
the voice of Jesus, and follow him !] Pe gracious, 
Lord ! to all our kindred. Visit thy Church 



with thy salvation. Inspire thy people with a 
readiness to testify of thy love, and to invite others 
to thy grace ; and do thou cause thy glory to shine 
forth, that all the ends of the earth may acknowl- 
edge thee. 

O God, whose blessed Son was manifested that 
he might destroy the works of the Devil ! grant 
us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we 
may purify ourselves even as he is pure ; that, 
when he shall appear again with power and great 
glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal 
and glorious kingdom ; where, with thee, Father ! 
and thee, O Holy Ghost ! he liveth and reigneth, 
ever one God, world without end. Amen. 



326 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Matthew iv. — 1. Then was Jesus led up of 
the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the 
devil. 

2. And, when he had fasted forty days and forty 
nights, he was afterward an hungred. 

3. And, when the tempter came to him, he said, 
If thou be the Son of God, command that these 
stones be made bread. 

4. But he answered and said, It is written, Man 
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word 
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

5. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy 
city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 

6. And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of 
God, cast thyself down : for it is written, He shall 
give his angels charge concerning thee ; and in 
their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any 
time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 

7. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, 
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 

8. Again, the devil taketh him up into an ex- 



The manner of this temptation it is not easy to deter- 
mine, — whether there was a literal appearance of the tempter 
in a bodily form ; whether, in the company of the tempter, 
Jesus actually went up to Jerusalem, and mounted to the 
roof of the temple; whether the tempter led him to this point 
or that, in imagination, by the proposals that he made to him ; 
or whether the whole series of temptations took place within 
the mind of Jesus, by suggestions from the tempter. Each 
of these views has something in its favor, and there are like- 
wise difficulties in each. 

If Satan appeared in a human form, then Jesus might well 
have questioned the warrant of a mere man for making such 
lavish proposals. If he appeared in some strange supernatu- 
ral form, this must have startled Jesus, and have put him 
upon his guard ; for, throughout the scene, Jesus is repre- 
sented simply as a man, though with a dawning conscious- 
ness of divine Sonship. How could an utter stranger, 
appearing in any form, have persuaded Jesus to accompany 
him to Jerusalem, two days distant, upon the preposterous 
advice to cast himself down from the top of the temple, many 
hundred feet into the valley below % Moreover, could they 
have mounted to the roof of the temple, on such an errand, 



ceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the 
kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them ; 

9. And saith unto him, All these things will 
I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship 
me. 

10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, 
Satan ; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the 
Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

11. Then the devil leaveth him ; and, behold, 
angels came and ministered unto him. 

Hebrews ii. — 16. For verily he took not on 
him the nature of angels ; but he took on him the 
seed of Abraham. 

17. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to 
be made like unto his brethren ; that he might be 
a merciful and faithful high priest in things per- 
taining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins 
of the people. 

18. For in that he himself hath suffered, being 
tempted, he is able to succor them that are 
tempted. 



without attracting notice 1 Certainly not, if there had been 
any thing peculiar in the appearance of Satan. But, if Satan 
did appear in bodily shape, his suggestions could become 
temptations only as they might act upon the mind of Jesus. 
Hence the better view of the temptation is that which re- 
gards it as a mental scene : these three suggestions, artfully 
woven into the words of Scripture, were presented to the 
mind of Jesus in such a way that he knew them to proceed 
from the Devil. 

But, whatever view we take as to the form of the tempta- 
tion, the lessons from the fact are the same. It teaches us 
that Christ had a human nature in all things like our own, 
yet without sin. It teaches us that sin does not consist in a 
nature susceptible to temptation, but in yielding to tempta- 
tion by an act of will. It shows us how to resist temptation 
by the word and the grace of God, and gives us reason to be- 
lieve that good spirits are helping us when evil spirits are 
seeking our hurt. And, above all, it teaches us that Christ 
can sympathize with us in our temptations, and, by his expe- 
rience of like trials, is qualified to help us with grace in every 
time of need. With such a helper, we have no excuse for 
being overcome with evil. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 86, 183. 



Saviour of sinners ! we look to thee. Thou 
who hast died that we might live ! help us to live 
to thee alone. Redeemed with the precious blood 
of the Son of God, may we walk as children of 
heaven ! Help us, Lord ! in our inward conflicts 
with doubts and fears and sins ; help us in our 
conflicts with the temptations and evils of the 
world ; and, oh ! help us in our wrestlings with 
unseen powers of evil, with the great Adversary 
of our souls. Lord ! increase our faith. Our 
hope is in thee ; our strength is from thee alone : 
dwell in us by thy grace ; fill us with thy Spirit. 
This very day may we gain new victories over evil ! 
May we resist temptations in business to swerve 
from the truth, to take advantage of others, to act 



dishonorably, to be covetous and unjust ! May we 
resist temptations in society to envy and evil- 
speaking, to worldliness and frivolity ! May we in 
all things do that which is right in the sight of 
God ! [May these children grow up, dear Saviour, 
in thy strength and love, safe from the power of 
evil !] 

We thank thee for another night of rest, another 
day of mercy and of hope. Bless all dear to us ; 
our friends and neighbors. Succor, Lord ! the 
poor and needy, the sick, the tempted, the dying. 
Lord Jesus ! be with us in our last conflict, and 
make us more than conquerors over death ; and 
to thy name be honor and glory for ever and ever. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



327 



FRIDAY. 



Hebrews iv. — 1. Let us therefore fear, lest, a 
promise being left us of entering into his rest, any 
of you should seem to come short of it. 

2. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well 
as unto them ; but the word preached did not profit 
them, not being mixed with faith in them that 
heard it. 

3. For we which have believed do enter into 
rest ; as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if 
they shall enter into my rest : although the works 
were finished from the foundation of the world. 

4. For he spake in a certain place of the sev- 
enth day on this wise, And God did rest the 
seventh day from all his works. 

5. And in this place again, If they shall enter 
into my rest. 

6. Seeing, therefore, it remaineth that some 
must enter therein, and they to whom it was first 
preached entered not in because of unbelief; 

7. (Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in 
David, To-day, after so long a time ; as it is said, 
To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your 
hearts. 

8. For if Jesus had given them rest, then 
would he not afterward have spoken of another 
day. 



9. There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the peo- 
ple of God. 

10. For he that is entered into his rest, he also 
hath ceased from his own works, as God did from 
his;) 

11. Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest, 
lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 

12. For the word of God is quick and power- 
ful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, pier- 
cing even to the dividing asunder of soul and 
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a dis- 
cerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

13. Neither is there any creature that is not 
manifest in his sight; but all things are naked 
and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we 
have to do. 

14. Seeing, then, that we have a great high 
priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the 
Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 

15. For we have not a high priest which can- 
not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities ; 
but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet 
without sin. 

16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne 
of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find 
grace to help in time of need. 



This exhortation, which opens with fear, ends with confi- 
dence ; and the very fear which is wholesome in view of our 
sins and perils should drive us for refuge to that faith which 
will lead us boldly to the throne of grace. The warning is 
against self-confidence ; against resting in our privileges or 
attainments ; against the temptations of the world to unbe- 
lief, to spiritual apathy and apostasy. The " Jesus " spoken 
of in verse 8 was undoubtedly Joshua-, the deliverer and 
leader, who conducted Israel to their promised rest in Ca- 
naan after the toils and perils of the desert. That rest was 
not satisfying nor permanent : no rest on earth can be. 
Temptations and conflicts arose in the promised land, and 



Appropriate Htmxs,] 



betrayed the people to forsake God. But still there remained 
a Canaan, a rest, a keeping of the sabbath that should bring 
the soul of man into harmony with the blessed and everlast- 
ing rest of the Creator of the world. For that rest in the 
hereafter we nrast now labor, watch, pray, quickening our- 
selves by that Word of God, which is full of promise and of 
warning ; which searches us at once to condemn and to save 
us. Forewarned is forearmed. To realize our danger is to 
provide an escape; and here, in every temptation, conflict, 
trial, the help is at hand in Him who knows our infirmities, 
and has borne them ; who has felt our temptations, and van- 
quished them. 



[Nos. 24, 117, 151. 



Lord Jesus, the author and the finisher of our 
faith ! we give thee thanks for all thy servants, 
who, having witnessed a good confession, have 
entered into rest. Grant us grace, we beseech 
thee, to be faithful unto death, that we also may 
receive a crown of life. May we have such a 
sense of thy presence and glory as shall lift us 
above the love or the fear of this world ! 

^Assist us by thy grace to do this day such 
things as are pleasing to thee. Strengthen us to 
resist and overcome any temptations to which we 
may be exposed. Deliver us from anxiety about 
earthly things, from a discontented and unthank- 
ful spirit. 

Strengthen, Lord ! our faith in the promises 
of thy Word. Thou knowest our exceeding weak- 
ness, and the numberless dangers which every day 
surround us. Supply all our need. Let thy Word 



Prayer. 

be our guide, and thy Holy Spirit our Sanctifier 
and Comforter. Be thou our defender through all 
the trials of life, our hope in death, and our por- 
tion forever. 

We thank thee for thy loving-kindness in the 
night-season. Be pleased, Lord ! to bless all who 
are near and dear to us. Lead all whom we love 
into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Bless 
our neighbors ; assist all who are laboring for the 
good of souls ; and grant that true godliness may 
increase and abound among us. Help us to shine 
as lights in the world, and to commend the reli- 
gion which we profess by the meekness and gen- 
tleness of our conduct, and by the holiness of our 
lives. Make us happy in our own souls, and use- 
ful to all around us. These mercies we ask for 
ourselves and others in the name of Jesus Christ 
our Saviour. Amen. 



328 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



John xi. — 1. Now, a certain man was sick, 
named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and 
her sister Martha. 

2. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord 
with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, 
whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 

3. Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, 
Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 

4. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sick- 
ness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, 
that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 

5. Now, Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and 
Lazarus. 

6. When he had heard, therefore, that he was 
sick, he abode two days still in the same place 
where he was. 

7. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let 
us go into Judaea again. 

8. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews 
of late sought to stone thee ; and goest thou thith- 
er again ? 

9. Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours 



in the day ? If any man walk in the day, he stum- 
bleth not, because he seeth the light of this world ; 

10. But, if a man walk in the night, he stuin- 
bleth, because there is no light in him. 

11. These things said he : and after that he 
saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth ; but 
I go that I may awake him out of sleep. 

12. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he 
shall do well. 

13. Howbeit, Jesus spake of his death ; but they 
thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in 
sleep. • 

14. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus 
is dead. 

15. And I am glad for your sakes that I was 
not there, to the intent ye may believe : neverthe- 
less, let us go unto him. 

16. Then said Thomas, which is called Didy- 
mus, unto his fellow-disciples, Let us also go, that 
we may die with him. 

17. Then, when Jesus came, he found that he 
had lain in the grave four days already. 



The only home which Jesus had, during his public life, was 
at the little village of Bethany, upon the eastward slope of the 
Mount of Olives, within an hour s walk of Jerusalem, which 
was hidden from it by the crown of the hill. Often, after a 
day of teaching in the temple, he would walk out to the house 
of Lazarus for an evening of homelike repose with Martha, so 
full of domestic attentions ; and Mary, so full of loving devo- 
tion. What a beautiful blending of reverence and tenderness 
in their regard for him ! what an exquisite delicacy in his 
love for them ! The Son of man could be solaced by human 
affections ; the Son of God could love all that makes lovely an 
earthly home. 

When Lazarus was sick, his sisters sent eagerly to Jesus, 
not doubting that the message would hasten him to save the 
life of his friend : but the love of Jesus was deeper than they 



could measure by their anxiety for their brother's life ; and 
as love itself is a holy mystery, so does it resort to mystery 
that it may challenge confidence, that it may test fidelity, that 
it may baffle all mistrust by some supri^ing revelation of joy. 
Thus Jesus, knowing that with the actual raising of Lazarus 
from the dead he could convey to Martha and Mary a spirit- 
ual blessing far greater than through a miracle of' healing, 
quietly remained away until he knew that the last offices of 
affection and grief were over. But, when the hour of love 
was fully ripe, how magnanimously he gave himself to its 
divine manifestation, at the cost, as it proved, of his own 
human life! Not the imminence of danger nor the entrea- 
ties of his disciples could restrain him from risking death 
to himself that he might bring back Lazarus from the 
dead. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 34, 59, 71. 



Our Father in heaven, we come to thee with 
wants which thou knowest far better than we, and 
for blessings which thou art more ready to give 
than we to ask. But thou hast bidden to pray ; 
and we love to come, saying, " Our Father." Oh, 
may we have the spirit of little children, — humble, 
teachable, trustful, obedient, — and show our love 
and gratitude in lives of devotion ! Thou hast kept 
us in the watches of the night from every trouble, 
sorrow, and alarm; thou hast given us refreshing 
sleep. And now we bless thee for the day, for life 
and health, for food and raiment, for home and 
friends, for means of education and of enjoyment, 
for means of occupation and of support, for means 
of improvement in the knowledge of thyself from 
thy works and thy Word, and for opportunities of 
doing good to others. Oh ! grant us grace that we 
may use to thy glory the lives which thou didst 
give, and which thy mercy doth continually spare. 

We acknowledge, Lord ! our unworthiness 



and our sinfulness, and beseech thee to pardon our 
transgressions and heal our infirmities. Help us 
this day to live aright. In our intercourse with 
others, may we manifest the gentleness, the sin- 
cerity, the charity, of the gospel of Christ ! May 
we be patient under trials, meek under injuries, 
firm against temptation, bold for the truth, zealous 
for thy cause ! May we be kind to the poor, help- 
ful to the suffering, gentle toward all men ! [Give 
unto these children, Lord ! grace to serve thee 
in the morning of life, and in their thoughts and 
words, their studies and their play, always to please 
their Father in heaven.] Kemember with thy 
mercy all our friends; visit with thy grace the 
homes of all who are dear to us. Build up, 
Lord ! thy Church ; prosper thy kingdom in our 
land, and throughout the world ; bring us to the 
close of the day in peace, and to the close of life 
in a hope full of immortality, through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



329 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



John xi. — 18. (Now Bethany was nigh unto 
Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off.) 

19. And many of the Jews came to Martha and 
Mary to comfort them concerning their brother. 

20. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Je- 
sus was coming, went and met him ; but Mary sat 
still in the house. 

21. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou 
hadst been here, my brother had not died. 

22. But I know that even now, whatsoever thou 
wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 

23. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise 
again. 

24. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall 
rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 

25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection 
and the life : he that believeth in me, though he 
were dead, yet shall he live ; 

26. And whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, 
shall never die. Believest thou this ? 

27. She saith unto him, Yea, Lord : I believe 
that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which 
should come into the world. 

28. And, when she had so said, she went her 



Surely He hath borne our griefs, and earned our sorrows. 
He put himself into closest, tenderest sympathy with our hu- 
manity before putting forth the sublimest act of divinity. 
That act, in form, our Lord does not repeat for us by restor- 
ing the dead to hearts bursting with sorrow : that would be to 
annul death, and render the resurrection a tiling of course. 
But the resurrection of Lazarus, followed so speedily by his 
own, was the promise to faith of the resurrection of all that 
should sleep in him ; and the sympathy of Jesus in the pres- 
ent sorrow prepares the heart to receive that faith, and wel- 
come that hope. How wondrous the power of sympathy that 
so stirred the Son of God ! The tears of Mary moved her 
friends to a fresh outburst of grief: and, when Jesus saw them 
all weeping as with a hopeless sorrow, he groaned inwardly, 
taking upon himself, not their sorrow only, but the mighty 



way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, 
The Master is come, and calleth for thee. 

29. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, 
and came unto him. 

30. Now, Jesus was not yet come into the town, 
but was in that place where Martha met him. 

31. The Jews then which were with her in the 
house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary 
that she rose up hastily, and went out, followed 
her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. 

32. Then when Mary was come where Jesus 
was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, say- 
ing unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my 
brother had not died. 

33. "When Jesus, therefore, saw her weeping, and 
the Jews also weeping which came with her, he 
groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 

34. And said, Where have ye laid him ? They 
say unto him, Lord, come and see. 

35. Jesus wept. 

36. Then said the Jews, Beholdhowhelovedhim! 

37. And some of them said, Could not this man, 
which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused 
that even this man should not have died ? 



woes of our humanity crushed by the curse of death ; and his 
heaving emotion found vent also in tears. This was a revela- 
tion of his character to those who were not of his disciples : 
such love, such sympathy, called forth their homage to the 
power which had opened the eyes of the blind, and could 
have kept back Lazarus from the grave. A belief in the res- 
urrection was common among the Jews : only the limited 
sect of the Sadducees denied it. But Jesus offered to Martha 
a personal objective point for this faith to rest upon, — not a 
distant vague belief, but a living presence, a personal power ; 
saying, not, " He shall rise ; " nor, " I will give him life ; " but, 
"I am the resurrection and the life :" the life-power is in me 
potentially, eternally ; and he who joins himself to me by faith 
shall experience that power in resurrection from the dead 
and in life everlasting. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 133, 148, 159. 



Thou art the King of glory, Christ ! Thou 
art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou 
hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst 
open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Tbou 
sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the 
Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be 
our Judge. We therefore pray thee help thy ser- 
vants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious 
blood : make them to be numbered with thy saints 
in glory everlasting. Oh, may thy wonders among 
the dead cause us to fear thy name, and to hope 
in thy mercy ! We believe in thee, Lord Jesus, 
the Resurrection and the Life ! 

Upon this, the Lord's day, that brings into re- 
membrance the rising of Jesus from the dead, may 
thy Church honor and serve thee with gladness of 
heart ! Bless thy Word, in the family, in the Sun- 



day school, in the house of God ; and pour out thy 
Spirit upon all flesh. 

Thou who hast brought us again from sleep 
to behold the light of a new day ! help us so to con- 
fide in thee, to keep thee ever so near and so pre- 
cious to our thought, that we shall live above the 
fear of death, and look forward with joy to our 
final rest with thee. Grant us grace to bear all 
trials, resist all temptations, fulfil all duties, in the 
hope of thine appearing. As children of the light, 
may we shun all evil, and show forth thy praise ! 
Comfort all in sorrow. Be the God of the widow 
and the fatherless. May this household, and all 
dear to us, be joined to the family of the taints 
on earth, and finally to the company of the re- 
deemed in heaven, through Him who died for 
us ! — to whom be glory forever. Amen. 



330 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



John xi. — 38. Jesus therefore, again groaning 
in himself, cometh to the grave. It was a cave, 
and a stone lay upon it. 

39. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, 
the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, 
Lord, by this time he stinketh ; for he hath been 
dead four days. 

40. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, 
that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see 
the glory of God ? 

41. Then they took away the stone from, the 
place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted 
up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that 
thou hast heard me : 

42. And I knew that thou hearest me always ; 
but because of the people which stand by I said 
it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 

43. And, when he thus had spoken, he cried with 
a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth ! 

44. And he that was dead came forth, bound 
hand and foot with grave-clothes ; and his face 
was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto 
them, Loose him, and let him go. 

45. Then many of the Jews which came to 
Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, 
believed on him. 



46. But some of them went their ways to the Phar- 
isees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 

47. Then gathered the chief priests and the 
Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for 
this man doeth many miracles. 

48. If we let him thus alone, all men will be- 
lieve on him ; and the Eomans shall come and 
take away both our place and nation. 

49. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being 
the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye 
know nothing at all, 

50. Nor consider that it is expedient for us that 
one man should die for the people, and that the 
whole nation perish not. 

51. And this spake he not of himself: but, 
being high priest that year, he prophesied that 
Jesus should die for that nation ; 

52. And not for that nation only, but that also 
he should gather together in one the children of 
God that were scattered abroad. 

53. Then from that day forth they took counsel 
together for to put him to death. 

54. Jesus, therefore, walked no more openly 
among the Jews, but went thence unto a country 
near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, 
and there continued with his disciples. 



The Jews buried very soon after death. No coffin was 
used ; but the body was wrapped tightly iu folds of linen with 
spices, and carried to the tomb on a bier. The better classes 
preferred as burial-places either natural caves in their own 
gardens, or tombs excavated from the rock, or built artifi- 
cially, with niches in which the bodies were laid. A fiat 
stone, sometimes set like a door in a groove, closed the en- 
trance. Jesus, profoundly agitated by the grief that encom- 
passed him, and by the yearnings of the divinity within him, 
taking upon himself, as it were, the agony of humanity in 
its struggle with the last enemy, honoring his Father in this 
supreme act of power and majesty, uttered that call of vic- 



tory which shall yet resound over every field of death, — 
" Lazarus, come forth ! " Death relaxed its hold ; corruption 
gave up its victim ; and " he that was dead came forth." 
From that moment the doom of Jesus was sealed. His 
mightiest benefaction to the race called forth the fiercest rage 
of sin. The field where sin had reigned without molestation 
from the fall of man was now invaded ; the spell was broken ; 
the sting, the dread, the victory, were wrested from the grave. 
Yet men hated him the more! — and the high priest of this 
malice becomes the unconscious prophet of that death which 
shall but complete the triumph of Jesus in the redemption of 
humanity through the resurrection and the life. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 6, 42, 199. 



O God, who hast prepared for those who love 
thee such good things as pass man's understand- 
ing ! pour into our hearts such love toward thee, 
that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain 
thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

We would lie down to rest in the hope of Him 
who is the Resurrection and the Life ; praying, 
that, if this shall prove our last sleep, we may 
awake with Christ in his glory. 

We thank thee, Lord ! for the precious com- 
fort that remains to us concerning dear friends 
who have departed in the faith ; that to them 
heaven is even now a reality ; that they have no 
more want, nor sorrow, nor care, nor sin. Oh, 
may heaven be a reality to our faith ! and may the 
hope of it, yea, the assurance of it, as our home, 
lift us above all the temptations and trials of this 



present world ! Give to us strength for labors, 
courage for conflicts, patience under afflictions, 
fidelity to duty, and faith that shall endure to the 
end, and shall make us more than conquerors over 
death. May the true life be now begun in our 
souls, and daily may we live to thee ! 

We praise thee, Lord ! for the blessings of this 
holy day. Oh, may we love thee more, know thee 
more, and serve thee better, than ever before, by 
reason of what we have this day learned of thy 
truth and grace ! In all that is given us to do, 
may we glorify thy name ! in all that we are called 
to bear, may we accept thy holy will ! So may we 
daily live to thee ; and, when the things of earth 
shall pass away, make us to be numbered with thy 
saints in glory everlasting, through Jesus Christ 
our Saviour ; to whom be all honor and glory, world 
without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



831 



MONDAY. 



Ruth i. — 1. Now, it came to pass, in the days 
when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in 
the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem- 
judah went to sojourn in the country of Moah, he, 
and his wife, and his two sons. 

3. And Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and 
she was left, and her two sons. 

4. And they took them wives of the women of 
Moab : the name of the one was Orpah ; and the 
name of the other, Buth : and they dwelt there 
about ten year's. 

5. And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of 
them ; and the woman was left of her two sons 
and her husband. 

8. And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in- 
law, Go, return each to her mother's house : the 
Lord deal kindly with you as ye have dealt with 
the dead and with me. 

9. The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, 
each of you in the house of her husband. Then 
she kissed them ; and they lifted up their voice, 
and wept. 

10. And they said unto her, Surely we will re- 
turn with thee unto thy people. 

11. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daugh- 
ters : why will ye go with me ? . . . Nay, my 
daughters ; for it grieveth me much, for your 
sakes, that the hand of the Lord is gone out 
against me. 

14. And they lifted up their voice, and wept 



again. And Orpah kissed her motber-in-law ; but 
Kuth clave unto her. 

15. And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is 
gone back unto her people, and unto her gods : re- 
turn thou after thy sister-in-law. 

16. And Buth said, Entreat me not to leave 
thee, or to return from following after thee : for 
whither thou goest, I will go ; and where thou 
lodgest, I will lodge : thy people shall be my peo- 
ple, and thy God my God : 

17. Where thou diest will I die, and there will 
I be buried : the Lord do so to me, and more also, 
if, aught but death part thee and me. 

18. When she saw that she was steadfastly mind- 
ed to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. 

19. So they two went until they came to Beth- 
lehem. And it came to pass, when they were 
come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved 
about them ; and they said, 7s this Naomi ? 

20. And she said unto them, Call me not 
Naomi ; call me Mara : for the Almighty hath 
dealt very bitterly with me. 

21. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought 
me home again empty : why, then, call ye me 
Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, 
and the Almighty hath afflicted me ? 

22. So Naomi returned, and Buth the Moabitess 
her daughter-in-law with her, which returned out 
of the country of Moab; and they came to Beth- 
lehem in the beginning of barley-harvest. 



In all the literature of antiquity, there is not a more beauti- 
ful gem than this idyl of Ruth and Naomi. " As a singular 
example of virtue and piety in a rude age, and among an 
idolatrous people ; as one of the first-fruits of the Gentile 
harvest gathered into the Church ; as the heroine of a story 
of exquisite beauty and simplicity ; as illustrating in her his- 
tory the workings of Divine Providence, and the truth of the 
saying, that the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous ; and 
for the many interesting revelations of ancient domestic and 
social customs which are associated with her story, — Ruth 
has always held a foremost place among Scripture characters." 

The country of Moab lay along the rich highlands east of 



the Dead Sea, and was the most fertile district upon that side 
of the Jordan. It was about three days' journey from Beth- 
lehem ; and, though there was a standing J'etid between Moab 
and Israel, famine led this Jewish family to seek refuge in a 
hostile country. Love, which is stronger than political enmi- 
ties, or prejudices of race and religion, soon brought about an 
alliance between the sons of the Abrahamie covenant and the 
daughters of an alien people ; and the virtues of Naomi so 
won upon the filial piety of Ruth, that, when both were 
widowed, Ruth joined herself to her, in life and in death, with 
a pathos which every heart adopts for its own expression of 
constant, complete, undying devotion. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 58, 59, 68. 



God, who art everywhere present ! may it be 
our joy so to realize thy presence, that we shall 
ever abide with thee ! Thou leadest us in ways 
that we knew not, and sometimes in ways of dark- 
ness and of sorrow ; but thou hast promised never 
to leave us nor forsake us. When troubles come, 
when billows of sorrow roll over us, may we still 
trust in thee, and look forward to our rest ! May 
our citizenship be in heaven, and we of the com- 
pany of thy saints who declare plainly that they 
seek a better country ! May we glorify thy name 
in the midst of an evil and gainsaying world ! 

We look to thee, Lord ! this day, for daily 



bread. All thy creatures wait upon thee. That 
thou givest them they gather. Thou openest thine 
hands ; they are filled with good. Oh ! fill us this 
day with good things. [Bless every member of 
this family, parents and children, brothers and sis- 
ters, and all our kindred : may each, in the several 
relations of life, fulfil all the offices of love, doing 
good to one another as thou givest opportunity !] 
Prosper the labors of industry; bless the earth with 
abundant harvests ; bless our land with health, 
peace, plenty, righteousness ; and save the world 
which thy mercy has spared, for Christ's sake. 
Amen. 



332 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Ruth ii. — 2. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto 
Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears 
of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. 
And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 

3. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the 
field after the reapers ; and her hap was to light 
on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who 
was of the kindred of Elimelech. 

5. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was 
set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this ? 

6. And the servant that was set over the reap- 
ers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel 
that came back with Naomi out of the country of 
Moab: 

8. Then said Boaz unto Buth, Hearest thou not, 
my daughter ? Go not to glean in another field, 
neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my 
maidens : 

9. Let thine eyes be on the field that they do 
reap, and go thou after them : have I not charged 
the young men that they shall not touch thee ? 
And, when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and 
drink of that which the young men have drawn. 

10. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself 
to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I 
found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take 
knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger ? 

11. And Boaz answered and said unto her, It 



We may be sure that Naomi did not conceal the virtues 
of her daughter-in-law. Such a treasure she might well be 
proud of, and such an example of domestic fidelity and reli- 
gious devotion in an alien was worthy to be proclaimed 
among her own kinsmen and townspeople. Bethlehem was 
so small a place, that everybody could know the affairs of 
everybody else ; and the story of Naomi's return, and of the 
beautiful, loving, and pious Moabitess she had brought with 
her, was talked over at the city-gates, at the fountains where 
all the maidens went for water, till " all the city was moved 
about them." 



hath fully been showed me all that thou hast done 
unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine 
husband; and how thou hast left thy father and 
thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art 
come unto a people which thou knewest not here- 
tofore. 

12. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full 
reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, 
under whose wings thou art come to trust. 

13. Then she said, Let me find favor in thy 
sight, my lord ; for that thou hast comforted me, 
and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine 
handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thy 
handmaidens. 

14. And Boaz said unto her, At meal-time come 
thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy 
morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the 
reapers ; and he reached her parched corn, and 
she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. 

15. And, when she was risen up to glean, Boaz 
commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean 
even among the sheaves, and reproach her not ; 

16. And let fall also some of the handfuls of 
purpose for her, and leave them, that she may 
glean them; and rebuke her not. 

17. So she gleaned in the field until even, and 
beat out that she had gleaned ; and it was about 
an ephah of barley. 



By a humane requirement of the law of Moses, the glean- 
ings of the harvest were to be left for the poor ; and, as 
Naomi had returned penniless, she sent Ruth to gather a few 
ears of corn in the field of a rich relative. Her modest beha- 
vior, confirming the story of her virtue and piety, won favor in 
the eyes of Boaz ; and he gladly took advantage of a provision 
of the Mosaic law, and, as nearest of kin to her husband, 
made her his wife. And so the poor stranger, who had made 
herself an exile that she might care for the widowed mother 
of her husband, came to a home of plenty and honor, and 
became the ancestor of David and of Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 11, 15, 32. 



Thy mercies, O Lord ! are new every morning : 
great is thy faithfulness. We bless thee for life 
and health and reason ; for the use of our limbs 
and powers ; for our food and raiment and habi- 
tation ; for labor and reward ; for friends and 
kindred ; for freedom from suffering, infirmity, 
and pain. By the remembrance of thy goodness, 
awaken in our hearts, O God ! a purer love and 
devotion to thee. Inspire us with a true and child- 
like trust in thy faithfulness and mercy. So stay 
our minds on thyself, that we shall be anxious 
about nothing. May it ever be home with us 
where we can feel that God is nigh ! for we can 
fear nothing, lack nothing, when thou art our por- 
tion. 

God! since thou hast opened our eyes to see 



the light of another day, be pleased to prosper us 
with thy blessing in all its duties and engage- 
ments. Keep us from sin, temptation, and danger. 
Help us in all things to show forth thy glory by 
a life and conversation becoming thy children. 
May it please thee to bless all whom we love, 
and grant unto them the healthful spirit of thy 
grace ! Have compassion on all the children of 
toil and sorrow and suffering ; look in mercy upon 
the afflicted and the dying. Bless this household 
with such favors as thou seest to be good for us ; 
and teach us to desire and seek only that which is 
good in thy sight. Help us to walk by faith, that, 
hy a patient continuance in well-doing, we may 
come to glory and honor, through Jesus Christ, our 
blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



333 



WEDNESDAY. 



Mark vi. — 1. And lie went out from thence, 
and came into his own country ; and his disciples 
follow him. 

2. And, when the sabbath day was come, he 
began to teach in the synagogue : and many, hear- 
ing him, were astonished, saying, From whence 
hath this man these things ? and what wisdom is 
this which is given unto him, that even such 
mighty works are wrought by bis hands ? 

3. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, 
the brother of James and Joses, and of Juda and 
Simon ? and are not his sisters here with us ? 
And they were offended at him. 

4. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not 
without honor but in his own country, and among 
his own kin, and in his own house. 

5. And he could there do no mighty work, save 
that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and 
healed them. 

G. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. 
And he went round about the villages teaching. 



7. And he called vnto him the twelve, and be- 
gan to send them forth by two and two ; and gave 
them power over unclean spirits ; 

8. And commanded them that they should take 
nothing for their journey, save a staff only ; no 
scrip, no bread, no money in their purse ; 

9. But be shod with sandals, and not put on 
two coats. 

10. And he said unto them, In what place so- 
ever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye 
depart from that place. 

11. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor 
hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the 
dust under 3'our feet for a testimony against them. 
Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable 
for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment 
than for that city. 

12. And they went out, and preached that men 
should repent. 

13. And they cast out many devils, and anointed 
with oil many that were sick, and healed them. 



This was the beginning of evangelism by the disciples of 
Christ : from being learners, they were now to be teachers. 
Our Lord sent them two by two, for mutual comfort and 
support. He delegated to them miraculous powers, in order 
that they might attest their words by signs, and also might 
gain the attention and the confidence of men through kindness 
done to their bodies. At the same time, they were charged to 
go in the most unostentatious manner, in the spirit of peace, 
and, as Matthew adds, carrying a benediction to every house 
that would receive them. According to Matthew, also, they 
were sent first "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 
Both in their scriptures and in their ritual, the Jews had the 



promise of the Messiah ; and, now that he had come with 
words and works of divine mercy, their faith was first to be 
tested through the reception they would give to Jesus and his 
messengers. His own townsmen had rejected him, and had 
deprived themselves of his mighty works by their unbelief; 
for Jesus addressed himself to faith. The whole nation was 
now to have the opportunity of declaring itself concerning 
Christ and his salvation. The rejection of his disciples would 
be the rejection of himself, of his truth and grace in their 
message, of his Spirit in their works. It is a great privilege 
to hear the gospel : it is a great peril to treat it with indif- 
ference. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 171, 177, 186. 



We come to thee this morning, heavenly Father, 
with hearts full of thankfulness for the mercies of 
the night. We have rested in safet}' and in peace 
under the shadow of thy wing. Thou has kept us 
quiet from the fear of evil : nor sickness, nor death, 
nor tempest, nor fire, nor any calamity, hath over- 
taken us or our dwelling. How sure are the mer- 
cies of thy covenant, Lord ! All thy promises in 
Christ Jesus are Yea and Amen. Fulfil unto us, 
we beseech thee, these thy mercies and promises, 
and cause that this day we may rejoice in thy sal- 
vation. 

Bless to us thy Word which we have now read. 
Oh ! sanctify us by thy truth ; and, while we re- 
ceive its instruction and comfort in our hearts, 
may we carry out its precepts in our lives, and 
adjrn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
things ! May we be just and true, loving and 
kind, gentle, forbearing, and forgiving, and so 
shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word 
of life ! May every day witness some new victory 
over evil desires and passions within us, and over 
the evil that is in the world ! By feeding upon 



thy Word, the bread of heaven, may we grow up 
into Him who is our Life and Head, even Christ. 

[Oh ! may these children grow in grace as they 
grow in years and in knowledge ! May they slum 
evil companions and evil ways, and walk in the 
way of thy commandments !] Keep all dear to us 
even as the apple of thine eye. Bless our neigh- 
bors, and send thy Spirit upon this whole com- 
munity. Bless our rulers, and the schools and 
churches in our land. May all who rule, and all 
who teach, be led and taught by thee ! Raise up, 
Lord ! we entreat thee, a multitude of faithful 
preachers of thy Word, and missionaries of thy 
gospel. Clothe them with thy salvation ; and open 
the way before them in every land, and unto every 
heart. Have pity upon the poor and the sor- 
rowing; upon homes made desolate by famine, 
pestilence, or war. Stay thy judgments, Lord ! 
and send peace and salvation to all people. Mer- 
cifully forgive our sins, and bring us unto the per- 
fection of knowledge, of holiness, and of blessed- 
ness, in Jesus Christ our Lord ; to whom be glory 
forever. Amen. 



334 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Mark vi. — 14. And King Herod heard of him 
(for his name was spread abroad) ; and he said, 
That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, 
and therefore mighty works do show forth them- 
selves in him. 

15. Others said, That it is Elias. And others 
said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. 

16. But, when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is 
John, whom I beheaded : he is risen from the dead. 

17. For Herod himself had sent forth and laid 
hold upon John, and bound him in prison for He- 
rodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife ; for he had 
married her. 

18. For John had said unto Herod, It is not 
lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. 

19. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against 
him, and would have killed him ; but she could not : 

20. For Herod feared John, knowing that he 
was a just man and a holy, and observed him ; 
and, when he heard him, he did many things, and 
heard him gladly. 

21. And when a convenient day was come, that 
Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, 
high captains, and chief estates of Galilee ; 

22. And when the daughter of the said Hero- 



dias came in and danced, and pleased Herod and 
them that sat with him, the king said unto the 
damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I 
will give it thee. 

23. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou 
shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half 
of my kingdom. 

24. And she went forth, and said unto her 
mother, What shall I ask ? And she said, The 
head of John the Baptist. 

25. And she came in straightway with haste 
unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou 
give me by and by, in a charger, the head of John 
the Baptist. 

26. And the king was exceeding sorry ; yet for 
his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with 
him, he would not reject her. 

27. And immediately the king sent an execu- 
tioner, and commanded his head to be brought : 
and he went and beheaded him in the prison ; 

28. And brought his head in a charger, and 
gave it to the damsel ; and the damsel gave it to 
her mother. 

29. And, when his disciples heard of it, they 
came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. 



But an oath which required the perpetration of a crime 
could not be binding ; and the crime was the greater in this 
instance because Herod knew John to be a holy man and a 
prophet of the Lord, and that the odious request of Salome, 
the daughter of Herodias, was prompted by the mother in re- 
venge for the prophet's fidelity in denouncing her illicit mar- 
riage. This Herod (Antipas) was a son of Herod the Great, 
and was Tetrarch of Galilee and Peroea. " During a visit to 
his half-brother Herod-Philip, he became enamoured of his 
wife Herodias, and prevailed on her to leave her husband, and 
live with him." She stipulated that he should repudiate his 
wife, the daughter of the Arabian king, Aretas ; which he ac- 
cordingly did. Salome was the daughter of Philip and He- 



rodias. Like Lady Macbeth, Herodias instigated her husband 
to crimes which he would gladly have avoided; but he, like 
Macbeth, was haunted by the return of the murdered man to 
vex his imagination with terrible fears. " Thus conscience 
does make cowards of us all." But how beautiful by contrast 
was the courage with which faith inspired the disciples of 
John to brave the fate of their Master by rendering the tender 
offices of burial to his mutilated body ! It has always been the 
effect of persecution to call forth at once the most heroic vir- 
tues and the most gentle graces ; and often the passive virtues 
of the martyr have conquered where violent resistance would 
have been certain defeat. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 2, 97. 



Lord Jesus, who for our sakes didst endure 
such contradiction of sinners against thyself! grant 
us grace, that, like thee, we may be meek and lowly 
of heart. When offended and wronged by others, 
may we remember Him, who, when he was reviled, 
reviled not again, and who from the cross prayed 
for the forgiveness of his enemies ! As we pray thee 
to forgive our offences, may we ever show the spirit 
of forgiveness toward all who do us harm ! Set a 
watch, Lord ! at the door of our lips, that we of- 
fend not in word ; and, while bold and firm for thy 
truth and cause, in all that concerns ourselves may 
we study the things that make for peace! Help 
us this day to resist temptation, to walk uprightly, 
to do good as we have opportunity, to relieve the 
suffering and the needy, to be kind toward all, and 
to overcome the world. 

Father of all mercies, we commend this house- 



hold to thy loving care. [Oh ! take these children 
into thine arms ; defend them from the power of 
evil ; draw them to the cross of Christ, that they 
may there be baptized into the love of Him who 
died for them.] Grant us, Lord ! such prosperity 
as shall please thee ; yet, in all that we possess and 
enjoy, help us ever to remember that we are not 
our own, but are bought with a price, — even the 
precious blood of Christ. We pray for thy Church 
which thou hast redeemed: grant her peace and 
unity. And, oh! hasten the ingathering of the 
nations, that thou mayest see of the travail of 
thy soul, and be satisfied. Heavenly Father, we 
bless thee for the mercy which has brought us 
to the beginning of this day ; we supplicate thy 
favor upon all our friends ; and, Lord ! have 
mercy upon us, and upon all men, for Christ's 
sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



335 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm li. — 1. Have mercy upon me, God! 
according to thy loving-kindness : according unto 
the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my 
transgressions. 

2. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and 
cleanse me from my sin. 

3. For I acknowledge my transgressions ; and 
my sin is ever before, me. 

4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and 
done this evil in thy sight ; that thou mightest be 
justified when thou speakest, and be clear when 
thou judgest. 

5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity ; and in sin 
did my mother conceive me. 

6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward 
parts ; and in the hidden part thou shalt make me 
to know wisdom. 

7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean ; 
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 

8. Make me to hear joy and gladness ; that the 
bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 

9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all 
mine iniquities. 



The sin which David lamented with such extreme humili- 
ation and anguish is recorded in 2 Sam. xi. Having been 
betrayed into sin with Bathsheba, in order to cover his fault, 
he caused her husband, the valiant Uriah, to be so exposed in 
battle, that he was killed. David invented such excuses for 
his twofold crime, that, for a while, his conscience gave him lit- 
tle trouble. But, by and by, the Lord sent the prophet Nathan 
to the erring king : " and lie came unto him, and said unto 
him, There were two men in one city ; the one rich, and the 
other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and 
herds : but the poor man had nothing save one little ewe-lamb, 
which he had bought and nourished up ; and it grew up to- 
gether with him and with his children ; it did eat of his own 
meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and 
was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto 
the rich man ; and he spared to take of his own flock and of 
his own herd to dress for the wayfaring man that was come 
unto him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for 
the man that was come to him. And David's anger was 
greatly kindled against the man ; and he said to Nathan, As 
the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely 
die ; and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did 



10. Create in me a clean heart, God ! and re- 
new a right spirit within me. 

11. Cast me not away from thy presence ; and 
take not thy Holy Spirit from me. 

12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, 
and uphold me with thy free Spirit. 

13. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways ; 
and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 

14. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, God, 
thou God of my salvation ! and my tongue shall 
sing aloud of thy righteousness. 

15. Lord ! open thou my lips, and my mouth 
shall show forth thy praise. 

16. For thou desirest not sacrifice ; else would 
I give it: thou delightest not in burnt-offering. 

17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: abro- 
ken and a contrite heart, God! thou wilt not despise. 

18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion ; 
build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 

19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacri- 
fices of righteousness, with burnt -offering and 
whole burnt-offering; then shall they offer bul- 
locks upon thine altar. 



this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to 
David, Thou art the man." 

By his judgment on the rich robber, David had already con- 
demned himself; and now he is agonized with the sense of his 
guilt, especially with its heinousness in the sight of God. Noth- 
ing can palliate his sin ; nothing can hide it from his own view. 
He is so steeped in transgression, that no resources of atone- 
ment and purification within his reach could avail to cleanse 
and restore him. He owns the justice of God in his condemna- 
tion, and casts himself wholly and solely upon the mercy of 
God. " He would give any and every thing were the seasons 
to return when he enjoyed communion with God, a cheerful 
heart, and a constant spirit ; when the protection of God was 
spread out over him, and his Spirit reigned in his heart." He 
desires to be not only forgiven, but cleansed, made pure, and 
this in order that through his recovery from so grievous a fall 
he may set forth the grace of God for the salvation of other 
sinners, and that the glory of Zion may not be tarnished by 
his sin. Such is the spirit of true penitence : it bewails sin as 
committed against God ; it acknowledges the justice of his 
condemning sentence ; it longs for pardon as a means to per- 
sonal purity, and to the recovery of others from sin and death. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 82, 94, 95. 



Create in us a clean heart, God ! and renew a 
right spirit within us. So purify us by thy grace 
that we shall shine as lights in the world, holding 
forth the Word of life. We bless thee for thy lov- 
ing care, for rest and safety in the night, for the 
comfort and promise of this holy day. May thy 
Word and thy worship be precious to our souls ! 
Give us grace, that we may be established in 
the truth, and be doers of thy Word, and not 
hearers only, deceiving our own selves. Sow in 
our hearts the seed of eternal life, and enable us 
to bring forth fruit, to the glory of thy name, and 
the comfort of our souls. 



Bless this day thy holy Church, in her ministry, 
her worship, her sacraments, her works of love. 
Bless all missions throughout the world. Visit 
all Sunday schools with thy heavenly grace. 

[0 Lord ! grant unto the children of this house- 
hold the teaching of thy Spirit, the guidance of 
thy providence, that they may walk in the way of 
wisdom and of life.] 

Defend us with thy heavenly grace, that we may 
continue thine forever, and daily increase in thy 
Holy Spirit more and more, until we come unto 
thine everlasting kingdom, through the merits of 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



336 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Galatians ii. — 15. We who are Jews by na- 
ture, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 

16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the 
works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, 
even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we 
might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not 
by the works of the law ; for by the works of the 
law shall no flesh be justified. 

17. But if, while we seek to be justified by 
Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is, 
therefore, Christ the minister of sin ? God forbid ! 

18. For, if I build again the things which I de- 
stroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 

19. For I through the law am dead to the law, 
that I might live unto God. 

20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I 
live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me : and the 
life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the 
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave 
himself for me. 

21. I do not frustrate the grace of God ; for if 
righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead 
in vain. 

Galatians iii. — 1. foolish Galatians! who 
hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the 
truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been 
evidently set forth, crucified among you ? 

2. This only would I leam of you, Received ye 
the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hear- 
ing of faith ? 

3. Are ye so foolish ? Having begun in the 
Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh ? 



The moral law was given that it should be obeyed forever : 
its standard can never be lowered, its obligation can never be 
revoked. The Ten Commandments are as binding upon the 
Christian as ever they were upon the Jew. Christ sustained 
them by the full weight of his example and his author- 
ity. While he thus vindicated the authority of the law by 
his own righteousness, he also honored its demands upon us 
by offering himself a sacrifice for sin : so that we who were 
condemned for not doing may now be saved by believing. 
The ceremonial law was given to be observed until that 
which it typified should be fulfilled in Christ. To impose 



4. Have ye suffered so many things in vain ? if 
it be yet in vain. 

5. He therefore that ministereth to you the 
Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he 
it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of 
faith ? 

6. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was 
accounted to him for righteousness. 

7. Know ye, therefore, that they which are of 
faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 

8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would 
justify the heathen through faith, preached before 
the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all 
nations be blessed. 

9. So, then, they which be of faith are blessed 
with faithful Abraham. 

10. For as many as are of the works of the law 
are under the curse ; for it is written, Cursed is 
every one that continueth not in all things which 
are written in the book of the law to do them. 

11. But that no man is justified by the law in 
the sight of God, it is evident ; for, The just shall 
live by faith. 

12. And the law is not of faith ; but, The man 
that doeth them shall live in them. 

13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of 
the law, being made a curse for us ; for it is written, 
Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree : 

14. That the blessing of Abraham might come 
on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ ; that we 
might receive the promise of the Spirit through 
faith. 



that law npon Christians, to insist upon any forms and cere- 
monies as necessary to salvation, was to dishonor the grace of 
Christ, tO' assume a useless burden, to tall away from the 
spirit into the flesh. The gathering of all men to Christ by 
faith was foreseen in the promise given to Abraham. We 
are saved, not by works, but by faith. But true faith is the 
highest working power : it binds the soul to Christ for an 
implicit obedience to his will, a life-long devotion to his 
cause, in a union so close, so absolute, that the believer can 
say with Paul, " Christ liveth in me." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 143, 171. 



God, who makest the outgoings of the morn- 
ing and the evening to rejoice ! we bless thee that 
ours has not been a night of anguish and sorrow. 
We lift up our hearts to thee with thanksgiving for 
the joy of another day ; for vigor for its duties, ap- 
petite for its pleasures, and readiness for its oppor- 
tunities of good. Bless us in our labors, keep us pure 
in our enjoyments, incite us to do thy will ; and oh ! 
we beseech thee, preserve us from harm, from temp- 
tation, and from sin. Keep us from that love and 
that fear of this world which would estrange us 
from thee. 

Seeing that we know not what a day may bring 



forth, we pray, that, if trials and disappointments 
shall come, we may have grace to meet them and 
to profit by them. Conscious of our weakness, 
humbly confessing our sins, we cast ourselves upon 
thine infinite grace in Christ our Saviour for par- 
don, strength, and sanctification. May we as a 
family honor thee in our daily walk and conversa- 
tion ! May old and young alike know the beauty 
of holiness, the joy of consecration to Christ ! 
Grant thy grace to all who are dear to us ; and 
grant us grace to hold all men dear for Christ's 
sake. And to him, with the Father and the 
Spirit, be glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



337 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Romans xi. — 22. Behold, therefore, the good- 
ness and severity of God : on them which fell, 
severity ; hut toward thee goodness, if thou con- 
tinue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be 
cut off. 

23. And they also, if they abide not still in un- 
belief, shall be grafted in ; for God is able to graft 
them in again. 

24. For if thou wert cut out of the olive-tree 
which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary 
to nature into a good olive-tree, how much more 
shall these, which be the natural branches, be 
grafted into their own olive-tree ? 

25. For I would not, brethren, that ye should 
be ignorant of this mystery (lest ye should be 
wise in your own conceits), that blindness in part 
is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gen- 
tiles be come in. 

26. And so all Israel shall be saved ; as it is 
written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliv- 
erer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob : 

27. For this is my covenant unto them when I 
shall take away their sins. 



The severity of God is tempered by his goodness ; and his 
goodness, like the bow in the cloud, is brightened by the 
background of severity. Alike in Nature, in the Bible, and 
in Providence, the awful and the gentle, the severe and the 
gracious, are blended together. The Jewish people, so fa- 
vored in their national constitution and in their religious 
privileges, were at length set aside because they rejected the 
crown and glory of their whole system proffered them in 
Christ. But, since God does not repent of nor retract his 
mercy, Israel shall yet be brought to Christ with the converted 
Gentile world. Thus the very mysteries of Providence are 
fulfilling the wondrous plan of redemption : all things pro- 
ceed from God, and return to God. Verse 36 is a formula of 



28. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies 
for your sakes ; but, as touching the election, they 
are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 

29. For the gifts and calling of God are with- 
out repentance. 

30. For as ye in times past have not believed 
God, yet have now obtained mercy through their 
unbelief; 

31. Even so have these also now not believed, 
that through your mercy they also may obtain 
mercy. 

32. For God hath concluded them all in unbe- 
lief, that he might have mercy upon all. 

33. Oh the depth of the riches both of the wis- 
dom and knowledge of God ! how unsearchable 
are his judgments, and his ways past finding 
out! 

34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord ? 
or who hath been his counsellor? 

35. Or who hath first given to him, and it shall 
be recompensed unto him again ? 

36. For of him, and through him, and to him, 
are all things ; to whom be glory forever. Amen. 



philosophy, an utterance of faith, and an ascription of praise. 
Against Polytheism, it declares that all things were made and 
are upheld by the one God. Against Pantheism, it refers the 
origin of all things to God, as himself distinct from the things 
he has made. Against the notion of Fate, it recognizes a per- 
sonal Providence, through which all things are now sustained. 
Against Materialism, it declares that all things exist for 
God as their end. The whole universe exists through his 
plan and power ; and all events transpire by his purpose 
and for his glory. With what adoration, with what thanks- 
giving, with what consecration, should we bow before Him, 
of whom, and through whom, and unto whom, are all 
things ! 



Appropriate Htjixs,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 172, 175, 176. 



Lord God, Father of mercies, the Fountain 
of all comfort and blessing, who fillest heaven with 
thy glory, and earth with thy goodness ; to whom 
the heavens sing praise, and all their powers, with 
the earth and sea and all that are therein ! we 
praise and bless and glorify and give thanks to ! 
thee. Thou broughtest us out of nothing ; and 
when, by our disobedience, we were fallen, thou 
didst raise us up again to an inheritance in thy 
kingdom. For these and all thy mercies we give ' 
thanks to thee, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
henceforth and forevermore. 

We bless thee for the sabbath, and pray that we 
may rightly improve its holy rest and the worship 
of thy holy house. May we have in lively remem- I 
brance the resurrection and ascension of our 
blessed Lord ; by faith in him, be lifted above the j 
power of sin, above the fear of death ; and, being j 
risen with Christ, may we set our affections upon 
things above, and look with joy for his appearing ! 



[May these children delight in the Lord's day, 
and love to speak and sing of Jesus ! May they 
learn from thy holy "Word to love and trust him as 
their Saviour ! and may they delight in thy law !] 

We pray for the whole Church of Christ, that 
she may possess all the gifts of thy Holy Spirit ; 
for all Sunday schools, — oh ! hear the hosannas of 
children, and show to them the love of Jesus their 
Saviour. We pray for the poor and needy, the 
sick and afflicted, for widows and orphans ; for all 
whom thou hast given to be near and dear to us. 
Give them thy blessing, Lord ! for the sake of 
Him who hath taught us to love one another even 
as he hath loved us. 

Accept, we beseech thee, Lord ! these our 
praises and supplications, and look graciously upon 
tliis family ; and so assist us by thy grace, that we 
maybe fitted for that kingdom where all shall be 
joy and peace in the Holy Ghost ; to whom, with 
thee and thy Son, be all glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



John xiii. — 18. I speak not of you all; I know 
whom I have chosen ; but that the scripture may 
be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath 
lifted up his heel against me. 

19. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it 
is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. 

20. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that re- 
ceiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me ; and he 
that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 

21. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled 
in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I 
say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 

22. Then the disciples looked one on another, 
doubting of whom he spake. 

23. Now, there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one 
of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 

24. Simon Peter, therefore, beckoned to him, 
that he should ask who it should be of whom he 
spake. 

25. He then, lying on Jesus' breast, saith unto 
him, Lord, who is it ? 

26. Jesus answered, He it is to whom I shall 
give a sop when I have dipped it. And, when he 
had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, 
the son of Simon. 

27. And, after the sop, Satan entered into him. 



Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do 
quickly. 

28. Now, no man at the table knew for what in- 
tent he spake this unto him. 

29. For some of them thought, because Judas 
had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy 
those things that we have need of against the 
feast ; or, that he should give something to the 
poor. 

30. He then, having received the sop, went im- 
mediately out ; and it was night. 

31. • Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, 
Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glori- 
fied in him. 

32. If God be glorified in him, God shall also 
glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glori- 
fy him. 

33. Little children, yet a little while I am with 
you. Ye shall seek me ; and as I said unto the 
Jews, Whither I go ye cannot come, so now I say 
to you. 

34. A new commandment I give unto you, That 
ye love one another ; as I have loved you, that ye 
also love one another. 

35. By this shall all men know that ye are my 
disciples, if ye have love one to another. 



The Jews ate in a reclining posture, resting the head upon 
the left arm, with the face toward the table. They did not 
use knives and forks ; but each one dipped his hand or his 
bread into the common dish, which was placed before the 
couches upon a little table, as in the centre of a hollow square. 
As a mark of favor, the host would sometimes dip a piece of 
bread into the dish, or even select a delicate morsel with his 
fingers, and then offer this to one reclining near him. This 
custom was so common, that, when Jesus gave the sop to 
Judas, it attracted no special notice, although so closely con- 
nected with our Lord's warning of treachery. As John re- 



clined next to Jesus upon the right, his head leaned upon 
the Lord's bosom ; and so he became the mouth-piece of the 
disciples, when they longed to know, but dared not ask, of 
whom the Master had spoken. 

The departure of the traitor was to Jesus another signal 
that his hour was at hand ; but nothing could disturb the 
serenity of his soul. In his approaching sufferings he be- 
held only the completion of his triumph ; and, as that triumph 
would be the inauguration of love as the life-power of the 
world, he gave forth, with new and special emphasis, the com- 
mandment, "Love one another as I have loved you." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 83, 100, 176. 



Almighty God, from whom all good things do 
come, we thank and praise thee for the mercies of 
this holy day. Make our hearts so deeply thankful 
for its many blessings, that we shall be ready to 
devote ourselves afresh — body, soul, and spirit — 
to thy service through the coming week. 

Give unto us, God ! more of the mind which 
was in Christ Jesus. May we esteem others bet- 
ter than ourselves ! Teach us to pity and to help 
all who are in want and sorrow. May we show 
that we are Christians, not in name only, but in 
deed and truth ! and, by our holy and blameless 
lives, may we adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour 
in all things ! May thy truth make us free ! 

Almighty Father, teach us to imitate thy love, 
that we may be sanctified in heart and life, fitted 
to serve thee here, and to dwell with thee here- 
after. May we be temples of the Holy Ghost, and 
be sealed by him unto the day of redemption! 



May his gracious teaching enlighten us, and his 
holy comfort cheer and refresh our souls ! May no 
cherished sin grieve this blessed Spirit, or quench 
the flame of love which he would kindle within 
us ! 

Bless, Lord ! thy Church with light and peace. 
Bless our government and our country. Make us 
a nation fearing thee and working righteousness. 

Be gracious to all our dear friends and rela- 
tives, and guide their feet into the way of holiness. 
Bring nigh unto thee any who may be yet far from 
thee. Stablish, strengthen, and settle those who 
know and love thee. Hear, Lord ! we beseech 
thee, these our supplications ; take us this night 
into thy holy keeping ; pardon for thy mercy's 
sake all our iniquities; and do for us exceeding 
abundantly above all that we ask or think, for the 
sake of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and 
Saviour. Amen, 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



MONDAY. 



Matthew XX. — 1. For the kingdom of heaven 
is like unto a man that is a householder, which 
went out early in the morning to hire laborers 
into his vineyard. 

2. And, when lie had agreed with the laborers 
for a penny a day, he sent them into his vine- 
yard. 

3. And he went out about the third hour, and 
saw others standing idle in the market-place, 

4. And said unto them, Go ye also into the vine- 
yard ; and whatsoever is right, I will give you. 
And they went their way. 

5. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth 
hour, and did likewise. 

6. And about the eleventh hour he went out, 
and found others standing idle, and saith unto 
them, Why stand ye here all the day idle ? 

7. They say unto him, Because no man hath 
hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the 
vineyard ; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye 
receive. 

8. So, when even was come, the lord of the vine- 
yard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and 



give them their hire, beginning from the last unto 
the first. 

9. And, when they came that were hired about 
the eleventh hour, they received every man a 
penny. 

10. But when the first came, they supposed that 
they should have received more ; and they like- 
wise received every man a penny. 

11. And, when they had received it, they mur- 
mured against the good man of the house, 

12. Saying, These last have wrought but one 
hour ; and thou hast made them equal unto us, 
which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 

13. But he answered one of them, and said, 
Friend, 1 do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree 
with me for a penny ? 

14. Take that thine is, and go thy way : I will 
give unto this last even as unto thee. 

15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will 
with mine own ? is thine eye evil because I am 
good? 

16. So the last shall be first, and the first last; 
for many be called, but few chosen. 



" The market-place of the world is here contrasted with 
the vineyard of the kingdom of God : the greatest man of 
business in worldly things is a mere idle gazer if he has not 
yet entered on the true work which alone is worth any thing, 
or gains any reward." The parable teaches that in this king- 
dom all recompense, like the calling into the kingdom itself, is 
a matter of grace ; and therefore it is at the pleasure of the 
Master-to dispense his awards according to a scale and method 
of his own. Those who earliest received the call of the gos- 
pel, and were the first to enter upon the service of Christ, 
would not, for that reason, be entitled to take precedence of 
those to whom the gospel came later, and who might, therefore, 
seem to engage in the service of Christ at the last moment. 
No principle of justice is set aside in the distribution of mercy, 
and no claim of merit is allowed under a dispensation of 
grace. 



He who would seek to pervert this into a pretext for delay- 
ing till the eleventh hour to obey the Saviour's call would 
show a spirit so utterly mean and selfish as to render it highly 
improbable that he would ever accept a grace he could so de- 
liberately abuse and despise. Let every one of us go work 
to-day; let us begin in earnest the work we have too long 
neglected ; let fidelity to the Master be our one motive ; and 
we shall have our compensation in the work itself as we go 
along, and shall find in the end that the reward of free grace 
is greater far than any thing we could have hoped to deserve. 

In the vineyard of the Lord there is something for eveiy 
one to do. No disciple Cart claim a dignity of position, or a 
length of service, that should exempt him from the duty of 
work ; nor are any so feeble or so humble that they can do 
nothing for the Master. Our duty is to work where he has 
placed us : we can trust his love for the reward 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 29, 39, 50. 



Our voice shalt thou hear in the morning, 
Lord ! in the morning will we direct our prayer 
unto thee, and will look up. Oh ! lead us this day 
in thy righteousness ; make thy way straight before 
our face. Grant that we may see and know clear- 
ly what things we ought to do ; and, whatever we 
do, may we do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and 
not unto men ! 

Keep us from vain self-dependence, from pride, 
self-will, and presumption. Plant in our hearts 
thy holy fear ; and may we show such meekness 
and gentleness and humility as become the true 
followers of Christ ! 

Whilst we are this day diligent in business, give 
us grace at the same time to be fervent in spirit, 
serving the Lord. May the continual recollection 
of thy manifold and great mercies incline us to pre- 
sent our souls and bodies a living sacrifice unto 



thee ! May we not be conformed to this world, but 
transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we 
may prove what is that good and acceptable and 
perfect will of God ! 

[May the children of this family set thy love be- 
fore them as their chief portion in life, and make 
thy Word their guide ! May they always speak the 
truth, and grow up free from guile ! May they hear 
the voice of Jesus, and follow him !] Be gracious, 
Lord ! to all our kindred. Visit thy Church 
with thy salvation. Inspire thy people with a 
readiness to testify of thy love, and to invite others 
to thy grace. May we behold even greater fruits 
of thy coming than were seen by thine own apos- 
tles ! Open thou the windows of heaven, and 
cause thy glory to shine forth, that all the ends of 
the earth shall acknowledge thee. And to thy 
name be all the glory. Amen. 



340 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



I Samuel iii. — 1. And the child Samuel min- 
istered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word 
of the Lord was precious in those days : there was 
no open vision. 

2. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli 
ivas laid down in his place, and his eyes began to 
wax dial, that he could not see ; 

3. And ere the lamp of God went out in the 
temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and 
Samuel was laid down to sleep ; 

4. That the Lord called Samuel; and he an- 
swered, Here am I. 

5. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I ; 
for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not : 
lie down again. And he went and lay down. 

6. And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. 
And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, 
Here am I ; for thou didst call me. And he an- 
swered, I called not, my son : lie down again. 

7. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nei- 
ther was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto 
him. 

8. And the Lord called Samuel again the third 
time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, 
Here am I ; for thou didst call me. And Eli per- 
ceived that the Lord had called the child. 

9. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down : 
and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, 
Speak, Lord ; for thy servant heareth. So Sam- 
uel went and lay down in his place. 

10. And the Lord came, and stood and called as 



After Moses, Samuel was the first character in ancient 
Jewish history who centred in himself the elements of politi- 
cal and religious authority. He was the last and the great- 
est of the judges whose official power succeeded that of the 
lawgiver ; and he was the first of that long line of prophets 
whose function and influence came to be superior to that of 
the priesthood itself. Moreover, his life marked a transition- 
period in the nation ; for, against his own judgment, he 
yielded to their clamor for a king, and anointed, first Saul, and 
afterwards David, to this office. He was a person of rare dig- 
nity, beauty, and integrity of character, and of sincere and 
humble piety. Consecrated by his mother to the service of 
the Lord, he was trained from childhood in the sanctuary ; 



at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel 
answered, Speak ; for thy servant heareth. 

11. And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will 
do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of 
every one that heareth it shall tingle. 

12. In that day I will perform against Eli all 
things which I have spoken concerning hi's house : 
when I begin I will also make an end. 

13. For I have told him that I will judge his 
house forever, for the iniquity which he knoweth ; 
because his sons made themselves vile, and he re- 
strained them not. 

14. And therefore I have sworn unto the house 
of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be 
purged with sacrifice nor offering forever. 

15. And Samuel lay until the morning, and 
opened the doors of the house of the Lord ; and 
Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. 

16. Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, 
my son ; and he answered, Here am I, 

17. And he said, What is the thing that the 
Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee, hide it 
not from me : God do so to thee, and more also, if 
thou hide any thing from me of all the things that 
he said unto thee. 

18. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid 
nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord : 
let him do what seemeth him good. 

19. And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with 
him, and did let none of his words fall to the 
ground. 



and it was while sleeping in the tabernacle that he received 
the divine call that ennobled and ever after guided his 
life. This scene, pictured with the simplicity of truth, has 
an unfading charm alike for childhood and for age, for 
poetry and for art. The little child, so quick to hear the 
voice in the night, so ready to trust the word of Eli, so 
prompt to obey the voice of the Lord ; the venerable priest, 
warned by this innocent boy of the doom upon his house, 
and receiving the message with such patient meekness, — 
all this lives before us as often as we read the story. Oh, 
may our ears ever be open to the voices of the Invisible! 
and our hearts answer, " Speak, Lord ; for thy servant 
heareth ! " 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayei*. 



[Nos. 156, 163, 190. 



Oh ! grant us grace, Father in heaven, to hear 
thy Word, and to obey it. We would make haste, 
and delay not, to keep thy commandments. Thou 
hast a right, Lord ! to our time, our gifts, our 
hearts, our persons ; to all that we are, and all 
that we have : for thou hast created us, and hast 
redeemed us with the precious blood of thy Son. 

We give thee thanks for the mercies of the night, 
and for all the mercies of our past lives, — for home 
and its blessings ; for friends, and all the ministries 
of love ; for health, knowledge, comfort, and pros- 
perity ; but, above all things, for thy grace in the 



gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we ever 
be ready to acknowledge him the Son of God, the 
Saviour of the world ! May men in the high places 
of power and influence consecrate themselves to 
him ! may the poor and lowly trust in him ! may 
children sing hosannas to the Son of David ! 
How shall we praise thee, God ! for thy love 
and grace to us sinners ? For all thy mercies, we 
bless and magnify thy glorious name ; humbly 
beseeching thee to accept this our morning sacri- 
fice of praise for His sake who died, and rose again, 
and who liveth evermore. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



341 



WEDNESDAY. 



I Samuel xii. — 1. And Samuel said unto all 
Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice 
in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king 
over you. 

2. And now, behold, the king walketh before 
j r ou ; and I am old and gray-headed ; and, behold, 
my sons are with you ; and I have walked before 
you from my childhood unto this day. 

3. Behold, here I am : witness against me be- 
fore the Lord, and before his anointed : whose ox 
have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or 
whom have I defrauded ? whom have I oppressed ? 
or of whose hand have I received any bribe to 
blind mine eyes therewith ? and I will restore it you. 

4. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, 
nor oppressed us ; neither hast thou taken aught of 
any man's hand. 

5. And he said unto them, The Lord is witness 
against you, and his anointed is witness this day, 
that ye have not found aught in my hand. And 
they answered, He is witness. 

8. When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your 
fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord sent 
Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fa- 
thers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this 
place. 

9. And, when they forgat the Lord their God, 
he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of 



the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philis- 
tines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and 
they fought against them. 

10. And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We 
have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, 
and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth ; but now 
deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we 
will serve thee. 

11. And the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Bedan, 
and Jephthah and Samuel, and delivered you out 
of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye 
dwelt safe. 

12. And, when ye saw that N abash the king of 
the children of Amnion came against you, ye said 
unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: 
when the Lord your God icas your king. 

13. Now, therefore, behold the king whom ye 
have chosen, and whom ye have desired ; and, be- 
hold, the Lord hath set a king over you. 

14. If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and 
obey his voice, and not rebel against the command- 
ment of the Lord, then shall both ye, and also the 
king that reigneth over you, continue following 
the Lord your God. 

15. But if ye will not obey the voice of the 
i Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the 
j Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against 

you as it was against your fathers. 



The public officer, who, like Samuel, can challenge the most 
rigid scrutiny of his lite, and can appeal to all the world for a 
verdict of his integrity, has a prouder name than office could 
bestow, and a richer inheritance for his children than all the 
spoils of office could yield. But alas for the times when it 
comes to be the rare and distinctive recommendation of a 
judge, that he will not accept a bribe ; or of a financial officer, 
that he will not steal ! 

The experiment of governing a people through their direct 
allegiance to Jehovah, by the agency of judges and prophets 
who gave proof of inspiration, had proved a failure. The 
pure theocracy contemplated in the laws of Moses was above 



the faith and the morality of the Israelites. The promise was 
that God would protect and prosper them while they should 
serve and trust him. But they fell away into impiety and 
idolatry ; and when, as a scourge for this, they were overrun by 
surrounding nations, they demanded a king, as a military 
leader who should put them on a footing to cope with their 
enemies. Saul was anointed the first king over Israel : and, 
with the upright and dignified administration of Samuel, the 
simplicity of the early theocracy passed away ; the divine re- 
public was merged in an earthly monarchy ; yet this remained 
a type of that inner spiritual kingdom which came to its de- 
velopment in the Church of Christ, the Son of David. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 28, 138, 154. 



God ! we are sinners, and of a sinful race ; 
but great is thy mercy. Accept our thanks and 
praise. 

For our creation and preservation ; for our sleep 
last night, and our safety this morning ; for the 
comforts of this world, and the hopes of the world 
to come, — we bless thee, good Lord. 

For our stations and occupations in life ; for our 
dear relations and friends ; for all that reminds us 
of thee, and all opportunities of glorifying thee, — 
we bless thee, good Lord. 

For thy love in our redemption ; for thy free be- 
stowal of thine only-begotten Son ; for thine un- 
speakable gift of the Holy Spirit, — above all we 
bless thee, good Lord. 

We give thee thanks for home and country ; for 



knowledge and freedom ; for the favor of thy provi- 
dence upon our land ; for the tokens of thy mercy 
in thy Church. We beseech thee, O Lord ! to con- 
tinue the favor which thou hast shown unto us as a 
famity. [May these children grow up in the knowl- 
edge and love of thy truth ! May they always in- 
cline to thy will, and walk in thy way ! May they 
be kept from the evil that is in the world, and be 
the followers of the Lord Jesus !] Dwell by thy 
good Spirit in the homes of all whom we love. 
Bless this community, our State, our nation, with 
good things, temporal and spiritual. Have mercy, 
we beseech thee, upon an evil and ungodly world. 
Oh ! bring the wickedness of the wicked to an 
end ; and do good, in thy loving-kindness, unto all 
men, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



342 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



I Samuel xv. — 22. And Samuel said, Hath the 
Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacri- 
fices as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, 
to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken 
than the fat of rams. 

23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, 
and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. 
Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, 
he hath also rejected thee from being king. 

24. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned ; 
for I have transgressed the commandment of the 
Lord, and thy words ; because I feared the people, 
and obeyed their voice. 

25. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, 
and turn again with me, that I may worship the 
Lord. 

26. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not re- 
turn with thee ; for thou hast rejected the word of 
the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from 
being king over Israel. 

27. And, as Samuel turned about to go away, 
he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it 
rent. 

28. And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath 
rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, 
and hath given it to a neighbor of thine that is 
better than thou. 

29. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie 
nor repent ; for he is not a man that he should 
repent. 

30. Then he said, I have sinned ; yet honor me 
now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, 



and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I 
may worship the Lord thy God. 

I Samuel xvi. — 14. But the Spirit of the Lord 
departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the 
Lord troubled him. 

15. And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold, 
now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 

16. Let our Lord now command thy servants 
which are before thee to seek out a man who is 
a cunning player on a harp; and it shall come to 
pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, 
that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt 
be well. 

17. And Saul said unto his servants, Provide 
me now a man that can play well, and bring him, 
to me. 

18. Then answered one of the servants, and 
said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the 
Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a 
mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and pru- 
dent in matters, and a comely person ; and the 
Lord is with him. 

19. Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, 
and said, Send me David thy son, which is with 
the sheep. 

21. And David came to Saul, and stood before 
him ; and he loved him greatly, and he became 
his armor-bearer. 

23. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit 
from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, 
and played with his hand : so Saul was refreshed, 
and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. 



The people soon had cause to repent their choice of a 
king. Saul proved to be a moody, capricious, violent, arbi- 
trary man, subject to fits of insanity, — in foreign wars, in do- 
mestic broils, in personal jealousies and feuds ; a tyrant in 
his family, the terror of his friends, the grief and plague of 
Samuel's declining days. He stood in awe, however, of the 
prophet, and, after his paroxysms of rage and pride, would go 
to Samuel to assuage his remorse. At last, his wilfulness led 
him too far. He openly disregarded the command of Jeho- 
vah, and then was guilty of the further presumption of sacri- 
ficing in his own name by way of atonement. But men can- 
not thus compromise their misdoings ; and Jehovah took 



away from Saul the hope of founding a dynasty. Samuel 
was sent secretly to anoint David as the future king of 
Israel. . 

Music has charms over madness. A celebrated singer 
once calmed the most violent lunatics in an asylum by the 
tones of her voice. The youthful David, who already had a 
reputation for improvising on the harp, was sent for to soothe 
the troubled mind of the king. Saul little dreamed that this 
ruddy and gifted shepherd would succeed to his throne ; and 
David was too modest and too magnanimous to indulge the 
feeling of rivalry, and too pious to meditate evil toward one, 
who, like himself, had been anointed of the Lord. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 89, 95, 104. 



God, the Author of our being, and the Pre- 
server of our lives ! we thank thee for the continu- 
ance of reason, and pray thee to impart unto us the 
spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 
Let the mind be in us which was in Christ Jesus. 
Suffer no temptation to overcome us; and, oh! 
deliver us from envy, pride, self-will, and every 
passion that would grieve thy Spirit, disturb our 
peace, and bring evil to those around us ! Help 
us to use the world as not abusing it, and to derive 
a rational and wholesome pleasure from the good 
things thou hast provided for us. 



May it please thee, Lord ! to prosper us in our 
daily occupations ; to preside over this household 
with thy good Spirit; to preserve us from harm 
[to bless the children, and lead them in the right 
way] ; to bless our friends, and number them 
all with thy chosen; to bless our land with 
plenty, with peace, and with the power of thy 
gospel ; to bless and save a world that lieth in 
wickedness. These mercies we ask, humbly con- 
fessing our sins, through Jesus Christ' our Lord ; 
who, with thee and the Holy Spirit, liveth and 
reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



343 



FRIDAY. 



I Samuel xvii. — 38. And Saul armed David 
with his armor ; and he put a helmet of brass upon 
his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 

39. And David girded his sword upon his ar- 
mor, and he essayed to go; for he had not proved 
it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with 
these ; for I have not proved them. And David 
put them off him. 

40. And he took his staff in his hand, and 
chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and 
put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even 
in a scrip ; and his sling tvas in his hand: and he 
drew near to the Philistine. 

41. And the Philistine came on, and drew near 
unto David ; and the man that bare the shield 
went before him. 

42. And when the Philistine looked about, and 
saw David, he disdained him ; for he was but a 
youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 

43. And the Philistine said unto David, Ami 
a dog, that thou comest to me with staves ? and 
the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 

44. And the Philistine said to David, Come to 
me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the 
air, and to the beasts of the field. 

45. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou 
comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and 
with a shield ; but I come to thee in the name of 
the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, 
whom thou hast defied. 

46. This day will the Lord deliver thee into 
mine hand ; and I will smite thee, and take thine i 



head from thee ; and I will give the carcasses of 
the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of 
the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth ; that 
all the earth may know that there is a God in 
Israel. 

47. And all this assembly shall know that the 
Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the 
battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our 
hands. 

48. And it came to pass, when the Philistine 
arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, 
that David hasted, and ran toward the army to 
meet the Philistine. 

49. And David put his hand in his bag, and 
took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the 
Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sank into 
his forehead ; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 

50. So David prevailed over the Philistine with 
a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, 
and slew him ; but there was no sword in the 
hand of David. 

51. Therefore David ran and stood upon the 
Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of 
the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his 
head therewith. And, when the Philistines saw 
their champion was dead, they fled. 

52. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, 
and shouted, and pursued the Philistines until 
thou come to the valley and to the gates of Ek- 
ron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell 
down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath 
and unto Ekron. 



Notwithstanding the forrays of Samson into their territory, 
the Philistines had held their own ; and their line of cities 
along the coast remained a barrier between Judah and the 
Mediterranean. On being chosen king, Saul gave battle to 
the Philistines, and, by a stratagem of his son Jonathan, put 
them to rout with great slaughter. Now, after twenty years, 
hostilities were renewed, the Philistines invading the territory 
of Judah. According to a custom of ancient warfare, of which 
there are examples in Homer, it was proposed to decide the 
contest by champions from each side, in lieu of a pitched bat- 
tle. Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, was a giant of 
such strength and renown, that no Israelite would venture to 



fight him, even for the large bounties offered by Saul. At 
this crisis, David came to the camp on an errand from his 
father to his older brothers in the army. David's shepherd- 
life had made him familiar with danger, and had called 
out feats of strength and courage. He had killed, single- 
handed, a lion and a bear. Like the mountain-shepherds 
of Palestine to-day, he was expert in the use of the sling. 
This stripling, going forth alone and unarmed, trusting only 
in God and his good arm, to meet the haughty champion of 
Philistia, has become the type of single-hearted faith, con- 
fronting the powers of the world, and overcoming the great 
Adversary. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 121, 129, 136. 



Lord God! our fathers trusted in thee, and 
were not ashamed ; and in thy love we would con- 
fide for ever and ever. In health and in sickness, 
in hope and in sorrow, we would look up to the 
hills, whence cometh our help ; and we pray that 
we may have the perfect peace of those whose 
minds are stayed upon the Lord. 

We thank thee for the mercies of another night, 
and for the goodness thou hast provided with the 
opening day. The sun has spread its light over 
the world; the earth is bringing forth renewed 
supplies of good. We bless thee, Lord ! for all 



thy gifts, and pray thee be merciful to us in our 
renewed wants, and visit us with thy salvation. 
Continue to us, we entreat thee, the gifts of thy 
providence ; and pour upon us the blessings of 
thy grace. Go forth with us, Lord ! to the en- 
gagements, the trials, the duties, and the pleasures 
which await us to-day. Oh ! keep us from evil 
and sin. Bless all who are dear to us by any tie ; 
all who are in any want, trouble, or sorrow. De- 
liver thy Church in her conflicts, and hasten the 
final triumph of thy kingdom, for Jesus Christ's 
sake. Amen. 



344 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



I Samuel xxviii. — 7. Then said Saul unto his 
servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar 
spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her. 
And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a 
woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. 

8. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other 
raiment, and he went, and two men with him ; and 
they came to the woman by night : and he said, I 
pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, 
and bring me him up whom I shall name unto 
thee. 

11. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring 
up unto thee ? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 

12. And, when the woman saw Samuel, she cried 
with a loud voice : and the woman spake to Saul, 
saying, Why hast thou deceived me ? for thou art 
Saul. 

13. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid ; 
for what sawest thou ? And the woman said unto 
Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. 

14. And he said unto her, What form is he of? 
And she said, An old man cometh up ; and he is 
covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that 
it was Samuel; and he stooped with his face to the 
ground, and bowed himself. 

15. And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou 
disquieted me to bring me up ? And Saul an- 



For the third time Saul was to meet the Philistines, whose 
hosts he had twice put to the rout; but his follies and ex- 
cesses had so weakened his hold upon the people, that he had 
little of the spirit or hope of earlier years. The popularity 
of David so stirred the envy of Saul, that he sought to take 
his life ; and David, avoiding a conflict, had been for years 
a fugitive in the thinly-settled districts of Judasa, or in border- 
countries. Samuel was dead ; and Saul tried in vain to ob- 
tain from the Lord some token of the issue of the battle. In 
his despair, he had recourse to witchcraft. The armies were 
drawn up in the Plain of Jezreel ; Saul's camp being at the 
south-eastern fork, along the base of Gilboa. Just behind 
the hills, on the opposite side of the plain, lay the village of 
Endor, where was a famous witch ; and to her Saul went under 
cover of the night. The woman intended to humor his fancy 
by some conjurer's art, and was as much startled as he when 
a supernatural power, to her unknown, caused the form of 
Samuel to appear. Thus Saul's superstitious fears were 
turned by the Lord into a means of warning. Next day, both 
Saul and Jonathan perished. David poured forth this ex- 



swered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines 
make war against me, and God is departed from 
me, and answereth me no more, neither by pro- 
phets, nor by dreams : therefore I have called thee, 
that thou mayest make known unto me what I 
shall do. 

16. Then said Samuel, Wherefore, then, dost 
thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from 
thee, and is become thine enemy ? 

17. And the Lord hath done to him as he spake 
by me ; for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out 
of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbor, even 
to David : 

18. Because thou obeyedest not the voice of the 
Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Ama- 
lek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto 
thee this day. 

19. Moreover, the Lord will also deliver Israel 
with thee into the hand of the Philistines ; and 
to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me : 
the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into 
the hand of the Philistines. 

20. Then Saul fell straightway all along on the 
earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of 
Samuel; and there was no strength in him; for 
he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the 
night. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



quisite lament over his worst enemy and his dearest friend : 
" The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places : how 
are the mighty fallen ! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in 
the streets of Askelon ; lest the daughters of the Philistines 
rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye 
mountains of Gilboa, no dew, neither rain, upon you, nor 
fields of offerings ! for there the shield of the mighty is vilely 
cast away, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil. Prom the 
blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of 
Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned 
not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in 
their lives, and in their death they were not divided ; swifter 
than eagles, stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep 
over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with delights ; who put 
ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty 
fallen in the midst of the battle ! O Jonathan ! slain in thine 
high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan : 
very pleasant hast thou been unto me : thy love to me was 
wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty 
fallen, and the weapons of war perished ! " 



[Nos. 117, 163. 



Thou only, Lord ! makest us to dwell in safety. 
We thank thee for another night of rest and com- 
fort ; for another day of life, health, and hope. 
Lord ! may we be found faithful to thee in the 
duties of this day ! and, amid its temptations and 
its trials, do thou sustain us, comfort us, keep us, 
and grant us grace in all we do to seek thy glory. 
May this household, which thou hast so blessed, 
serve thee, not at this altar only, but in all the 
walks of life ! As we engage in the business of 
the world, as we go into society, wherever we are, 



Prayer. 

and whatever we do, may we remember thee, and 
do thy will ! Bless all dear to us who are absent 
from us. We supplicate thy mercy for the needy, 
the afflicted, the bereaved, and the sorrowing. 

Build up thy Church, Lord ! Fill our land 
with pure religion. May our rulers be faithful and 
just, walking in thy fear ! And Ave beseech thee 
to bring all lands under the power and glory of 
thy kingdom. Lord ! forgive our sins, and bring 
us unto thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus 
Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



345 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Proverbs xxxi. — 10. Who can find a virtuous 
woman ? for her price is far above rubies. 
^ 11. The heart of her husband doth safely trust 
in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 

12. She will do him good, and not evil, all the 
days of her life. 

13. She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh will- 
ingly with her hands. 

14. She is like the merchants' ships : she bring- 
eth her food from afar. 

15. She riseth also while it is yet night, and 
giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her 
maidens. 

16. She considereth a field, and buyeth it : with 
the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 

17. She girdeth her loins with strength, and 
strengtheneth her arms. 

18. She perceiveth that her merchandise is 
good: her candle goeth not out by night. 

19. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and 
her hands hold the distaff. 

20. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor ; 
yea, she reach eth forth her hands to the needy. 

21. She is not afraid of the snow for her house- 
hold ; for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 

22. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry: 
her clothing is silk and purple. 

23. Her husband is known in the gates, when 
he sitteth among the elders of the land. 

24. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and 
delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 



Christianity recovered woman from the social degradation 
to which, in almost every nation except the Hebrew, she had 
been reduced by custom, by law, and even by religion. Chris- 
tianity ennobled her to her original position as the "daughter 
of the Almighty." But, in order that woman may hold her 
just position in society and in the church, the gospel would 
have her guard with sacred jealousy the proprieties of her 
sex ; and by the modesty and quietness of her manners, the 
discreetness of her behavior in public assemblies, and the 
abundance of her good works, wield a redeeming and refin- 
ing influence over men and affairs. The influence which 
proved so destructive in the beginning of the race, may, 
through the gospel, be exerted for the noblest purposes of 



25. Strength and honor are her clothing ; and 
she shall rejoice in time to come. 

26. She openeth her mouth with wisdom ; and 
in her tongue is the law of kindness. 

27. She looketh well to the ways of her house- 
hold, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 

28. Her children arise up, and call her blessed ; 
her husband also, and he praiseth her. 

29. Many daughters have done virtuously ; but 
thou excellest them all. 

30. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain ; but 
a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be 
praised. 

31. Give her of the fruit of her hands ; and let 
her own 'works praise her in the gates. 

I Timothy ii. — 8. I will, therefore, that men 
pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without 
wrath and doubting. 

9. In like manner, also, that women adorn them- 
selves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and 
sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or 
pearls, or costly, array, 

10. But (which becometh women professing 
godliness) with good works. 

11. Let the woman learn in silence with all sub- 
jection. 

12. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to 
usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 

13. For Adam was first formed ; then Eve. 

14. And Adam was not deceived ; but the 
woman, being deceived, was in the transgression. 



good. That these counsels were not intended merely for a 
local and temporary condition of society is plain from the 
fact that they are based upon the order of creation and the 
unchanging qualities of sex. 

The gospel, which carries grace, modesty, and purity into 
the family, would also maintain order and integrity in gov- 
erment, and peace, good-will, and godliness in society at large. 
For this blessed consummation we should devoutly pray ; 
realizing that there is one God and Saviour for all ; that his 
grace can reach alike the highest and the lowest ; that his 
gospel is the best agent of reform ; and that the best wish we 
can have for the improvement of society is that it should 
become thoroughly Christian. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 13, 79. 



O Lord, the Giver of life ! we bless thee that we 
are of the living to praise thee. We bring to thee 
the homage of our hearts, desiring to worship 
thee this day in spirit and in truth ; to cele- 
brate thy glory in thy works ; to show forth thy 
loving-kindness to the children of men ; to praise 
and adore thee for thy great mercy in Jesus Christ 
our Saviour. Oh ! do thou for his sake take 
away our sins, and sanctify our hearts by thy 
truth and thy Spirit ! Bless to us the reading 
and hearing of thy Word, the worship and order 
of thy house ; bless the assemblies of thy people, 



the communion of thy saints, the instruction of 
children, the visiting and teaching of thy servants 
among the poor, by the wayside, and from house to 
house. 

As a family we consecrate ourselves to thee, our 
Father in heaven. We bless thee for the memory 
of the good who have gone before us, and have 
taught us thy way, and for the hope of immor- 
tality brought nigh to us in the gospel. May we 
so improve these earthly sabbaths, that by thy grace 
we shall come unto the fruition of this blessed hope 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



346 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm cxlvii. — 1. Praise ye the Lord: for it is 

good, to sing praises unto our God ; for it is pleas- 
ant, and praise is comely. 

2. The Lord doth build up Jerusalem : he gath- 
ereth together the outcasts of Israel. 

3. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth 
up their wounds. 

4. He telleth the number of the stars ; he calleth 
them all by their names. 

5. Great is our Lord, and of great power : his 
understanding is infinite. 

6. The Lord lifteth up the meek : he casteth the 
wicked down to the ground. 

11. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear 
him, in those that hope in his mercy. 

12. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem ! praise thy 
God, Zion ! 

2 Thessalonians i. — 1. Paul and Silvanus and 
Timotheus unto the church of the Thessalonians 
in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ : 

2. Grace unto you, and peace, from God our 
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

3. We are bound to thank God always for you, 
brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith 
groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one 
of you all toward each other aboundeth ; 

4. So that we ourselves glory in you in the 



churches of God, for your patience and faith in all 
your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure : 

5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous 
judgment of God, that ye may be counted ; orthy 
of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer : 

6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to 
recompense tribulation to them that trouble you ; 

7. And to you who are troubled, rest with us, 
when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven 
with his mighty angels, 

8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them 
that know not God, and that obey not the gespel 
of our Lord Jesus Christ ; 

9. Who shall be punished with everlasting de- 
struction from the presence of the Lord, and from 
the glory of his power, 

10. When he shall come to be glorified in his 
saints, and to be admired in all them that believe 
(because our testimony among you was believed) 
in that day. 

11. Wherefore, also, we pray always for you, 
that our God would count you worthy of this 
calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his 
goodness, and the work of faith with power ; 

12. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may 
be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the 
grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 



There is a day to come which shall be so grand and decisive 
in its manifestation of the being and the glory of God, that for- 
ever after it shall be known as that day. This epithet could be 
given only to a definite, public, positive occasion or event, sig- 
nally impressed upon the whole moral universe. Such will be 
the day of judgment. Its features will be the appearing of the 
Lord Jesus Christ in glory and power with a retinue of angels ; 
the visitation of his displeasure upon those who have disregard- 
ed the truth, whether as taught in nature concerning God, or 
as revealed in the gospel concerning the way of salvation by 



Christ, — upon the atheistic and the unbelieving alike: these 
shall be banished forever from Him whose presence makes the 
glory and the bliss of heaven. But, in contrast, they who have 
believed upon Christ and followed him shall then go up with 
praise and adoration to share in that glory. For such that day 
shall have no terror : for persecution they shall then have peace ; 
for trouble, rest ; for affliction, glory in the kingdom of God. 
Patience, faith, hope, love, shall then all issue in eternal joy. 
That day we must meet : its decisions shall fix our eternal state. 
Oh, may we be found in Him whose grace alone can save ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 179, 196, 199. 



Lord ! we draw nigh unto thy throne of grace, 
adoring thee as God over all, blessed forevermore. 
May we this night enter the inner chamber of 
thy presence ! Draw near to us as we draw near 
to thee. We bless thee that thou hast spared us 
during this day, and hast given us the privileges 
of the sabbath and the sanctuary. We thank 
thee for the Bible, the Sunday school, the Church, 
and all the means of grace ; and pray that by these 
helps, this day enjoyed, we may be made more meet 
for heaven. We thank thee, Lord ! for that home 
made ready for us, and endeared to us by the 
thought of many who have gone before us. May 
we follow their faith, and enter their rest ! 

While we pray for ourselves, we would remem- 
ber before thee all whom we ought to bear on our 
hearts at the throne of grace. Prosper thy cause 
and kingdom in the world. Bring the wickedness 



of the wicked to an end. Bless the young : may 
they spring up as willows by the water-courses, — 
trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord ! 
Bless the aged : may they be gathered to the 
garner of the Great Husbandman as the shock 
of corn in its season, full of years, and ripe for 
glory ! 

Bless us as a family [parent and child]. Let 
us all own one common Master, one Father in 
heaven. Whether we wake or sleep, may we live 
together with thee ! There is no darkness to us if 
thou art with us. Defend us during the uncon- 
scious hours of slumber, that we may rise to a 
new day fitted for duty, happy in the assured con- 
tinuance of thy favor and love. And all we ask is 
for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Re- 
deemer ; in whose blessed name we ask and offer 
all. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



347 



MONDAY. 



Ezekiel XXXl'v. — 1. And the word of the Lord 
came unto me, saying, 

2. Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds 
of Israel ; prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith 
the Lord God unto the shepherds : Woe be to the 
shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves ! 
Should not the shepherds feed the flocks ? 

3. Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe } r ou with the wool ; 
ye kill them that are fed : but ye feed not the flock. 

4. The diseased have ye not strengthened, nei- 
ther have ye healed that which was sick, neither 
have ye bound up that which was broken, nei- 
ther have ye brought again that which was driven 
away, neither have ye sought that which was lost ; 
but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 

8. As I live, saith the L.jrd God, surely because 
my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat 
to every beast of the field, because there was no 
shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my 
flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed 
not my flock ; 

9. Therefore, ye shepherds ! hear the word of 
the Lord : 

10. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I am 
against the shepherds ; and I will require my flock 
at their hand, and cause them to cease from feed- 
ing the flock : neither shall the shepherds feed them- 
selves any more ; for I will deliver my flock from 
their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. 



Matthew xxiii. — 1. Then spake Jesus to the 
multitude, and to his disciples, 

2. Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in 
Moses' seat. 

3. All, therefore, whatsoever they bid you ob- 
serve, that observe and do : but do not ye after 
their works ; for they say, and do not. 

4. For they bind heavy burdens, and grievous 
to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders ; 
but they themselves will not move them with one 
of their fingers. 

5. But all their works they do for to be seen of 
men : they make broad their phylacteries, and en- 
large the borders of their garments, 

6. And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and 
the chief seats in the synagogues, 

7. And greetings in the markets, and to be 
called of men, Babbi, Babbi. 

8. But be not ye called Babbi : for one is your 
Master, even Christ ; and all ye are brethren. 

9. And call no man your father upon the earth ; 
for one is your Father which is in heaven. 

10. Neither be ye called masters ; for one is your 
Master, even Christ. 

11. But he that is greatest among you shall be 
your servant. 

12. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be 
abased ; and he that shall humble himself shall be 
exalted. 



Though, under the law of Moses, the priests were the ap- 
pointed ministers of religion, and the prophets the authorized 
teachers, it had come to pass that the scribes and Pharisees 
were the recognized expounders of the law, and that their 
word had itself become law to the people. So far as they 
rightly expounded the Scriptures, Jesus enjoined it upon the 
people to follow their teachings ; but he warned them against 
copying the self-righteousness and egotism of the Pharisees. 
The phylacteries were strips of parchments with texts from 
the law, which the Jews bound on the forehead and on the left 
arm, or the left side near the heart, to remind them that the 
law should be in the heart and in the head. The Pharisees 
made these broad for ostentation. So of the fringe of their 



garments, which, under various colors, was symbolical of the 
covenant. They made themselves conspicuous in the syna- 
gogues, at the festivals, and in all public places, claiming pre- 
eminence on account of their learning and their sanctity. At 
the same time they exacted from the common people a strict- 
ness in carrying out the law which they were far from observ- 
ing themselves. 

In the Church of Christ, all ranks, castes, orders, are abol- 
ished ; no one is nearer to God than another by virtue of 
his office ; none stands between God and his brother as an 
intercessor. Hence worldly distinctions are out of place 
in the Church, and the spirit of ambition and pride is un- 
christian. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Praj^er. 



[Nos. 89, 90. 



Saviour of sinners, we look to thee. Thou 
who hast died that we might live ! help us to live 
to thee alone. Help us, Lord ! in our inward 
conflicts with doubts and fears and sins ; help us in 
our conflicts with the temptations and evils of the 
world; and, oh! help us in our wrestlings with 
unseen powers of evil, with the great Adversary 
of our souls. Lord ! increase our faith. Our 
hope is in thee ; our strength is from thee alone : 
dwell in us by thy grace ; fill us with thy Spirit. 
This very day may we gain new victories over evil ! 
May we resist temptations in business to swerve 
from the truth, to take advantage of others, to act 
dishonorably, to be covetous and unjust ! May we 



resist temptations in society to envy and evil- 
speaking, to worldliness and frivolity ! May we in 
all things do that which is right in the sight of 
God ! [May these children grow up, dear Saviour, 
in thy strength and love, safe from the power of 
evil !] 

"We thank thee for another night of rest, another 
day of mercy and of hope. Bless all dear to us ; 
our friends and neighbors. Succor, Lord ! the 
poor and needy, the sick, the tempted, the dying. 
Lord Jesus ! be with us in our last conflict, and 
make us more than conquerors over death ; and 
to thy name be honor and glory for ever and ever. 
Amen. 



ama 



348 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Matthew xxiii. — 13. But woe unto you, scribes 
and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye shut up the king- 
dom of heaven against men : for ye neither go in 
yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering 
to go in. 

14. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites ! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a 
pretence make long prayer : therefore ye shall re- 
ceive the greater damnation. 

15. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites ! for ye compass sea and land to make 
one proselyte ; and, when he is made, ye make 
him twofold more the child of hell than your- 
selves. 

16. Woe unto you, ye blind guides ! which say, 
Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is noth- 
ing ; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the 
temple, he is a debtor. 

17. Ye fools, and blind ! for whether is greater, 
the gold, or the temple that sanctifleth the gold? 

13. And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it 
is nothing ; but whosoever sweareth by the gift 
that is upon it, he is guilty. 

19. Ye fools, and blind ! for whether is greater, 
the gift, or the altar that sanctifleth the gift ? 

20. Whoso, therefore, shall swear by the altar, 
sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 



21. And whoso shall swear by the temple, swear- 
eth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 

22. And he that shall swear by heaven, swear- 
eth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth 
thereon. 

23. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites ! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cum- 
in, and have omitted the weightier matters of the 
law, judgment, mercy, and faith : these ought ye 
to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 

24. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and 
swallow a camel. 

25. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites ! for ye make clean the outside of the cup 
and of the platter ; but within they are full of ex- 
tortion and excess. 

26. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which 
is within the cup and platter, that the outside of 
them may be clean also. 

27. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites ! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, 
which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are 
within full of dead men's bones and of all unclean- 
ness. 

28. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous 
unto men ; but within ye are full of hypocrisy and 
iniquity. 



These terrible denunciations of our Lord were not uttered 
against gross and scandalous sins, but against hypocrisy, 
which in his view was the most grievous of all sins. In the 
whole course of his ministry, in his attempts to enlighten and 
save the people, he had been opposed, hindered, denounced, 
threatened, by the men who professed to be their religious 
guides. Under the veil of piety they were covetous, exacting, 
tyrannical, extortionate. They had perverted religion by 
their speculations and traditions : on the one hand, making 
much of outside appearances, and of little matters in tithes 



and ceremonies ; but, on the other, relaxing morality in their 
own practice, indulging in profaneness, under various subter- 
fuges, and in sensual excesses, the means of which were pro- 
cured by extortion and fraud. 

Inasmuch as an occupied tomb was regarded as unclean, it 
was the custom to whiten the sepulchres, both for appearance' 
sake, and as a ready warning against the defilement that would 
come by touching them. So these characters of fair and pol- 
ished outward sanctity should rather be shunned than admired ; 
for they harbored nothing but death and corruption within. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 28, 40. 



Search us, God ! and know our hearts ; try us, 
and know our thoughts ; and see if there be any 
wicked way in us ; and lead us in the way ever- 
lasting. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquities ; 
for we acknowledge our transgressions, and our sin 
is ever before us. 

We thank thee that thou hast brought us safely 
to the beginning of this day ; defend us in the 
same by thy mighty power ; and grant that this 
day we fall into no sin, neither run into any 
kind of danger, but that all our doings, being 
ordered by thy governance, may be righteous in 
thy sight. 

Fit us day by day for the duties that lie before 
us. In all our ways we would acknowledge thee ; 
and do thou direct our path. Keep us, we beseech 
thee, from all evil, that we, being ready both in 
body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those 
things that thou wouldst have us to do. 



Fit us, O Lord ! for all the events of this short 
and uncertain life. If prosperity be our portion, 
keep us humble and watchful in the midst of it; 
or, if sorrows and trials come upon us, give us 
grace to accept with cheerfulness thy holy will. 

[Give unto the children of this family grace to 
serve thee in the morning of life. Oh ! keep them 
from temptation and evil, and from every false and 
hurtful way.] Be very gracious to our friends : 
grant to them health and prosperity in this life, 
and make them meet for the life everlasting. And, 
Lord ! bless and save the whole world. 

Accept, we beseech thee, for Christ's sake, our 
poor imperfect services, and give us grace to serve 
thee better. May all we undertake be begun, con- 
tinued, and ended in thee, that so we may glorify 
thy holy name, and finally by thy mercy obtain 
everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



349 



WEDNESDAY. 



Luke XV. — 1. Then drew near unto him all 
the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 

2. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, 
saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth 
with them. 

3. And he spake this parable unto them, say- 
ing, 

4. What man of you having a hundred sheep, 
if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety 
and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which 
is lost until he find it ? 

5. And, when he hath found it, he layeth it on 
his shoulders, rejoicing. 

6. And, when he cometh home, he calleth to- 
gether his friends and neighbors, saying unto 
them. Rejoice with me ; for I have found my sheep 
which was lost. 

7. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in 
heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than 
over ninety and nine just persons which need no 
repentance. 

8. Either what woman having ten pieces of sil- 
ver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, 
and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she 
find it ? 

9. And, when she hath found it, she calleth her 
friends and her neighbors together, saying, Re- 
joice with me ; for I have found the piece which I 
had lost. 

10. Likewise I say unto you, There is joy in 



In the East, -women string pieces of silver and gold into 
necklaces, to be worn around the forehead or the neck, or 
weave them into head-dresses, bracelets, or anklets. Coin 
thus appropriated cannot be seized for debt. Sometimes, too, 
such pieces are souvenirs of friendship. Hence the eagerness 
of this woman to recover a lost coin was more than belonged 
to its mere value as money. In Palestine, sheep are pastured 
at large, in the rough open country or on the bushy hills ; and 
hence they need the constant watch of the shepherd. A 
stray sheep would soon be a prey to robbers or -wild beasts. 
When one is missing, the shepherd leaves the flock in the care 
of the dogs, and goes through the bush and the ravines hunt- 
ing and calling until he finds it : then, forgetting the trouble 
it has given him, and his own fatigue, he carries the truant 



the presence of the angels of God over one sinner 
that repenteth. 

Job xxviii. — 12. But where shall wisdom be 
found ? and where is the place of understanding ? 

13. Man knoweth not the price thereof : neither 
is it found in the land of the living. 

14. The depth saith, It is not in me ; and the 
sea saith, It is not with me. 

15. It cannot be gotten for gold; neither shall 
silver be weighed for the price thereof. 

16. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, 
with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 

17. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it ; 
and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine 
gold. 

18. No mention shall be made of coral, or of 
pearls ; for the price of wisdom is above rubies. 

19. The topaz of Ethiojria shall not equal it; 
neither shall it be valued with pure gold. 

20. Whence, then, cometh wisdom ? and where 
is the place of understanding? 

21. Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, 
and kept close from the fowls of the air. 

22. Destruction and death say, We have heard 
the fame thereof with our ears. 

23. God understandeth the way thereof, and he 
knoweth the place thereof: 

28. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of 
the Lord, that is wisdom ; and to depart from evil 
is understanding 



home with the most tender care and with a heart full of joy. 
In a country where there are no newspapers to awaken inter- 
est in outside affairs, such domestic incidents attract the no- 
tice and sympathy of the whole neighborhood. By these 
familiar examples of friendly sympathy our Lord rebuked the 
sanctimonious pride of the "Pharisees, which would repel the 
outcast and degraded from the kingdom of God. The angels 
rejoiced over the recovery of those whom the Pharisees spumed 
as vile and lost. This very class, who had most need of the 
gospel, was more accessible to Christ than any other. Their 
conversion was a strong testimony to the power of the gos- 
pel ; and they proved an effective agency for the reformation 
of society. The condescension and grace of Christ were ever 
conspicuous in his treatment of those whom men despised. 



Appropriate Htjins,] 



Prayer. 



[Xos. 115, 122, 145. 



Almighty God, our heavenly Rather, we ac- 
knowledge thy goodness in our creation and pres- 
ervation, and in the manifold provisions of thy 
love for the life that now is. Every day we live 
upon thy bounty; every night we rest under the 
shadow of thy wing. What shall we render unto 
the Lord for all his benefits ? Ror the rest and 
refreshment of the past night, for the health and 
comfort with which we greet another day, for the 
endearments and delights of home, for means of 
occupation and support, of improvement and use- 
fulness, for all the favors of thy hand so multi- 



plied unto us, we render thee most hearty thanks. 
Rreely as we receive may we also give ! 

Lord ! for Christ's sake have mercy upon us, and 
take away our sins ; and grant that we may prove 
our gratitude by a loving obedience to thy will. 
May thy mercy abound toward all classes and condi- 
tions of men, and thy salvation fill the whole earth ! 

Bless this household in each and every mem- 
ber. Oh, may the dove of heavenly peace ever 
abide in our dwellng ! Bless all dear to us ; and 
bring us all at length unto our Bather's house, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



350 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Lu'<e xv. — 11. And lie said, A certain man 
had two sons ; 

12. And the younger of them said to his father, 
Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth 
to me. And he divided unto them his living. 

13. And, not many days after, the younger son 
gathered all together, and took his journey into a 
far country, and there wasted his substance with 
riotous living. 

14. And, when he had spent all, there arose a 
mighty famine in that land ; and he began to be 
in want. 

15. And he went and joined himself to a citizen 
of that country ; and he sent him into his fields to 
feed swine. 

16. And he would fain have filled his belly with 
the husks that the swine did eat ; and no man 
gave unto him. 

17. And, when he came to himself, he said, How 
many hired servants of my father's have bread 
enough, and to spare, and 1 perish with hunger ! 

18. I will arise and go to my father, and will 
say unto him, Father, I have sinned against 
heaven, and before thee, 

19. And am no more worthy to be called thy 
son : make me as one of thy hired servants. 

20. And he arose, and came to his father. But, 
when he was yet a great way off, his father saw 
him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his 
neck, and kissed him. 

21. And the son said unto him, Father, I have 
sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am 
no more worthy to be called thy son. 



The simple pathos of this parable speaks to the heart with- 
out an interpreter. To represent upon canvas the meeting of 
the prodigal with his father would be as difficult as to picture 
the sacrifice of Isaac or the agony of Gethsemane. Yet the 
picture moves before us ; rather, it lives within us. We see 
the human heart, in its self-will and self-sufficiency, turning 
away from God, and, in the flush of worldly pleasure, aban- 
doning itself to the enjoyment of the present. We see this 
heart disappointed, emptied, beggared, wrung with the feeling 
of want ; we see it for a while fighting the sense of want 
with the sense of shame, and, rather than confess its sin, ac- 
cepting a lower humiliation : then, at last, conscience and 
reason awake, and with the remembrance of God's goodness 
comes the first feeling of penitence, and the determination to 



22. But the father said to his servants, Bring 
forth the best robe, and put it on him ; and put 
a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet ; 

23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; 
and let us eat, and be merry : 

24. For this my son was dead, and is alive 
again ; he was lost, and is found. And they began 
to be merry. 

25. Now, his elder son was in the field ; and, as 
he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard 
music and dancing. 

26.' And he called one of the servants, and asked 
what these things meant. 

27. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come ; 
and thy father hath killed the fatted calf because 
he hath received him safe and sound. 

28. And he was angry, and would not go 
in : therefore came his father out, and entreated 
him. 

29. And he, answering, said to his father, Lo, 
these many years do I serve thee, neither trans- 
gressed I at any time thy commandment ; and yet 
thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make 
merry with my friends : 

30. But, as soon as this thy son was come which 
hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast 
killed for him the fatted calf. 

31. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever 
with me; and all that I have is thine. 

32. It was meet that we should make mer- 



ry, and be 
dead, and i 
found. 



glad : for this thy brother was 
alive again ; and was lost, and is 



go to the Father with an unreserved acknowledgment of 
folly and sin. That decision turns the scale. The penitent, 
seeking nothing but forgiveness, finds in God nothing but 
love : hardly waiting for his confession, that love meets him 
in advance, and overwhelms him with favor. So touching- 
ly does man's deepest extremity illustrate the mercy of God 
in seeking and recovering the lost ! Who could resist the love 
of such a Father % 

The " husks " were the pods of the kharub-trcc, the com- 
mon food of swine, and sometimes used for human food, hav- 
ing a dull, sweet taste. They represent the lowest forms of 
want and misery, to which men often sink when they have 
spent themselves in serving the world and the flesh. The law 
of sinful indulgence is from bad to worse 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 117, 147, 160. 



Lord Jesus ! we do hunger for thy Word ; we 
do thirst for thy Spirit. Weak, empty, perishing, 
in ourselves, we cry unto thee for the bread of 
heaven, for the water of life. With longings for 
good that this world can never satisfy, we turn to 
thy fulness that we also may be filled. Confess- 
ing our folly in forsaking thee, mourning our sin 
in grieving thee, we come with broken and con- 
trite hearts, and entreat thee to grant us forgive- 
ness, comfort, and peace. Oh ! strengthen us to re- 



sist temptation, to overcome evil, to renounce the 
world. May we be followers of God as dear chil- 
dren ! Have compassion, Lord ! upon the err- 
ing, the outcast, and the sorrowing. Grant us 
grace to endure with patience any trials and afflic- 
tions that may come upon us, and to conquer the 
world by faith. Lord our Preserver, who hast kept 
us through the perils of the night ! keep us from evil 
this day and always ; and finally bring its unto thy 
heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



351 



FRIDAY. 



Luke xvi. — 1. And he said also unto his disci- 
ples, There was a certain rich man which had a 
steward ; and the same was accused unto him that 
he had wasted his goods. 

2. And he called him, and said unto him, How is 
it that I hear this of thee ? Give an account of thy 
stewardship ; for thou may est be no longer steward. 

3. Then the steward said within himself, What 
shall I do ? for my lord taketh away from me the 
stewardship : I cannot dig ; to beg I am ashamed. 

4. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put 
out of the stewardship, they may receive me into 
their houses. 

5. So he called every one of his lord's debtors 
tinto him, and said unto the first, How much 
owest thou unto my lord ? 

6. And he said, An hundred measures of oil. 
And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down 
quickly, and write fifty. 

7. Then said he to another, And how much 
owest thou ? And he said, An hundred measures 
of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, 
and write fourscore. 

8. And the lord commended the unjust steward, 
because he had done wisely ; for the children of this 



world are in their generation wiser than the chil- 
dren of light. 

9. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves 
friends of the mammon of unrighteousness ; that, 
when ye fail, they may receive you into everlast- 
ing habitations. 

10. He that is faithful in that which is least is 
faithful also in much ; and he that is unjust in the 
least is unjust also in much. 

11. If, therefore, ye have not been faithful in the 
unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your 
trust the true inches ? 

12. And, if ye have not been faithful in that 
which is another man's, who shall give you that 
which is your own ? 

13. ]S"o servant can serve two masters ; for either 
he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he 
will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye 
cannot serve God and mammon. 

14. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, 
heard all these things ; and they derided him. 

15. And he said unto them, Ye are they which 
justify yourselves before men ; but God knoweth 
your hearts : for that which is highly esteemed 
among men is abomination in the sight of God. 



The difficulties of this parahle, which grow out of the ap- 
parent commendation of a shrewd yet dishonest worldly 
policy, and the apparent intimation that heaven can be pur- 
chased by deeds of charity, are well met by the commentary 
of Dean Alford, in substance as follows : All that is dis- 
honest and furtive in the character of the steward belonged 
entirely to him as a child of this world. Even in this char- 
acter there was a point to praise and imitate ; but, in bringing 
up the example into the purer air which the children of light 
breathe, its grosser parts drop off, and the finer only remain. 
The children of this world act cleverly for their own interests. 
Although you are children of the light and the day, and can do 



| no such furtive acts, yet I say to you, " So use this mammon 
of unrighteousness, by bestowing it on the poor and needy, 
that ye shall make to yourselves friends, who, when this world 
departs, shall welcome you to one which shall not fail." " God 
repays in their name. They receive us there with joy, if they 
are gone before us : they receive us there by making us par- 
takers of their prayers, which, even during this life, move the 
hand that moves the world." 

While, therefore, the parable does not warrant either pur- 
chasing indulgences, or praying to saints, it does teach that 
deeds of kindness performed to saints on earth shall be re- 
quited with a fellowship of love and joy in heaven. 



Appropriate Htmss,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 10, 39,44. 



Thou who never slumberest nor sleepest ! we 
have lain down and slept, and have risen again, 
because thou, Lord, hast sustained us. Thou hast 
kept us from the alarm of sickness and death, 
from deeds of darkness and the hand of violence. 
Thankful for the mercies of the night, we commit 
ourselves unto thee with all our wakeful powers, 
humbly beseeching thee to guide us in ways of 
truth and righteousness for thy name's sake. 
Send unto us, we pray thee, such prosperity as 
thou seest to be best for us : and. above all, grant 
that our souls, being freed from sin. may prosper 
and be in peace, through the grace of Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Oh. may his mind be in us! and may 
we be made like unto him!— ~ holy, harmless, em- 
defiled, and separate from sinners. Oh ! help us 
to give up all things for Christ ; to know the joy 
of losing ourselves in him, the sweetness of bear- 



ing the cross for Him who hath borne our sorrows. 
May we have the charity of the gospel, and do 
good in little things, by the word, the look, the 
act of kindness, in the Saviour's name ! Teach us 
to see in our fellow-men the children of our Father 
in heaven, and to feel their wants and sorrows as 
our own. May our philanthropy be pure, free, 
broad, patient, self-sacrificing, and generous ! 

We thank thee, Lord ! for the friends thou 
hast given us, and pray that these may all be 
joined with us in the fellowship of thy redeemed. 
We supplicate thy favor for the poor and needy, 
the sick, the afflicted, the dying; for any who are 
suffering by pestilence, famine, or war ; for all sorts 
and conditions of men ; that thou wouldst be 
pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy 
saving health unto all nations, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



352 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Psalm Ixxiii. — 12. Behold, these are the un- 
godly, who prosper in the world : they increase in 
riches. 

13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, 
and washed my hands in innocency. 

14. For all the day long have I been plagued, 
and chastened every morning. 

16. When I thought to know this, it was too 
painful for me ; 

17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God : 
then understood I their end. 

18. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places ; 
thou castedst them down into destruction. 

19. How are they brought into desolation as in 
a moment ! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 

20. As a dream when one awaketh, so, Lord ! 
when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their im- 
age. 

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and 
upon earth that I desire besides 



is none 



25. 
there 
thee. 

26. My flesh and my heart faileth ; but God is 
the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. 

Luke xvi. — 19. There was a certain rich man, 
which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and 
fared sumptuously every day ; 

20. And there was a certain beggar named Laz- 
arus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 

21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs 
which fell from the rich man's table : moreover, 
the dogs came and licked his sores. 



This impressive parable, one of the most awful sayings 
of our Lord, was intended to condemn the spirit of caste 
and of covetousness. It was but a momentary unveiling of 
the spirit-world and the state of the departed ; yet it has left 
for all after-ages the impress of these momentous truths. 
Directly consequent upon death is a state of consciousness, 
in which the soul remembers the past, and knows its own 
condition and its prospects. There are two opposite states, — 
the one of happiness, the other of misery, — to which men are 
allotted according to their character and conduct in this life. 
These two conditions are immensely and irrevocably sep- 
arated. The blessed can do nothing for the alleviation of the 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



22. And it came to pass that the beggar died, 
and was carried by the angels into Abraham's 
bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried ; 

23. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in 
torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus 
in his bosom. 

24. And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, 
have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may 
dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my 
tongue ; for I am tormented in this flame. 

25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that 
thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, 
and likewise Lazarus evil things ; but now he is 
comforted, and thou art tormented. 

26. And, beside all this, between us and you 
there is a great gulf fixed : so that they which 
would pass from hence to you cannot ; neither 
can they pass to us that would come from thence. 

27. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, 
that thou wouldest send him to my father's house : 

28. For I have five brethren ; that he may testify 
unto them, lest they also come into this place of 
torment. 

29. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses 
and the prophets : let them hear them. 

30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham ; but, if 
one went unto them from the dead, they will re- 
pent. 

31. And he said unto him, If they hear not 
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be per- 
suaded though one rose from the dead. 



miserable ; nor can the lost ever hope to reach the abode of 
the saved. Those who are in perdition may have some 
knowledge of what is transpiring in this world, but can no 
longer interfere in its affairs. The contrast in the parable is 
not between Dives and Lazarus simply as rich and poor, but 
between the covetous, uncharitable rich man, and the pious, 
patient poor man. The parable does not propose to remedy 
in the hereafter any inequalities of condition in the present 
state, but to compensate for losses here in the body by the 
superlative gain to the soul that lives unto God. How 
mean, how wretched, the lot of one who revels in sensual 
abundance, but has nothing for the soul ! 



Prayer. 

Holy Father, at thy command we lay down the 
burden of our cares and sorrows, and look up to 
thee as our helper and our comforter. Grant unto 
us such faith in thy providence, that we shall be 
content with such things as we have, and never 
envious of the place or the possessions of others. 
Take from us the spirit of pride, and clothe us with 
humility. Teach us to lean upon thy hand, to con- 
fide in thy wisdom, to rest on thy power, to repose 
in thy love, to live on thy fulness. In the knowl- 
edge of thyself and of thy Son Jesus Christ may 
we seek eternal life ! and do thou so nourish this 
life in our souls, that we may at last attain to the 



[Nos. 97, 131, 135. 

everlasting joy of thy presence. Freely as we 
have received, freely may we give. Oh ! bless and 
comfort the poor, the sick, the outcast. Raise up 
friends for them ; and dispose those who are rich 
in this world to act as stewards of thy bounty. 

Thou givest us our daily bread : oh ! feed us with 
the bread of heaven ; and give unto all dear to us 
a like interest in the things of Christ. Give unto 
us food and raiment ; oh ! give us thankful and 
cheerful hearts ; give us all spiritual gifts in Christ 
Jesus ; and, in thy good time, grant us an abun- 
dant entrance into thy heavenly kingdom, for the 
sake of our blessed Lord and Redeemer. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



353 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



2 Peter i. — 1. Simon Peter, a servant and an 
apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have ob- 
tained like precious faith with us through the 
righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus 
Christ : 

2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you 
through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our 
Lord, 

3. According as his divine power hath given 
unto us all things that pertain unto life and godli- 
ness, through the knowledge of him that hath 
called us to glory and virtue : 

4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great 
and precious promises ; that by these ye might be 
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the 
corruption that is in the world through lust. 

5. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to 
your faith, virtue ; and to virtue, knowledge ; 

6. And to knowledge, temperance ; and to tem- 
perance, patience ; and to patience, godliness ; 

7. And to godliness, brotherly-kindness ; and to 
brotherly-kindness, charity. 

8. For if these things be in you, and abound, 
they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor 
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, 
and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he 
was purged from his old sins. 

10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give dili- 
gence to make your calling and election sure: for 
if ye do these things, ye shall never fall ; 

11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto 



Peter was one of the three who stood with Jesus upon the 
Mount of Transfiguration, and worshipped the Lord with 
rapture, and longed there to stay. Was it not amazing, that, 
after such a testimony to the divinity of Jesus, he should 
have doubted and denied ? Let this teach us that signs and 
wonders, privileges and glories, could not keep us in the 
Christian life, if faith should once lose its hold upon Christ 
himself. But the fact that Peter was restored, that the cross 
regained him whom the celestial glory had failed to keep, and 
that he was ready himself to go to the cross for his testimonv, 
gives to that testimony the strongest possible attestation. It 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of 
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

12. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you 
always in remembrance of these things, though ye 
know them, and be established in the present truth. 

13. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in 
this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in 
remembrance ; 

14. Knowing that shortly I must put off this 
my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath 
showed me. 

15. Moreover, I will endeavor that ye may be 
able, after my decease, to have these things always 
in remembrance. 

16. For we have not followed cunningly-devised 
fables when we made known unto you the power 
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were 
eye-witnesses of his majesty. 

17. For he received from God the Father honor 
and glory, when there came such a A'oice to him 
from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, 
in whom I am well pleased. 

18. And this voice which came from heaven we 
heard when we were with him in the holy mount. 

19. We have also a more sure word of proph- 
ecy ; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, 
as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until 
the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts : 

20. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the 
scripture is of any private interpretation. 

21. For the prophecy came not in old time by 
the will of man ; but holy men of God spake as 
they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 



is not vision, but faith, that saves ; and ours it is to have the 
" like precious faith " with him who stood with Jesus on the 
mount. Such faith can lift us even nearer to Christ, — to a 
participation in his divine nature. But we must build upon 
that faith a manly vigor ; and upon such virtue, a dis- 
criminating wisdom ; and, upon this, self-government in all 
appetites and desires ; and upon this, endurance under trials ; 
and upon this, an earnest piety; and to this filial reverence 
toward God must add brotherly love, and the broadest, richest 
kindness toward all. May all these graces be in us, and 
abound ! 



[Nos. 93, 107. 



Prayer. 

Almighty God, who in times past didst speak ' in trespasses and sins, and comfort and edify thy 
unto the fathers by the prophets, we bless thee saints. May children hear the voice of Jesus their 
that the glory which the patriarchs beheld afar off, Saviour, and come unto him ! While in thy house, 
and the promise which the prophets waited for, ' may we have the spirit of prayer and praise, and 
have been revealed in Christ, and, above all, that give earnest heed to the things that we shall hear ! 
we have in him the forgiveness of sins and the life thou God of peace, who didst bring again the 
everlasting. Oh, may we behold his glory, and 
receive of his fulness ! 

May thy gospel this day minister to our peace 
and comfort, our faith and hope, our instruction in 
righteousness, our sanctification through obedience 



Lord Jesus from the dead ! grant us peace through 
pardon in his blood and the hope of his resurrection. 
We give thee thanks for rest in the night : grant 
us, this day, rest from the toils and cares of life, — 
rest in thee. Fulfil unto this household the mercies 



of the truth ! May it quicken souls that are dead | of thy covenant, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 



354 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm Ixxi. — 17. God! thou hast taught me 
from my youth ; and hitherto have I declared thy 
wondrous works. 

18. Now also, when I am old and gray-headed, 

God ! forsake me not ; until I have showed thy 
strength unto this generation, and thy power to 
every one that is to come. 

19. Thy righteousness also, O God ! is very high, 
who hast done great things : God ! who is like 
unto thee ? 

20. Thou, which hast showed me great and sore 
troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring 
me up again from the depths of the earth. 

21. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and com- 
fort me on every side. 

22. I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even 
thy truth, O my God ! unto thee will I sing with 
the harp, thou Holy One of Israel ! 

23. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto 
thee ; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. 

24. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteous- 
ness all the day long ; for they are confounded, for 
they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt. 

2 Timothy i. — 1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus 
Christ by the will of God, according to the promise 
of life which is in Christ Jesus, 

2. To Timothy, my dearly beloved son : Grace, 
mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and Christ 
Jesus our Lord. 

3. I thank God, whom I serve from my fore- 
fathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing 

1 have remembrance of thee in my prayers night 
and day ; 



The true ground of confidence in our good estate is not in 
ourselves, but in Christ ; or rather in the purpose of divine 
grace toward us as manifested in the gift of Christ, and in 
the calling of the Holy Ghost. The apostle, though he 
speaks with assurance of his own salvation, does not rest in 
what he has done or experienced. It is not that " I know 
myself so well as to have no doubt nor fear," but, " I know 
whom I have trusted ; " and so he rested securely in the power 
and the love of God. Such trust displaces cowardice, and 
brings into the mind this divine power and love to give it self- 



4. Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful 
of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy ; 

5. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned 
faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grand- 
mother Lois, and thy mother Eunice ; and I am 
persuaded that in thee also. 

6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that 
thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by 
the putting-on of my hands. 

7. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, 
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

8. Be not thou, therefore, ashamed of the testi- 
mony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner : but be 
thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel ac- 
cording to the power of God ; 

9. Who hath saved us, and called us with a 
holy calling, not according to our works, but ac- 
cording to his own purpose and grace, which was 
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; 

10. But is now made manifest by the appearing 
of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished 
death, and hath brought life and immortality to 
light through the gospel : 

11. Wlrereunto I am appointed a preacher, and 
an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 

12. For the which cause I also suffer these 
things : nevertheless, I am not ashamed ; for I 
know whom I have believed, and am persuaded 
that he is able to keep that which I have com- 
mitted unto him against that day. 

13. Hold fast the form of sound words, which 
thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is 
in Christ Jesus. 



control under all the responsibilities, conflicts, and trials of 
the Christian life. For what has the Christian to fear? He is 
saved from sin ; his afflictions bring him into a closer sympa- 
thy with his Lord ; and since Christ died, and rose again, death 
has ceased to be of any moment to the believer : the darkness 
and terror are driven from the grave ; and, where once all was 
uncertainty and gloom, he beholds the light of an immortal life. 
Happy they, who, like Timothy, are brought up in the knowl- 
edge of the gospel from a mother's lips, and then go forth to 
proclaim it in the faith and love which are in Christ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 194, 199, 202. 



Thou blessed and glorious Redeemer, who didst 
give thy life a ransom for us, grant us grace, we 
beseech thee, to follow in thy steps, and be bap- 
tized with the same baptism of devotion and sacri- 
fice for the glory of the Father and the good of 
men. May we be members of Christ's body, of his 
flesh and his bones ! Redeemed with his precious 

blood, may we devote to him all the powers of our ; peace and unity. Accept our thanks for the mer 
heing ! cies of thy day and of thine house. Our cup run- 

Bless all dear to us : may God be their Father, j neth over. Oh ! bring us at last to drink with 
and Jesus their Elder Brother, and heaven their thee the cup of joy which thou hast provided for 
everlasting home ! [May the children of this us in thy Father's kingdom. And all we ask or 
family make thee their portion and their hope ! , hope for is for the Redeemer's sake. Amen. 



May they early learn to do thy will ; to wish for 
and to do only that which will please their Father 
in heaven !] 

Bless, Lord ! the teachings and the worship 
of this holy day. We pray for all who have named 
the name of Christ. Sanctify them by the indwell- 
ing of thy Holy Spirit. Give unto thy Church 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



355 



MONDAY. 



I Peter i. — 13. Wherefore, gird up the loins 
of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for 
the grace that is to be brought unto you at the 
revelation of Jesus Christ ; 

14. As obedient children, not fashioning your- 
selves according to the former lusts in your igno- 
rance : 

15. But as he which hath called you is holy, so 
be ye holy in all manner of conversation : 

16. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am 
holy. 

17. And if ye call on the Father, who without 
respect of persons judgeth according to every 
man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here 
in fear : 

18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not re- 
deemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, 
from your vain conversation received by tradition 
from your fathers, 

19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of 
a lamb without blemish and without spot ; 



Kegeneration is here set forth in its ground, its means, its 
nature, and its fruits, or evidences, in the life. The ground- 
work of that change of heart which introduces one to a new 
life in God is the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Our restora- 
tion from sin is made possible through our redemption with 
the precious blood of Christ. But that redemption can avail 
only through our voluntary, personal seeking of his grace in 
repentance and faith ; and, to bring us to this frame, God has 
appointed the ministration of his Word and of his Spirit. 
The Holy Spirit, as bringing home the truth to our hearts, 
and awakening us to feel, acknowledge, and receive the truth, 
is the author of regeneration. But nothing is accomplished 
without our concurrent action. We ourselves must obey the 
truth, and so shall purify our souls : for the very nature or 



20. Who verily was fore-ordained before the 
foundation of the world, but was manifest in these 
last times for you, 

21. Who by him do believe in God, that 
raised him up from the dead, and gave him 
glory ; that your faith and hope might be in 
God. 

22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obey- 
ing the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned 
love of the brethren, see that ye love one another 
with a pure heart fervently ; 

23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, 
but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which 
liveth and abideth forever. 

24. For all flesh is as grass, and all the 
glory of man as the flower of grass. The 
grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth 
away ; 

25. But the word of the Lord endureth forever. 
And this is the word which by the gospel is 
preached unto you. 



essence of this new birth is the turning of our minds from the 
pursuit of worldly good unto righteousness as the law of life, 
and to faith and hope in God as our portion ; and the fruit or 
the proof of this turning is the habit of childlike obedience to 
God, and of love to our fellow-men. Where such a change is 
real, it is rendered permanent by cherishing in the heart the 
Word of God, which is an incorruptible and imperishable 
power of life. Love has a purifying power. In the degree 
that the love of God gains possession of the soul will it cast 
out whatever is contrary to the pure and holy mind of God ; 
and in the degree that the love of our fellow-men is strength- 
ened in our hearts by the grace of Christ will it overcome every 
selfish passion, every unholy desire. Hence there is no higher 
evidence of renewal than fervent love out of a pure heart. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer 



[Nos. 169, 170, 185. 



We come to thee this morning, heavenly Father, 
with hearts full of thankfulness for the mercies of 
the night. We have rested in safety and in peace 
under the shadow of thy wing. Thou hast kept us 
quiet from the fear of evil : nor sickness, nor death, 
nor tempest, nor fire, nor any calamity, hath over- 
taken us or our dwelling. How sure are the mer- 
cies of thy covenant, Lord! All thy promises in 
Christ Jesus are Yea and Amen. Fulfil unto us, we 
beseech thee, these thy mercies and promises, and 
cause that this day we may rejoice in thy salva- 
tion. 

Bless to us thy Word which we have now read. 
Oh ! sanctify us by thy truth ; and, while we re- 
ceive its instruction and comfort in our hearts, 
may we carry out its precepts in our lives, and 
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
things ! May we be just and true, loving and kind, 
gentle, forbearing, and forgiving, and so shine as 
lights in the world, holding forth the Word of life. 
May every day witness some new victory over evil 



desires and passions within lis, and over the evil 
that is in the world ! By feeding upon thy Word, 
the bread of heaven, may we grow up into Him 
who is our Life and Head, even Christ ! [Oh, may 
these children grow in grace as they grow in years 
and in knowledge ! May they shun evil compan- 
ions and evil ways, and walk in the way of thy 
commandments !] Keep all dear to us even as the 
apple of thine eye. Bless our neighbors, and send 
thy Spirit upon this whole community. Bless our 
rulers, and the schools and churches in our land. 
May all who rule, and all who teach, be led and 
taught by thee ! Have pity upon the poor and the 
sorrowing ; upon homes made desolate by famine, 
pestilence, or war. Stay thy judgments, Lord ! 
and send peace and salvation to all people. Mer- 
cifully forgive our sins, and bring us unto the per- 
fection of knowledge, of holiness, and of blessed- 
ness, in Jesus Christ our Lord ; to whom, with 
thee and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, 
world without end. Amen 



856 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Mark vii. — 1. Then came together unto him 
the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which 
came from Jerusalem. 

2. And, when they saw some of his disciples eat 
bread with denied (that is to say, with unwashen) 
hands, they found fault. 

3. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except 
they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the 
tradition of the elders. 

4. And when they come from the market, except 
they wash, they eat not. And many other things 
there be which they have received to hold, as the 
washing of cups and pots, and brazen vessels, and 
tables. 

5. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, 
Why walk not thy disciples according to the tra- 
dition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen 
hands ? 

6. He answered and said unto them, Well hath 
Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is writ- 
ten, This people honoreth me with their lips ; but 
their heart is far from me. 

7. Hovvbeit, in vain do they worship me, teach- 
ing for doctrines the commandments of men. 

8. For, laying aside the commandment of God, 
ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of 



The Jew,, like Orientals now-a-days, usually ate with their 
fingers from a common dish ; and hence washing, both before 
and. after eating, was important for cleanliness. But they at- 
tached to this, also, the idea of ceremonial purification ; and, 
for the same reason, washed after being exposed to the mixed 
articles of the market.. All this was matter of tradition, to 
which they attached greater authority and significance than 
to the requirements of the law. But, while they were thus 
punctilious in observances of their own devising, they evaded 
the requirements of the law of God, even in matters of filial 
duty. Thus property consecrated to God under the name 
Corhan, or an offering, was exempt from secular and private 
claims, whether really sacrificed or not ; and by this pretext 



pots and cups ; and many other such-like things 
ye do. 

9. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject 
the commandment of God, that ye may keep your 
own tradition. 

10. For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy 
mother ; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let 
him die the death : 

11. But ye say, If a man shall say to his father 
or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by 
whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, he 
shall be free. 

12. And ye suffer him no more to do aught for 
his father or his mother; 

13. Making the word of God of none effect 
through your tradition, which ye have delivered ; 
and many such-like things do ye. 

14. And, when he had called all the people unto 
him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me, every 
one of you, and understand. 

15. There is nothing from without a man, that, 
entering into him, can defile him ; but the things 
which come out of him, those are they that defile 
the man. 

16. If any man have ears to hear, let him 
hear. 



an unnatural son would rid himself of obligation for the sup- 
port of aged or feeble parents, saying to his father or mother, 
" That from which thou mightest have been benefited by me 
is an offering, and is, therefore, free from family claims." And 
the scribes and Pharisees, the custodians and interpreters of 
the law of Moses, allowed this evasion, and released him from 
the duty of caring for his father or his mother. The attempt 
to cover such filial impiety by the Word of God robbed that 
Word of its effect upon the conscience and the life. Words, 
forms, ceremonies, are nothing as compared with the motive 
and the spirit. That which is within determines character ; 
and no external cleansing can wash away the impurity of a 
selfish, evil heart. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 21, 58. 



Create in us a clean heart, O God ! and renew a 
right spirit within us. So purify us by thy grace, 
that we shall shine as lights in the world, holding 
forth the Word of life. We bless thee for thy lov- 
ing care, for rest and safety in the night, for the 
comfort and promise of the morning. heavenly 
Father ! we beseech thee to look with favor upon 
this family. May each of us in our respective sta- 
tions truly serve thee ! May we do unto others as 
we would that they should do unto us ! May we 
be true and just in all our dealings ! May we bear 
no hatred nor malice in our hearts ! May we be 
honest and upright in our daily conduct ! May 
we keep our tongues from evil, and our lips from 
speaking guile ! 

May thy Word be precious to our souls ! May it 
be sweet to our taste ; yea, sweeter than honey 



to our mouth ! May we love its precepts, under- 
stand its doctrines, and rest upon its promises! 
Give us grace, that we may be established in 
the truth, and be doers of thy Word, and not 
hearers only, deceiving our own selves. Sow the 
seed of eternal life in our hearts, and enable us to 
bring forth fruit to the glory of thy name and the 
comfort of our souls. 

[0 Lord ! grant unto the children of this house- 
hold the teaching of thy Spirit, the guidance of 
thy providence, that they may walk in the way of 
wisdom and of life.] 

Defend us with thy heavenly grace, that we may 
continue thine forever, and daily increase in thy 
Holy Spirit more and more, until we come unto 
thine everlasting kingdom, through the merits of 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



357 



WEDNESDAY. 



Ecclesiastes v. — 10. He that loveth silver 
shall not be satisfied with silver ; nor he that lov- 
eth abundance, with increase : this is also vanity. 

11. When goods increase, they are increased 
that eat them ; and what good is there to the 
owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with 
their eyes ? 

12. The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, 
whether he eat little or much ; but the abundance 
of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 

13. There is a sore evil which I have seen under 
the sun ; namely, riches kept for the owners there- 
of to their hurt. 

14. But those riches perish by evil travail ; and 
he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 

15. As he came forth of his motber's womb, 
naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall 
take nothing of his labor which he may carry 
away in his hand. 

16. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points 
as he came, so shall he go ; and what profit hath 
he that hath labored for the wind? 

Mark viii. — 31. And he began to teach them 
that the Son of man must suffer many things, and 
be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests 



and scribes, and be killed, and after three days 
rise again. 

32. And he spake that saying openly. And 
Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 

33. But when he had turned about, and looked 
on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee 
behind me, Satan ; for thou savorest not the 
things that be of God, but the things that be of 
men. 

34. And, when he had called the people unto him 
with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whoso- 
ever will come after me, let him deny himself, and 
take up his cross, and follow me. 

35. For whosoever will save his life shall lose 
it ; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake 
and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 

36. For what shall it profit a man if he shall 
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ? 

37. Or what shall a man give in ."change for 
his soul ? 

38. Whosoever, therefore, shall be ashamed of 
me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful 
generation, of him also shall the Son of man be 
ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Fa- 
ther with the holy angels. 



Jesus now f >r the first time began to unveil to his disciples 
the mystery of his suffering, and this with a precision, as to 
the manner and time of it, which must have deeply affected 
their hearts. Indeed, so surprising and painful was the an- 
nouncement of his crucifixion, that the promise of his rising 
again seem< hardly to have been noticed. Now that the dis- 
ciples had begun to proclaim him as the Christ, the Son of 
God, and the people were stirred to enthusiasm by his miracles, 
it was important to dispel their dreams of a temporal king- 
dom, and fix their thought upon the spiritual import of his 
mission. Instead of honors and rewards in his service, the 
disciples must make up their minds to self-denial and peril, 
and take up the cross. But what Jesus requires of us he him- 
self has done for us ; and, as he freely gave himself for our good, 



every sacrifice which he demands of us is also for our good. 
The life of a man is in his personality, in the mental and 
moral conditions of his own soul. It could be no gain to 
throw these away even for the whole world in exchange. He 
who commits his soul to Christ in well-doing is absolutely 
safe. Earthly trials and losses will but render the Saviour 
more near and precious, and death will take him to be with 
his Lord. There is a warning, in the case of Peter, which 
must not be overlooked. " The same Peter, who but just 
now had made so noble and spiritual r a confession, and re- 
ceived so high a blessing, now shows the weak and carnal side 
of his character, becomes a stumbling-block in the way of his 
Lord, and earns the very rebuff with which the Tempter be- 
fore him had been dismissed." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer, 



[Nos. 97, 100, 103. 



God, from whom all blessings flow ! we give 
thee thanks for thy care over us during the night, 
and for the light and comfort of this morning. 
We take the cup of salvation, and call upon thy 
name. We adore thee for health and reason, and 
the manifold bounties of thy providence. Give us 
that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts 
may be unfeignedly thankful ; and that we may 
show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but 
in our lives. We bring to thee this household and 
all who are allied to us by kindred or affection, 
and pray for thy good gifts from above according 
to thy wisdom and our necessities. 

Holy Father, we commit ourselves to thy love 
and blessing for the day. We go forth to its du- 
ties in childlike dependence on thy strength and 
wisdom and grace. Preserve us from temptation 



and sin, from danger and from death. Help us to 
walk as becometh saints, keeping our garments un- 
spotted from the world. Teach us to govern our 
tempers, to subdue our passions, to do whatsoever 
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, 
whatsoever things are good, and whatsoever things 
are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, and what- 
soever things are of good report. Pitifully behold 
us in our weakness and insufficiency, and grant 
unto us strength and fortitude and all heavenly 
influence. Suffer not our affections to be fixed on 
the things of earth and time : purify and lift 
them up to things unseen and eternal. 

All this we ask in the name of Him who hath 
redeemed us with his most precious blood, — our 
only Mediator, Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory in 
the Church throughout all ages. Amen. 



358 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



2 Sanrjel V. — 1. Then came all the tribes of 
Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, 
Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 

2. Also in time past, when Saul was king over 
us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest 
in Israel; and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt 
feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain 
over Israel. 

3. So all the elders of Israel came to the king 
to Hebron, and King David made a league with 
them in Hebron before the Lord ; and they anoint- 
ed David king over Israel. 

4. David was thirty years old when he began to 
reign, and he reigned forty years. 

5. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven 
years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned 
thirty and three years over all Israel and Ju- 
dah. 

6. And the king and his men went to Jerusa- 
lem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; 
which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take 



away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come 
in hither ; thinking David cannot come in hither. 

7. Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of 
Zion : the same is the city of David. 

8. And David said on that day, Whosoever get- 
teth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, 
and the lame and the blind, that are hated of Da- 
vid's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Where- 
fore they said, The blind and the lame shall not 
come into the house. 

9. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it 
the city of David. And David built round about 
from Millo and inward. 

10. And David went on, and grew great ; and 
the Lord God of hosts teas with him. 

11. And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers 
to David, and cedar-trees and carpenters and ma- 
sons ; and they built David a house. 

12. And David perceived that the Lord had es- 
tablished him king over Israel, and that he had 
exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 



After the death of Saul, the hopes of the nation centred in 
David. When hunted by Saul as an outlaw, he had con- 
ducted himself with discretion and magnanimity. Though 
he had many retainers, he never attempted a rebellion ; and 
two or three times, when Saul fell into his power, he suffered 
him to escape unharmed. The tribe of Judah at once pro- 
claimed him king, and anointed him at Hebron, the most 
southern city ot their territory, where were the tombs of 
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. At first, Ishbosheth, a son of 
Saul, set up a claim to the kingdom ; and a civil war dragged 
on at intervals for more than seven years. But the death of 
Ishbosheth, and of Abner, his general, caused the leaders of 
the other tribes to make terms with David, and to acknowl- 
edge his sovereignty over all Israel. In the first conquest 
of Canaan, the steep fortified hill of Jerusalem had been left 
in the hands of the Jebusites. David captured this, and 
made it his capital ; and now began that brilliant reign of 
more than thirty years, which, by its successful military 



enterprises, and its development of the national resources, 
made Israel united at home, and respected abroad. This he 
himself has celebrated in that magnificent triumphal march, 
the eighteenth Psalm : " Thou hast delivered me from the 
strivings of the people ; and thou hast made me the head of 
the heathen : a people whom I have not known shall serve 
me. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me : the 
strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers 
shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. The 
Lord liveth ; and blessed be my Rock, and let the God of 
my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and 
snbdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine 
enemies : yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up 
against me; thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord! among the 
heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Great deliverance 
giveth he to his king ; and showeth mercy to his anointed, to 
David, and to his seed fbrevermore." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 55, 99, 144. 



Thou only, Lord! makest us to dwell in 
safety. We thank t'.ee for another night of 
rest and comfort ; for another day of life, health, 
and hope. We praise thee that thou didst create 
us with powers of knowing and of loving, and 
hast made this world so full of wonders and beau- 
ties to feed our minds with knowledge, and to 
stir our hearts with love and joy. May the glory 
of the heavens, the richness and beauty of the 
earth, as adapted to our wants, fill us with admi- 
ration of thy power, thy wisdom, thy goodness ! 
and may the voice of gladness with which all Na- 
ture celebrates thy praise move our souls to bless 
and praise thee also ! Lord ! may we be found 
faithful to thee in the duties of this day ! and, 
amid its temptations and its trials, do thou sustain 
us, comfort us, and keep us. May this household, 
which thou hast so blessed, serve thee, not at this 



altar only, but in all the walks of life ! As we en- 
gage in the business of the world, as we go into 
society, wherever we are, and whatever we do, may 
we remember thee, and do thy will ! Oh ! grant 
that every member of this family may be a child 
of God ; a humble, faithful follower of the Lord 
Jesus Christ. Bless all dear to us who are absent 
from us. We supplicate thy mercy for the needy, 
the afflicted, the bereaved, and the sorrowing. 

Build up thy Church, Lord ! Fill our land 
with pure religion. Bless the industry of the peo- 
ple ; and may its fruit be consecrated to the good 
of men ! May our rulers be faithful and just, 
walking in thy fear ! And we beseech thee to 
bring all lands under the power and glory of thy 
kingdom. In thy great mercy, Lord ! forgive 
our sins, and bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



lilt 




HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



359 



FRIDAY. 



2 Samuel xviii. — 9. And Absalom met the 
servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a 
mule ; and the mule went under the thick boughs 
of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the 
oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and 
the earth ; and the mule that was under him went 
away. 

10. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, 
and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an 
oak. 

11. And Joab said unto the man that told him, 
And, behold, thou sawest him ; and why didst thou 
not smite him there to the ground ? and I would 
have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle. 

12. And the man said unto Joab, Though I 
should receive a thousand shekels of silver in 
mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand 
against the king's son ; for in our hearing the 
king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 
Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. 

14. Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with 
thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and 
thrust them through the heart of Absalom while 
he ivas yet alive in the midst of the oak. 

15. And ten young men that bare Joab's armor 
compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew 
him. 

16. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people 
returned from pursuing after Israel ; for Joab held 
back the people. 

17. And they took Absalom, and cast him into 
a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap 



of stones upon him ; and all Israel fled every one 
to his tent. 

24. And David sat between the two gates ; and 
the watchman went up to the roof over the gate 
unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, 
and behold a man running alone. 

25. And the watchman cried, and told the 
king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is 
tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and 
drew near. 

26. And the watchman saw another man run- 
ning ; and the watchman called unto the porter, 
and said, Behold, another' man running alone. 
And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. 

29. And the king said, Is the young man Absa- 
lom safe ? And Ahimaaz answered, AYhen Joab 
sent the king's servant, and vie thy servant, I 
saw a great tumult ; but I knew not what it was. 

31. And, behold, Cushi came : and Cushi said. 
Tidings, my lord the king : for the Lord hath 
avenged thee this day of all them that rose up 
against thee. 

32. And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young 
man Absalom safe ? And Cushi answered, The 
enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise 
against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man 
is. 

33. And the king was much moved, and went 
up to the chamber over the gate, and wept ; and, 
as he went, thus he said : my son Absalom ! my 
son, my son Absalom ! would God I had died for 
thee, Absalom, my son, my son ! 



It has been objected to some of the psalms of David, that I 
their imprecations upon his enemies exhibit a spirit of hatred | 
and revenge, quite at variance with the spirit of Christ. But 
these expressions are to be taken in a prophetic sense concern- 
ing the enemies of Jehovah, and not in the spirit of private '. 
revenge. There are no traces of such a spirit in David's per- ! 
sonal life. Saul hated and persecuted David without cause ; I 
yet David spared his life, mourned over his death, and caused I 
the man who slew Saul, and brought the tidings, to be exe- ; 
euted as a murderer. He did the same with the assassins of 
his rival Ishbosheth, the son of Saul ; and he made provision 
for the survivors of Saul's family. He condemned the violence 
and treachery of Joab, his own captain. When his son Ab- 
salom got up a rebellion against him, David, to avoid blood- 
shed, fled from Jerusalem. As he went down toward the 



Jordan, forsaken and disconsolate, Shimei cursed him, and 
pelted him with dirt and stones ; yet, when David returned 
in triumph to his capital, he would not surfer Shimei to be put 
to death, but included him in the amnesty" which he pro- 
claimed to the rebels. And how tender he was of his un- 
grateful and impious son ! In giving battle to his army, he 
charged the captains to spare Absalom ; as he waited for tid- 
ings, his one thought was for the safety of Absalom : the 
news of victory did not cheer him, so long as Absalom's fate 
was unknown. And where, in human language, can be 
found a lament so pathetic, so heart-rending, as David 
poured forth over his lost son ? No degree of filial ingrati- 
tude and impiety can quench a parent's love ; but oh the 
anguish that a wayward child may bring upon his father's 
soul ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 131, 1! 



Thou holy and blessed Son of God, who for our 
sakes didst endure such contradiction of sinners 
against thyself, grant us, we pray thee, the spirit 
of meekness and patience under injury, and of for- 
giveness toward all who do us wrong. How often 
have we grieved and offended thee ! Have mercy 
upon us, we beseech thee, and teach us to be merci- 
ful unto all men ! Heavenly Father, we bless thee 
for thy loving-kindness toward us, so free, so con- 
stant, so abounding. We would show forth thy 



loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithful- 
ness every night. 

God, whose blessed Son was manifested that 
he might destroy the works of the Devil! grant 
us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may 
purify ourselves even as he is pure ; that, when he 
shall appear again with power and great glory, we 
may be made like unto him in his eternal kingdom ; 
where with thee, Father ! and thee, O Holy 
Ghost ! he liveth and reigneth evermore. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



I Kings iii. — 1. And Solomon made affinity 
with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's 
daughter, and brought her into the city of David, 
until he had made an end of building his own house, 
and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jeru- 
salem round about. 

2. Only the people sacrificed in high places, be- 
cause there was no house built unto the name of 
the Lord until those days. 

3. And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the 
statutes of David his father : only he sacrificed 
and burnt incense in high places. 

4. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice 
there ; for that was the great high place : a thou- 
sand burnt-offerings did Solomon offer upon that 
altar. 

5. In Gribeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in 
a dream by night ; and God said, Ask what I shall 
give thee. 

6. And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto 
thy servant David my father great mercy, accord- 
ing as he walked before thee in truth, and in 
righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with 
thee ; and thou hast kept for him this great kind- 
ness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his 
throne, as it is this day. 

7. And now, Lord my God ! thou hast made 
thy servant king instead of David my father; and 
I am but a little child : I know not how to go out 
or come in. 

8. And thy servant is in the midst of thy peo- 



Upon his death-bed, David caused Solomon to be proclaimed 
king in his stead. Now that all the enemies of Israel had 
been subdued, David anticipated for his son a peaceful and 
prosperous reign ; and he prefigured this in these beautiful 
words : " He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the 
fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning 
when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds ; as the 
tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after 
rain." Solomon gave promise of realizing this description 
in his own character. His prayer for an understanding 
heart marked him as a man of thoughtful piety; and the 
fame of his wisdom caused him to be revered by his own peo- 
ple, and brought the Queen of Sheba and many foreign 



pie which thou hast chosen, a great people that 
cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 

9. Give, therefore, thy servant an understanding 
heart to judge thy people, that I may discern be- 
tween good and bad ; ior who is able to judge this 
thy so great a people ? 

10. And the speech pleased the Lord that Solo- 
mon had asked this thing. 

11. And God said unto him, Because thou hast 
asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself 
long life ; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor 
hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast 
asked for thyself understanding to discern judg- 
ment ; 

12. Behold, I have done according to thy word: 
lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding 
heart ; so that there was none like thee before 
thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto 
thee. 

13. And I have also given thee that which thou 
hast not asked, both riches and honor; so that 
there shall not be any among the kings like unto 
thee all thy days. 

14. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep 
my statutes and my commandments, as thy father 
David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. 

15. And Solomon awoke ; and behold, it was a 
dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood 
before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and 
offered up burnt-offerings, and offered peace-offer- 
ings, and made a feast to all his servants. 



princes to his court to hear his proverbs, and profit by his 
knowledge. In his reign the arts flourished, peace was es- 
tablished, the temple was built, Jerusalem was enlarged and 
beautified, alliances were formed with foreign powers, and 
commerce was extended, so that the royal treasury was filled 
with the gold of Ophir, and " silver was in Jerusalem as 
stones for abundance." But the king himself was overcome 
by the fascinations of luxury, became loose in his habits, and 
even fell for a time into idolatry. His inner life he has un- 
veiled to us in the Book of Ecclesiastes as one of disappoint- 
ment and dissatisfaction, bordering upon despair, until at the 
last he came back to his starting-point, that " to fear God and 
keep his commandments is the whole duty of man." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 10, 21, 97. 



Almighty and most merciful Father, we be- 
seech thee to forgive our sins, and incline us ever 
to keep thy commandments. The morning calls us 
to praise thee for thy loving-kindness in the night- 
season; and every day renews the tokens of thy 
bounty. Every good gift cometh down from thee, 
the Father of lights ; and though we are so change- 
ful in our love, so inconstant in our service, with 
thee there is no variableness, neither shadow of 
turning. Bind us to thyself, our Father ! by the 
mighty attraction of thy love. We pray thee keep 
us this day from temptation, evil, and sin. May we 



be upright in our dealings, true and kind in our 
speech, gentle and patient in our spirit, pure and 
holy in our walk, and so exhibit in our lives the 
graces of the gospel, that we shall win others to the 
love of Christ ! And we pray that multitudes may 
be won to the Saviour; that thy Church may in- 
crease ; that missions may prosper ; that thy Word 
may be given to all people. We thank thee for our 
home, and pray thee to bless us with all things that 
we need as a family. Bless the absent who are 
dear to us ; and bring them, together with us, unto 
thy heavenly kingdom, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



361 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



I Kings viii. — 22. And Solomon stood before 
the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the 
congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands 
toward heaven ; 

23. And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no 
God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath ; 
who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants 
that walk before thee with all their heart ; 

24. Who hast kept with thy servant David my 
father that thou promisedst him : thou spakest also 
with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine 
hand, as it is this day. 

27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? 
Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot 
contain thee ; how much less this house that I 
have builded ! 

28. Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of 
thy servant, and to his supplication, Lord my 
God ! to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer 
which thy servant prayeth before thee to-day ; 

29. That thine eyes may be open toward this 
house night and day, even toward the place of 
which thou hast said, My name shall be there; 
that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which 
thy servant shall make toward this place. 

30. And hearken thou to the supplication of thy 
servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall 
pray toward this place ; and hear thou in heaven thy 
dwelling-place ; and, when thou hearest, forgive. 



54. And it was so, that, when Solomon had 
made an end of praying all this prayer and sup- 
plication unto the Lord, he arose from before the 
altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with 
his hands spread up to heaven. 

55. And he stood and blessed all the congrega- 
tion of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 

56. Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest 
unto his people Israel according to all that he 
promised : there hath not failed one word of all 
his good promise which he promised by the hand 
of Moses his servant. 

57. The Lord our God be with us as he was 
with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor for- 
sake us : 

58. That he may incline our hearts unto him, to 
walk in all his ways, and to keep his command- 
ments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which 
he commanded our fathers. 

59. And let these my words wherewith I have 
made supplication before the Lord be nigh unto 
the Lord our God day and night, that he maintain 
the cause of his servant, and the cause of his peo- 
ple Israel at all times, as the matter shall require ; 

60. That all the people of the earth may know 
that the Lord is God, and that there is none else. 

61. Let your heart, therefore, be perfect with the 
Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep 
his commandments, as at this day. 



The great longing of David's heart had been to build a 
temple worthy of the name and worship of Jehovah. For 
this purpose he had selected a site upon Mount Moriah, 
opposite Zion, upon which his own palace stood, and had 
accumulated a vast amount of money and material. The ark, 
which long rested at Shiloh, had been brought up to Zion ; 
but its only cover was the consecrated tent made after the 
pattern given at Sinai. David could not brook the thought 
of living in a better house than was provided for the worship 
of God. " See now," he said : " I dwell in a house of cedar ; 
but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains." But his pious 
purpose was frustrated by a dream, in which he was admon- 
ished that he was too rmich a man of war for such a work ; 
but it should be accomplished in the reign of his son. Solo- 



mon made it a work of filial piety as well as of religious de- 
votion. The house was built on a magnificent scale. Skilled 
workmen from Phoenicia were employed in preparing the 
stone; and Lebanon furnished the choicest woods for its lin- 
ing. Recent explorations have unearthed at a great depth 
the original foundations, and upon some of the stones have 
been found what are supposed to be quarry-marks of the 
Phoenician workmen. Standing upon a bold, sharp prom- 
ontory, walled up from the valleys on either side, adorned 
with porticoes, and sheeted with gold, this temple shone 
resplendent from all sides of the city. At its dedication 
Solomon made a great feast, and offered in person a most 
comprehensive prayer, of which the opening and close are 
given above. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 7, 10, 42. 



This is the day which the Lord hath made : we 
will rejoice and be glad in it. Draw thou near to 
us, God our Saviour ! as we draw near to thee. 
Whom have we in heaven but thee ? and there is 
none upon earth that we desire besides thee. May 
we this day see thy glory as we have seen thee 
within thy holy temple ! 

We bless thee for all the mercies of the week 
that is now past. Day by day thou hast supplied 
our wants ; night by night thou hast watched over 
us and defended us. Oh ! give us hearts of thank- 
fulness, as the children of thy love. 

We pray for the poor, the afflicted, the be- 



reaved, and the dying. thou Comforter of all 
that are cast down ! do thou heal their sorrows, 
bind up their wounds. In the multitude of their 
thoughts within them, may thy comforts delight 
their souls ! 

We commend our friends, and all belonging to 
us, implicitly to thy sovereign care. May the pil- 
lar of thy presence go continually before them ! 
Guide them by thy counsel. Fit them for living 
and for dying. May our souls be consecrated with 
undivided energies to the glory of Him who gave 
himself for us ! — to whom, with the Father and the 
Spirit, be glory everlasting. Amen. 



362 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm xciv. — 12. Blessed is the man whom 
thou chastenest, Lord ! and teachest him out of 
thy law, 

13. That thou mayest give him rest from the days 
of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. 

14. For the Lord will not cast off his people, 
neither will he forsake his inheritance. 

15. But judgment shall return unto righteous- 
ness, and all the upright in heart shall follow it. 

16. Who will rise up for me against the evil- 
doers ? or who will stand up for me against the 
workers of iniquity ? 

17. Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul 
had almost dwelt in silence. 

18. When I said, My foot slippeth, thy mercy, 
Lord ! held me up. 

19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me 
thy comforts delight my soul. 

Hebrews xii. — 1. Wherefore, seeing we also 
are compassed about with so great a cloud of wit- 
nesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin 
which doth so easily beset ns, and let us run with 
patience the race that is set before us, 

2. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher 
of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before 
him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and 
is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

3. For consider him that endured such contra- 
diction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wea- 
ried, and faint in your minds. 



Departed saints do live ; they are conscious of what befalls 
us here; they are near us, to watch with sympathetic regard 
our endurance of trials and conflicts through which they have 
successfully passed. Like a vast amphitheatre of spectators 
intent upon the issue of a race, these foregoing heroes and 
martyrs of the faith surround us with their sympathy, and 
encourage us by their success. As the athlete in the games 
reduced his body to light weight, and stripped himself for the 
race, so must we throw off every encumbrance of habit, every 
entanglement of sin, and hold on the course which we have 
begun. Above all should we keep before us Him without 
whom neither faith nor example would avail us ; who, though 



4. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving 
against sin. 

5. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which 
speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, de- 
spise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor 
faint when thou art rebuked of him ; 

6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and 
scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 

7. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with 
you as with sons ; for what son is he whom the 
father chasteneth not ? 

8. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof 
all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not 
sons. 

9. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh 
which corrected us, and we gave them reverence : 
shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the 
Father of spirits, and live ? 

10. For they verily for a few days chastened us 
after their own pleasure ; but he for our profit, that 
we might be partakers of his holiness. 

11. Now, no chastening for the present seemeth 
to be joyous, but grievous : nevertheless, afterward 
it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness 
unto them which are exercised thereby. 

12. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang 
down, and the feeble knees ; 

13. And make straight paths for your feet, lest 
that which is lame be turned out of the way ; but 
let it rather be healed. 



in his last conflict he did sweat great drops of blood, and sink 
under the weight of the cross, was never weary nor faint of 
heart under the burden of our sins and sorrows, — Jesus, the 
Leader and Perfecter of our faith. " His going before us in 
faith has made faith possible for us ; his perfecting faith in 
his own person and example has made faith effectual for us." 
Nor is it selfish in us to be animated as he was by the joy and 
the crown that wait upon the endurance of the cross. All 
trial is made light when it brings us into closer sympathy 
with Christ ; all discipline is easy when we recognize in it the 
loving hand of God, perfecting us for his own presence and 
glory. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 181, 189, 200. 



Thou only, Lord, makest us to dwell in safety : 
therefore will we lie down in peace, and sleep. 
Grant us the sleep which thou givest to thy be- 
loved ; or, if wakeful hours shall be allotted us, 
may we remember thee upon our bed, and medi- 
tate upon thee in the night-watches ! 

Lord Jesus, who hast invited the weary and 
heavy-laden to come unto thee that thou mayest 
give them rest ! grant us, we pray thee, rest from 
all care and trouble, from all sin and sorrow ; and 
prepare us by thy grace for that holy and blessed 
rest which remaineth for the people of God. 

We bless thee for our fellowship with thy saints ; 
and we pray for the whole Church of God, that it 



may be one in spirit and life, in faith and hope. 
We thank thee for this holy day, — its sacred 
memories, its blessed communion of prayer and 
praise, its comforting sacraments, its teachings 
and promises, and its immortal hopes. May thy 
Word abide with us to teach and sanctify us ! 

And bless thy Word, also, to all who have heard 
it : to the young, for their guidance ; to the aged, 
for their comfort ; to all, for their instruction in 
righteousness. And, Lord ! send, we pray thee, 
thy Word to those who have it not. Let thy salva- 
tion be known in all the earth ; and hasten the 
coming of thy kingdom. And to thy name be 
honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



363 



MONDAY. 



I Peter iv. — 1. Forasmuch, then, as Christ hath 
suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise 
with the same mind : for he that hath suffered in 
the flesh hath ceased from sin ; 

2. That he no longer should live the rest of his 
time in the flesh to the lusts of meu, hut to the 
will of God. 

3. For the time past of our life may suffice us 
to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we 
walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, rev- 
ellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries : 

4. Wherein they think it strange that ye run 
not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking 
evil of you; 

5. Who shall give account to him that is ready 
to judge the quick and the dead. 

6. For for this cause was the gospel preached 
also to them that are dead, that they might be 
judged according to men in the flesh, but live ac- 
cording to God in the spirit. 

7. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye 
therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 

8. And, above all things, have fervent charity 
among yourselves ; for charity shall cover the mul- 
titude of sins. 

9. Use hospitality one to another without grudg- 
ing. 

10. As every man hath received the gift, even 
so minister the same one to another, as good stew- 
ards of the manifold grace of God. 



In saying that "he that hath suffered in the flesh hath 
ceased from sin," the apostle does not intend that there is a 
sanctifying merit in penances and mortifications ; but, inas- 
much as Christ suffered to take away sin, if we would share 
the benefit of his redemption, we must renounce sin, at what- 
ever cost of pain or sacrifice to the flesh. To cherish sinful 
desires is to frustrate the grace of Christ. If we are truly 
the followers of Christ, are joined to him by a living faith, 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



11. If any man speak, let him speak as the ora- 
cles of God ; if any man minister, let him do it as 
of the ability which God giveth, that God in all 
things may be glorified through Jesus Christ ; to 
whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. 

12. Beloved, think it not strange, concerning 
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some 
strange thing happened unto you ; 

13. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of 
Christ's sufferings ; that, when his glory shall be 
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, 
happy are ye ; for the Spirit of glory and of God 
resteth upon you. On their part he is evil spoken 
of; but on your part he is glorified. 

15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or 
as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busybody in 
other men's matters. 

16. Yet, if any man suffer as a Christian, let 
him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on 
this behalf. 

17. For the time is come that judgment must 
begin at the house of God ; and, if it first begin at 
us, what shall the end be of them that obey not 
the gospel of God ? 

18. And, if the righteous scarcely be saved, 
where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ? 

19. Wherefore let them that suffer according to 
the will of God commit the keeping of their souls 
to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 



we shall show this by the earnestness of our endeavors to be 
freed from sin : so are we made partakers of Christ's sufferings. 
While all afflictions, even such as we bring upon ourselves, 
may contribute to our spiritual purification and advancement, 
afflictions which we are called to endure for Christ's sake are 
a testimony of his grace toward us ; and, trusting ourselves to 
our ever-faithful Creator, we can summon to our aid in such 
a conflict the Spirit of glory and of God. 



Prayer 

Our Father in heaven, thou hast kept us in the 
watches of the night from every trouble, sorrow, 
and alarm ; thou hast given us refreshing sleep. 
And now we bless thee for the day, for life and 
health, for food and raiment, for home and friends, 
for means of education and of enjoyment, for 
means of occupation and of support, for means 
of improvement in the knowledge of thyself from 
thy works and thy Word, and for opportunities 
of doing good to others. Oh ! grant us grace 
that we may use to thy glory the lives which thou 
didst give, and which thy mercy doth continually 
spare. 

We acknowledge, Lord! our unworthiness 
and our sinfulness, and beseech thee to pardon our 
transgressions and heal our infirmities. Help us 
this day to live aright. In the business of life 



[Nos. 170, 195, 197 



may we be diligent, faithful, true ! In our in- 
tercourse with others, may we manifest the gentle- 
ness, the sincerity, the charity, of the gospel of 
Christ ! May we be patient under trials, meek 
under injuries, firm against temptation, bold for 
the truth, zealous for thy cause ! May we be kind 
to the poor, helpful to the suffering, gentle toward 
all men ! [Give unto these children, Lord ! 
grace to serve thee in the morning of life, and in 
their thoughts and words, their studies and their 
play, always to please their Father in heaven.] 
Remember with thy mercy all our friends. Build 
up, Lord ! thy Church ; prosper thy kingdom in 
our land, and throughout the world. Ever guide, 
keep, and bless us. Bring us to the close of the 
day in peace, and to the close of life in a hope full 
of immortality, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



364 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Psalm xlii. — 1. As the hart panteth after the 
water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, 
God! 

2. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living 
God : when shall I come and appear before 
God? 

3. My tears have been my meat day and night, 
while they continually say unto me, Where is thy 
God? 

4. When I remember these things, I pour out 
my soul in me : for I had gone with the multitude ; 
I went with them to the house of God, with the 
voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept 
holy-day. 

5. Why art thou cast down, my soul? and 
why art thou disquieted in me ? Hope thou in 
God ; for I shall yet praise him for the help of bis 
countenance. 

6. my God ! my soul is cast down within me : 
therefore will I remember thee from the land of 
Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill 
Mizar. 

7. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy 
water-spouts : all thy waves and thy billows are 
gone over me. 

8. Yet the Lord will command his loving-kind- 
ness in the daytime ; and in the night his song 
shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of 
my life. 

11. Why art thou cast down, my soul? 
and why art tbou disquieted within me? Hope 
thou in God ; for I shall yet praise him ivho 



One morning, as my party was crossing a broad plain 
in Palestine, a gazelle that had ventured from its mountain- 
haunts in quest of water was descried drinking at a brook. 
So intent was the little creature upon slaking its thirst, that 
it was well-nigh captured by our Arab horsemen before 
taking the alarm. Sometimes, in the dry season, whole herds 
of these gentle creatures will quit the deserts, and venture 
nigh the abodes of men to quench their thirst. So the 
Psalmist, perhaps in exile and captivity, remote from the 
living springs of the sanctuary, envied even the hart that 
could find some drops of water, while he longed in vain for 
the house of God and the communion of the saints to satisfy 
his thirsty spirit. 

At another time, the picture of the sanctuary came to him 
so vividly in his exile, that lie saw the nests of the sparrows 



is the health of my countenance, and my 
God. 

Psalm Ixxxiv. — 1. How amiable are thy taber- 
nacles, Lord of hosts ! 

2. My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the 
courts of the Lord ; my heart and my flesh crieth 
out for the living God. 

3. Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and 
the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay 
her young ; even thine altars, O Lord of hosts ! my 
King and my God. 

4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house : 
they will be still praising thee. 

5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee ; 
in whose heart are the ways of them, 

6. Who, passing through the valley of Baca, 
make it a well ; the rain also filleth the pools. 

7. They go from strength to strength ; every one 
of them in Zion appeareth before God. 

8. Lord God of hosts ! hear my prayer ; give 
ear, God of Jacob ! 

9. Behold, God our shield ! and look upon the 
face of thine anointed. 

10. For a day in thy courts is better than a 
thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the 
house of my God than to dwell in the tents of 
wickedness. 

11. For the Lord God is a sun and shield : the 
Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing 
will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 

12. Lord of hosts ! blessed is the man that 
trusteth in thee. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

God, who makest the outgoings of the morn- 
ing and the evening to rejoice ! we lift up our 
hearts to thee with thanksgiving for the joy of an- 
other day ; for vigor for its duties, appetite for its 
pleasures, and readiness for its opportunities of 
good. Bless us in our labors, keep us pure in our 
enjoyments, incite us to do thy will ; and oh ! we 
beseech thee, preserve us from harm, from temp- 
tation, and from sin. Keep us from that love and 
that fear of this world which would estrange us 



in the roof of the temple and in the capitals of its pillars, 
and envied the birds their sacred asylum. He saw in imagina- 
tion the holy pilgrims going up from afar to Jerusalem to 
the sacred feasts. Though the way was long, and sometimes 
rough, dreary, and full of perils, yet every station yielded 
new strength, because it brought them nearer to Zion. The 
very tears shed on the way became fountains of rejoicing, 
and their sorrows were turned into songs. So should we 
prize the house of God as the symbol of communion with 
himself; and while we remember that it is he, and not the 
house, that gives the communion, yet should we through the 
busy week, on the distant journey, or on the bed of weakness 
and pain, long for the courts of the Lord, and show our 
grateful sense of communion with himself by honoring the 
place and the day set apart for his worship 



[Nos. 101, 104, 125. 



Prayer. 

from thee. Conscious of our weakness, humbly 
confessing our sins, we cast ourselves upon thine 
infinite grace in Christ our Saviour for pardon, 
strength, and sanctification. May we as a family 
honor thee in our daily walk and conversation ! 
May we know the joy of consecration to Christ ! 
Grant thy grace to all dear to us ; and grant us 
grace to hold all men dear for Christ's sake. 
And to him, with the Father and the Spirit, be 
glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



365 



WEDNESDAY. 



Revelation iii. — 1. And unto the angel of the 
church in Sardis write : These things saith he 
that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven 
stars : I know thy works, that thou hast a name 
that thou livest, and art dead. 

2. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which 
remain that are ready to die ; for I have not found 
thy works perfect before God. 

3. Remember, therefore, how thou hast received 
and heard ; and hold fast, and repent. If, there- 
fore, thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as 
a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will 
come upon thee. 

4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which 
have not defiled their garments: and they shall 
walk with me in white ; for they are worthy. 

5. He that overcometh, the same shall be 
clothed in white raiment ; and I will not blot out 
his name out of the book of life, but I will con- 
fess his name before my Father and before his 
angels. 

6. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the 
Spirit saitli unto the churches. 

7. And to the angel of the church in Philadel- 
phia write: These things saith he that is holy, he 
that is true, he that hath the key of David ; he 



that openeth, and no man shutteth ; and shutteth, 
and no man openeth : 

8. I know thy works : behold, I have set before 
thee an open door, and no man can shut it ; for 
thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, 
and hast not denied my name. 

9. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue 
of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, 
but do lie ; behold, I will make them to come and 
worship before thy feet, and to know that I have 
loved thee. 

10. Because thou hast kept the word of my 
patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of 
temptation which shall come upon all the world 
to try them that dwell upon the earth. 

11. Behold, I come quickly : hold that fast 
which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 

12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar 
in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more 
out : and I will write upon him the name of my 
God, and the name of the city of my God, which 
is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of 
heaven from my God ; and / ivlll write upon Mm 
my new name. 

13. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the 
Spirit saith unto the churches. 



The wondrous vision of John in Patmos was to him like 
the second coming of Christ. It was the Son of man he saw ; 
it was the same Jesus who had been pierced, but glowing now 
with a splendor of countenance and of apparel which caused 
the disciple who had leaned upon his bosom at the Supper to 
fall at his feet as dead. Clothed with the insignia of life, of 
dominion, of eternity, he stood in the midst of the seven 
candlesticks of gold, which represented the churches, as ap- 
pointed to show forth the light of his truth and grace. The 
seven churches of Asia, in their various characteristics and 
conditions, were types of all churches that have since arisen ; 
and the discriminating judgment of the Lord upon them at 
once searches the hearts of his people now, and foreshadows 
the decisions of the last great day. The churches of Ephe- 
sus, Pergamos, and Thyatira, are all commended for their 
works, their patience, their fidelity, and devotion ; yet in the 
case of each there was a drawback, — some allowance of error, 
of worldliness, of sin, — which called for rebuke. On the 
other hand, Sardis and Laodicea are rebuked as churches, 
the one for having but a name to live, the other for being 



lukewarm. Only Smyrna and Philadelphia are praised with- 
out qualification. But to each of the seven is given the prom- 
ise of most blessed and glorious rewards to whoever shall 
continue faithful. These promises combine almighty power 
and infinite grace to make the victorious believer a partaker 
of the glory of his Lord. When marshalled in order, they 
are like the strains of the heroic symphony, lifting us upon 
wave after wave of triumph up to the highest heaven. To him 
that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which 
is in the midst of the paradise of God : he shall have a crown 
of life, and shall not be hurt of the second death ; he shall 
eat of the hidden manna ; he shall receive a white stone, with a 
new name written in it ; he shall have power over the nations ; 
he shall be clothed in white raiment, and his name shall be 
confessed before the Father and his angels ; he shall be made 
a pillar in the temple of God, and shall wear the new name 
of Christ himself. And the marvellous series of honors cul- 
minates in this : " To him that overcometh will I grant to 
sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am 
set down with my Father in his throne." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 134, 139, 163. 



Holy Father, who hast brought us to the begin- 
ing of another day, as we go forth to the active 
duties of life, grant us strength equal to our en- 
gag 'ments ; and in all things may thy glory be 
our first and final end ! We pray, not that thou 
wouldest take us out of the world, but that thou 
wouldest keep us from the evil. In the midst of 
its defilement, help us to preserve our garments 
unspotted ; amidst its manifold temptations, succor 
us by thy mighty grace ; in all its dangers, let thy 
shield be over us ; in its strifes and conflicts, grant 
us the peace of God that passeth all understanding, 



and victory over all evil. Oh, may this family be 
one in heart and life in the service of God, helping 
one another in the way to heaven ! May we live 
the rest of our life in the flesh by the faith of the 
Son of God, who loved us, and gave himself for us ! 
Keep us to-day from all evil. May we acknowl- 
edge thee in all things, and fear to wander from 
thy paths ! Bless all who are in affliction. Have 
mercy on our country, and continue unto it thy 
favor. Oh! pour out thy Spirit on all men, and 
fill the earth with thy glory. We ask these bless- 
ings in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 



^B 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Isaiah V. — 1. Now will I sing to my well-be- 
loved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. 
My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruit- 
fur hill : 

2. And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones 
thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and 
built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a wine- 
press therein ; and he looked that it should bring 
forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 

3. And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and 
men of Judah ! judge, I pray you, betwixt me and 
my vineyard. 

4. What could have been done more to my vine- 
yard that I have not done in it ? Wherefore, when 
I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought 
it forth wild grapes ? 

5. And now go to ; I will tell you what I will do 
to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge there- 
of, and it shall be eaten up ; and break down the 
wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down : 

6. And I will lay it waste : it shall not be 
pruned, nor digged ; but there shall come up bri- 
ers and thorns : I will also command the clouds 
that they rain no rain upon it. 

7. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the 
house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant 
plant : and he looked for judgment, but behold op- 
pression ; for righteousness, but behold a cry. 



John xv. — 1. I am the true vine, and my Fa- 
ther is the husbandman. 

2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, 
he taketh away; and every branch that beareth 
fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more 
fruit. 

3. Now ye are clean through the word which I 
have spoken unto you. 

4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch 
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the 
vine ; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 

5. I am the vine : ye are the branches. He 
that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bring- 
eth forth much fruit ; for without me ye can do 
nothing. 

6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as 
a branch, and is withered ; and men gather them, 
and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 

7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in 
you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done 
unto you. 

8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear 
much fruit : so shall ye be my disciples. 

9. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved 
you : continue ye in my love. 

10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall 
abide in my love ; even as I have kept my Father's 
commandments, and abide in his love. 



This beautiful allegory of the vine has gathered about it, like 
clusters of grapes, the best thoughts of the best men. The 
theme is the inner unity of Christ and his disciples. " The vine 
and branches," says Afford, " stand in a much nearer connec- 
tion than the shepherd and the sheep, or the lord of the vineyard 
and the vines : they are linked together by a common organiza- 
tion, and informed' by one and the same life." Yet, as saith 
Augustine, " the branches are in the vine, not so as to impart 
any thing to it, but so as to derive their life from it ; the vine 
is in the branches in such a way as to minister to them the vital 
aliment, not in such a way as to receive it from them." 

The evidence of being in Christ, and the condition of re- 
maining upon the vine, is fruit-bearing. No dead-wood of 



formalism, no leafy but fruitless branches of ceremony, can be 
suffered to hinder the true spiritual growth and vitality of the 
Church. The unfruitful are cut off as worthless ; and, being 
dissevered from Christ, they betray their worthlessness, and are 
despised and destroyed. The fruit-bearing of the true branches 
is improved with care : hence, as Luther says, " the pruning- 
away of the suckers, — the bastard or false shoots, which bring 
no fruit, and do nothing but waste the sap which the good fruit- 
ful brandies should have." And these branches are represented 
as having a conscious union one with another by virtue of their 
common derivation and common life. As Jesus has poured 
into his Church his own blood as its life, its members should 
love one another with the martyr-spirit of devotion. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 62, 76, 91. 



We come to thee this morning, heavenly Father, 
with hearts full of thankfulness for the mercies of 
the night. We have rested in safety and in peace 
under the shadow of thy wing. Thou hast kept 
us quiet from the fear of evil : nor sickness, nor 
death, nor tempest, nor fire, nor any calamity, hath 
overtaken us or our dwelling. How sure are the 
mercies of thy covenant, O Lord ! All thy prom- 
ises in Christ Jesus are Yea and Amen. Fulfil 
unto us, we beseech thee, these thy mercies and 
promises, and cause that this day we may rejoice 
in thy salvation. May we be joined to Christ the 
living Vine, and grow by the power of his life 
within us ! [Oh, may these children grow in 
grace as they grow in years and in knowledge ! 



May they shun evil companions and evil ways, 
and walk in the way of thy commandments !] 
Keep all dear to us even as the apple of thine, 
eye. Bless our neighbors, and send thy Spirit 
upon this whole community. Bless our rulers, 
and the schools and churches in our land. May 
all who rule, and all who teach, be led and taught 
by thee ! Have pity upon the poor and the sor- 
rowing; upon homes made desolate by famine, 
pestilence, or war. Stay thy judgments, Lord ! 
and send peace and salvation to all people. Mer- 
cifully forgive our sins, and bring us unto the 
perfection of knowledge, of holiness, and of bless- 
edness, in Jesus Christ our Lord ; to whom be 
glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



367 



FRIDAY. 



John XV. — 11. These things have I spoken 
unto you that my joy might remain in you, and 
that your joy might be full. 

12. This is my commandment, That ye love one 
another as I have loved you. 

13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a 
man lay down his life for his friends. 

14. Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I 
command you. 

15. Henceforth I call you not servants ; for the 
servant knoweth not what his lord doeth : but I 
have called you friends ; for all things that I have 
heard of vay Father I have made known unto you. 

16. Ye have not chosen me ; but I have chosen 
you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring 
forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain ; 
that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my 
name, he may give it you. 

17. These things I command you, that ye love 
one another. 

18. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated 
me before it hated you. 

19. If ye were of the world, the world would 
love his own ; but because ye are not of the world, 
but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore 
the world hateth you. 



Christ was a teacher, and gathered disciples; he was a 
master, and his disciples were his servants ; he was a king, and 
these were also his subjects. But he chose a more close and 
endearing name to express the relation in which he would 
stand to his followers : " I have called you friends," — a title 
of affection and of confidence. But this relation of friendship 
would not cancel the obligation to reverence and obedience. 
The very proof of friendship would be found in obedience to 
the commands of Christ, and in fruitfulness in his service. 
Love is the devotement of self to the will and the honor of Him 
who has so loved and honored us. But the more nearly we 
identify ourselves with Christ, the more keenly shall we suffer 
from those that hate him. What men hate in Christ is the 



20. Remember the word that I said unto you, 
The servant is not greater than his lord. If they 
have persecuted me, they will also persecute you ; 
if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours 
also. 

21. But all these things will they do unto you 
for my name's sake, because they know not him 
that sent me. 

22. If I had not come and spoken unto them, 
they had not had sin ; but now they have no cloak 
for their sin. 

23. He that hateth me hateth my Father 
also. 

24. If I had not done among them the works 
which none other man did, they had not had sin ; 
but now have they both seen, and hated both me 
and my Father. 

25. But this cometh to pass, that the word 
might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They 
hated me without a cause. 

26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I 
will send unto you from the Father, even the 
Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, 
he shall testify of me. 

27. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye 
have been with me from the beginning. 



light that exposes their sin, the truth that convicts and hum- 
bles them, the holiness that rebukes and condemns them ; and 
the closer we come to him in character, the more shall we pro- 
voke the opposition of evil. The purity of the Church in its 
testimony for truth and righteousness, which is its power 
against the world, is what stirs up the powers of darkness 
against the Church. A chief function of the apostles was that 
of personal testimony to the life and works of Christ. As eye- 
witnesses, of course, they could have no successors ; but the 
Holy Spirit, bringing the truth home to the heart, can make 
each believer a living epistle of Christ, known and read of all 
men. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 89, 104, 118. 



Graciously bestow upon us, heavenly Father ! 
thy Holy Spirit, to quicken within us the Word 
that we have now read. Take away our ignorance, 
our hardness and coldness of heart, and our love 
of this present world. Enlighten our understand- 
ings ; give unto us the spirit of wisdom and revela- 
tion in the knowledge of Christ. May we know 
thee as our God and Saviour, and glorify thee by the 
holy obedience of our lives ! Grant that, being set 
free from sin, and made servants to God, we may have 
our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 

Lord ! we beseech thee quicken thy Church 
to greater fruitfulness in thy service ; and suffer 
not thy word to return to thee void, but bring 
multitudes to the acknowledging of the truth as it 
is in Jesus. 

We thank thee for all thy goodness and thy 



care. Thou spreadest our table ; thou givest us 
life and breath and all things. Lord! our souls, 
and all that is within us, would bless and praise 
thy holy name. As a family, we bless thee for 
our home, and for all the comforts and joys of our 
daily life. [May the children whom thou hast so 
favored in this house remember thee, their heaven- 
ly Father, and love and serve thee !] Be with us 
this day to guide and keep us. 

most merciful Saviour, our compassionate 
High Priest ! pity all our infirmities ; heal our souls' 
sicknesses ; give us the joy of thy salvation, and a 
hope full of immortality. Strengthen us to live 
and labor for thee ; and at length take us to rest 
with thee above, for thine own name and mercy's 
sake. And unto thee, with the Father and the 
Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory. Amen. 



3G8 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



John xvi. — 1. These things have I spoken 
unto you, that ye should not be offended. 

2. They shall put you out of the synagogues ; 
yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you 
will think that he doeth God service. 

3. And these things will they do unto you be- 
cause they have not known the Father nor me. 

4. But these things have I told you, that, when 
the time shall come, ye may remember that I told 
you of them. And these things I said not unto 
you at the beginning because I was with you. 

5. But now I go my way to him that sent me; 
and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou ? 

6. But, because I have said these things unto 
you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 

7. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth : It is ex- 
pedient for you that I go away; for, if I go not 
away, the Comforter will not come unto you ; but, 
if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

8. And, when he is come, he will reprove the 
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judg- 
ment : 

9. Of sin, because they believe not on me ; 

10. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, 
and ye see me no more ; 

11. Of judgment, because the prince of this 
world is judged. 

12. I have yet many things to say unto you ; but 
ye cannot bear them now. 



No follower of our Lord could have been misled as to the 
nature and the responsibilities of Christian discipleship. So 
far from holding out worldly inducements to his disciples, 
Jesus corrected their notions of a temporal kingdom, and 
warned them of the trials and persecutions which the confes- 
sion of his name would bring upon them. Yet on the eve of 
his departure, when a natural sorrow oppressed them, he 
uttered words of hope, confidence, and joy. An element of 
joy and strength, such as they could hardly imagine, should 
be infused into them by his return from the dead. But, as 
this would be followed by another and final departure, he 
encouraged them for the long future by the promise of the 
Comforter. After the ascension of our Lord, the Holy Spirit 
entered as a perpetual life-power into the Church, — the body 
of Christ upon earth. This power is evidenced in two ways : 



13. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is 
come, he will guide you into all truth : for he shall 
not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall 
hear, that shall he speak ; and he will show you 
things to come. 

14. He shall glorify me ; for he shall receive of 
mine, and shall show it unto you. 

15. All things that the Father hath are mine : 
therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and 
shall show it unto you. 

16. A little while, and ye shall not see me ; and 
again a little while, and ye shall see me, because 
I go to the Father. 

17. Then said some of his disciples among them- 
selves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little 
while, and ye shall not see me; and again a little 
while, and ye shall see me ; and, Because I go to 
the Father? 

18. They said therefore, What is this that he 
saith, A little while ? we cannot tell what he saith. 

19. Now, Jesus knew that they were desirous to 
ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among 
3'ourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye 
shall not see me ; and again a little while, and ye 
shall see me ? 

20. Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall 
weep and lament; but the world shall rejoice: and 
ye shall be sorrowful ; but your sorrow shall be 
turned into joy. 



first upon the world, in convincing men of the guilt of re- 
jecting Christ, in vindicating the righteousness of Christ both 
in his personal character and for his work of atonement; 
and in demonstrating the overthrow of Satan's kingdom, and 
the certainty of judgment upon all evil-doers. This work of 
the Holy Spirit was begun with marvellous effect upon the 
day of Pentecost. A second sphere of his power lies within 
the hearts of disciples. By quickening their perception of 
truth, by vivifying their knowledge of Christ, by unveiling 
the future to their hope, he manifests himself to the con- 
sciousness of believers as he does not manifest himself to the 
world. 

Through this power of the Spirit within and around them, 
the disciples of Christ can conquer all tribulations with an 
overmastering joy. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 78, 147, 151. 



God ! we pray thee, make thy strength perfect 
in our weakness. In the trials and conflicts of life, 
in its perils and temptations, be thou ever nigh to 
counsel, uphold, direct, and comfort us. May we 
set our hearts supremely upon our duties to thee, 
and never fear what man can do unto us ! 

We beseech thee to regard us as a family, and 
constrain us by thy Spirit to walk in the narrow 
way. Help us to rely on thy promises, and obey 
thy commands. May the Holy Comforter guide 
us into all truth, sanctify us for every duty, sustain 
us under every trial ! May Christ be in our hearts 
the hope of glory ! 



May all who are weary and heavy-laden come to 
Jesus, and find rest ! May thy heralds be multi- 
plied until the world shall hear and obey thy truth ! 
and, according to thy promise, pour out thy Spirit 
upon all flesh, that all may be saved. 

Lord ! we commend ourselves and all our 
concerns to thy gracious care. Keep us to-day 
from every snare of sin and of the Wicked One. 
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
evil; and whether we eat or drink, or whatever 
we do, may we do all to the glory of God ! And 
we will ascribe all praise to the Father, the Son, 
and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Psalm cxi. — 1. Praise ye the Lord. I will 
praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assem- 
bly of the upright, and in the congregation. 

2. The works of the Lord are great, sought out 
of all them that have pleasure therein. 

3. His work is honorable and glorious ; and his 
righteousness endureth forever. 

4. He hath made his wonderful works to be 
remembered: the Lord is gracious, and full of 
compassion. 

5. He hath given meat unto them that fear 
him : he will ever be mindful of his covenant. 

John xvii. — 1. These words spake Jesus, and 
lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the 
hour is come : glorify thy Son, that thy Son also 
may glorify thee ; 

2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, 
that he should give eternal life to as many as thou 
hast given him. 

3. And this is life eternal, that they might know 
thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom 
thou hast sent. 

4. I have glorified thee on the earth ; I have 
finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 

5. And now, Father ! glorify thou me with 
thine own self with the glory which I had with 
thee before the world was. 



A pious preacher of Germany, when near the close of life, 
had this prayer read to him three times, saying, that, of all 
the Bible, it was to him most dear ; yet he never had ventured 
to preach upon it, feeling it transcended alike the powers of 
his comprehension and the measure of his faith. And Luther 
said of it, "Plain and simple as it sounds.it is so deep, rich, 
and broad, that no man can fathom it." Only one conscious 
of an essential union with God could have uttered such words. 
Before the creation, Christ had shared the glory of the Fa- 
ther. The power of life was in his hands, the divine prerog- 
ative of giving life ; and the knowledge of himself was an ele- 
ment of that life, as vital as was the knowledge of the Father. 
No sane man could have uttered such words without blas- 



6. I have manifested thy name unto the men 
which thou gavest me out of the world : thine they 
were, and thou gavest them me ; and they have 
kept thy word. 

7. Now, they have known that all things what- 
soever thou hast given me are of thee ; 

8. For I have given unto them the words which 
thou gavest me ; and they have received them, 
and have known surely that I came out from thee, 
and they have believed that thou didst send me. 

9. I pray for them : I pray not for the world, 
but for them which thou hast given me ; for they 
are thine. 

10. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine ; 
and I am glorified in them. 

11. And now I am no more in the world ; but 
these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy 
Father, keep through thine own name those whom 
thou hast given me, that they may be one as we 
are. 

12. While I was with them in the world, I kept 
them in thy name : those that thou gavest me I 
have kept, and none of them is lost but the son of 
perdition ; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 

13. And now come I to thee ; and these things I 
speak in the world, that they might have my joy 
fulfilled in themselves. 



phemy. The Jesus of human history affirmed the unity of his 
consciousness with the Word which was in the beginning with 
God. But, even when filled with the assurance of resuming his 
earthly glory, he remembers the ties of earthly friendship and 
of spiritual communion that bind him to his disciples ; and, 
while his eyes are lifted up to heaven, his heart is twined 
about these who are to be left alone. Nothing short of his 
own glory will suffice him as a benediction upon them. As 
his oneness with the Father is to be manifested by his return 
to God, he would have that manifestation re-act upon the con- 
sciousness of his disciples, causing them to realize through 
their oneness with each other that they also are one with 
Christ in God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 28, 99, 167. 



Blessed be God, that, in Christ Jesus our Lord, 
heaven is brought nigh to us as our home ; that He 
who descended and took our nature, and lived and 
suffered and died in human flesh, hath ascended 
to heaven, the same Jesus, glorifying our nature 
in his own ! Oh, may we feel the grace of his re- 
demption, the power of his resurrection, the glory of 
his ascension, the promise of his coming, as mo- 
tives to draw us from earthly things ! and may the 
exaltation of our Redeemer, as Head over all things 
to his Church, inspire us with faith in the triumph 
of his Church in the world ! Build up thy Church 
this day ; bless her worship, her schools, her teach- 
ing; hear her prayers, and manifest thy saving 
power. Go with us to thine house. Grant, we 
beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do 



believe thy only-begotten Son to have ascended 
into the heavens, so we may also in heart and mind 
thither ascend, and with him continually dwell ; 
who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy 
Ghost, one God, world without end. 

Thy mercy, Lord ! hath visited us with the re- 
freshing slumbers of the night. As a family we 
would dedicate ourselves to thee, and supplicate 
thy grace upon every one of us here present before 
thee, and upon all the dear ones who are absent 
from us. And, while we so rejoice in thine abound- 
ing goodness, we make supplication for the poor, 
the needy, the outcast, the oppressed ; beseeching 
thee that the consolations of the gospel may be 
multiplied to them all, through the grace of our 
ascended Lord ; to whom be glory forever. Amen. 



370 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm Ixiii. — 1. God! thou art my God; 
early will I seek thee : my soul thirsteth for thee, 
my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, 
where no water is ; 

2. To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have 
seen thee in the sanctuary. 

3. Because thy loving-kindness is better than 
life, my lips shall praise thee. 

4. Thus will I bless thee while I live : I will 
lift up my hands in thy name. 

5. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and 
fatness ; and my mouth shall praise thee with joy- 
ful lips ; 

6. When I remember thee upon my bed, and 
meditate on thee in the night-watches. 

7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in 
the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 

8. My soul followeth hard after thee : thy right 
hand upholdeth me. 

John xvii. — 14. I have given them thy word; 
and the world hath hated them, because they 
are not of the world, even as I am not of the 
world. 

15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them 
out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep 
them from the evil. 

16. They are not of the world, even as I am not 
of the world. 



What a longing to depart with their Lord must have been 
awakened in the minds of the disciples by the opening words 
of his address to the Father ! The life, the joy, the glory, to 
which he was about to go, and with which he seemed to fill 
the chamber as he poured forth his ecstatic prayer, would have 
been to them the golden consummation of their hopes, the 
crowning expression of his love. Yet Jesus did not pray that 
they should be taken out of the world. Though he knew that 
here they would be hated, that his own name would be to them 
a legacy of persecution, yet he would have them continue in the 
world as his representatives. This was necessary to the comple- 
tion of his own work in the world, — the recovery of men from 



17. Sanctify them through thy truth : thy word 
is truth. 

18. As thou hast sent me into the world, even 
so have I also sent them into the world. 

19. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that 
they also might be sanctified through the truth. 

20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them 
also which shall believe on me through their word ; 

21. That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art 
in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us ; 
that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 

22.' And the glory which thou gavest me I have 
given them ; that they may be one, even as we are 
one; 

23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may 
be made perfect in one ; and that the world may 
know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them 
as thou hast loved me. 

24. Father, I will that they also whom thou hast 
given me be with me where I am, that they may be- 
hold my glory which thou hast given me ; for thou 
lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 

25. righteous Father ! the world hath not 
known thee ; but I have known thee, and these 
have known that thou hast sent me. 

26. And I have declared unto them thy name, 
and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou 
hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. 



sin to holiness and God. The men whom he had taught now 
required to be tested. Their own moral development had need 
of the very conflict with evil from which they shrank. Jesus 
would have them meet it ; and, that they might be empowered 
to meet it, would have them sanctified, strengthened, ennobled 
by the truth. And by the affinities of truth and love he would 
seek to develop in his disciples through the oncoming ages that 
oneness of heart and life, which, amid the jealousies, discords, 
and strifes of the world, should be the token of the Redeemer's 
presence. Thus may we, whom also he included in this prayer, 
reflect upon earth the very glory of Christ in heaven, until he 
shall take us to be forever with him in that glory. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 12, 20, 157. 



God, who hast taught us in thy Word that 
there is still laid up a rest for thy people, and who 
hast given us a promise of entering into it ! grant 
to us, we beseech thee, that we fail not of that 
promise through unbelief and disobedience. Teach 
us to look for a house that hath foundations, of 
which thou art the maker and builder. Lift our 
hearts thither in earnest desire. 

Oh sabbath of eternal peace ! Oh haven where 
the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are 
at rest ! When shall we see thee, Lord ! and be- 
hold the King in his beauty ? When shall we meet 
the apostles and prophets, and the great multitude 
whom no man can number ? When shall we see 
again our dear friends who sleep in Jesus ? 

God the Father, who hast the times and sea- 



sons in thine own power! let not that day come 
upon us unawares. God the Son, who art gone 
to prepare a place for us ! in thine own time take 
us to thyself, that where thou art, there we may be 
also. God the Holy Ghost, the pledge of future 
glory in our hearts ! seal us until the redemption 
of the purchased possession. We bless thee for 
the help this day received through thv holy Word 
and the prayers and praises of thy Cfiurch. We 
supplicate thy favor upon all who have heard thy 
Word, and upon those who have it not. We bless 
thee for thy mercy to this household, and commit 
ourselves to thy fatherly protection for the night. 
Keep us under the shadow of thy wings ; and, 
Father ! bring us, we pray thee, finally to rest in 
thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



371 



MONDAY. 



Psalm Ixii. — 1. Truly my soul waiteth upon 
God: from him cometh nry salvation. 

2. He only is my rock and my salvation ; he is 
my defence : I shall not be greatly moved. 

3. How long will ye imagine mischief against a 
man ? Ye shall be slain, all of you ; as a bowing 
wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. 

4. They only consult to cast him down from his 
excellency; they delight in lies; they bless with 
their mouth, but they curse inwardly. 

5. My soul, wait thou only upon God ; for my 
expectation is from him. 

6. He only is my rock and my salvation ; he is 
my defence : I shall not be moved. 

7. In God is my salvation and my glory: the 
rock of my strength and my refuge is in God. 

8. Trust in him at all times ; ye people, pour 
out your heart before him : God is a refuge for 
us. 

9. Surely men of low degree are vanity, and 
men of high degree are a lie : to be laid in the 
balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. 

10. Trust not in oppression, and become not 
vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your 
heart upon them. 

11. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard 
this ; that power belongeth unto God. 

12. Also unto thee, Lord! belongeth mercy; 



for thou renderest to every man according to his 
1 work. 

Psalm Ixiii. — 1. God! thou art my God; 

early will I seek thee : my soul thirsteth for thee, 
! my flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty 
i land where no water is ; 

2. To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have 
seen thee in the sanctuary. 

3. Because thy loving-kindness is better than 
life, my lips shall praise thee. 

4. Thus will I bless thee while I live : I will 
lift up my hands in thy name. 

o. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow 
and fatness ; and my mouth shall praise thee with 
joyful lips, 

6. When I remember thee upon my bed, and 
meditate on thee in the ?HV///f-watches. 

7. Because thou hast been my help, therefore 
in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 

8. My soul followeth hard after thee : thy right 
hand upholdeth me. 

9. But those that seek my soul to destroy it 
shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 

10. They shall fall by the sword; they shall be 
a portion for foxes. 

11. But the king shall rejoice in God; every 
one that sweareth by him shall glory : but the 
mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. 



The first of these psalms was composed when David re- 
sided at the court of Saul, and had become aware of a con- 
spiracy to cast him down from his position of confidence and 
honor. His enemies had sought to undermine his reputa- 
tion by calumny ; and now they were preparing to rush upon 
him, and overturn him like a tottering wall. But he descends 
into the depths of his soul, and finds there the calmness and 
security of an abiding trust in God. So deep and holy is 
this confidence, that he describes his soul as silent unto God, 
— for such is the beautiful expression of the original, — wait- 
ing without anxiety and without complaining. Xo combina- 
tion of numbers, of rank, of riches, can avail against him ; 
for " power belongeth unto God." Psalm lxiii. was composed 
when David, driven from his capital by the rebellion of Ab- 
salom, was a fugitive in the wilderness of Judah, — " the 



crown torn from off his brow, his own son a rebel, a gloomy 
, present and an uncertain future before him, round about 
him the desert ; yet his heart is so satisfied, that his mouth 
must break forth in songs of praise. As a bird, sheltered in 
j the rich foliage from the heat of the sun, sings its merry 
I notes ; so he celebrates his songs of praise from the shadow of 
i the wings of God. Even at night, when his lips are silent, 
! his heart continues the praise. If he wakes during the night- 
watches, the thought of God is so full of comfort and peace, 
that he yields himself to these blissful meditations in prefer- 
' ence to sleep." He has but one longing, — to realize more 
fully the glory of God, as once in the sanctuary ; but if not 
on earth, then in heaven : and death can bring no fear nor 
loss to him who knows that the loving-kindness of God is 
! better even than life. 



Appropkiate Htmxs,] 



Prayer. 



[Xos. 101, 104, 109. 



We lift up our eyes unto the hills, whence com- 
eth our help : our help cometh from the Lord, which 
made heaven and earth. We open our eyes to 
the remembrance of thy mercy, to the conscious- 
ness of thy presence, to the sense of our depend- 
ence. Only our sins separate us from thee, our 
loving Father ; and we beseech thee to blot these 
out for thy name's sake, and to receive us in Christ 
as thy redeemed and reconciled children. Help 
us, O Lord ! as obedient children, to do thy will. 
[May the children of this family remember thee 
in the days of their youth ! May every one of 
us daily acknowledge and serve thee !] Keep 
us, we pray thee, from all evil and sin this day. 



In our intercourse with others may we be true 
and just, loving and patient, gentle and kind, 
and so may we commend unto all the gospel of 
thy grace ! 

May thy favor be upon the community in which 
we dwell, upon thy Church, upon our land ! Give 
peace in our time, O Lord ! and incline the hearts 
' of our rulers to that which is just and lawful in thy 
i sight. Have mercy upon the poor and the afflicted ; 
and cause that the grace of thy gospel shall go 
forth everywhere to heal the sins and sorrows of 
all mankind. Finally bring us unto thine ever- 
lasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



372 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Jeremiah xii. — 22. I spake not unto your 
fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I 
brought them out of the land of Egypt, concern- 
ing burnt-offerings or sacrifices : 

23. But this thing commanded I them, saying, 
Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye 
shall be my people ; and walk ye in all the ways 
that I have commanded you, that it may be well 
unto you. 

24. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their 
ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagi- 
nation of their evil heart, and went backward, and 
not forward. 

25. Since the day that your fathers came forth 
out of the land of Egypt, unto this day, I have 
even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, 
daity rising up early and sending them : 

26. Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor in- 
clined their ear, but hardened their neck ; they 
did worse than their fathers. 

27. Therefore thou shaft speak all these words 
unto them ; but they will not hearken to thee : 
thou shalt also call unto them ; but they will not 
answer thee. 

28. But thou shalt say unto them, This is a na- 
tion that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their 
God, nor receiveth correction : truth is perished, 
and is cut off from their mouth. 

Mark xii. — 1. And he began to speak unto 
them by parables. A certain man planted a vine- 
yard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a place 
for the wine-fat, and built a tower, and let it out 
to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 



As our Lord approached the close of this life, he grew 
more explicit in asserting his divine Sonship, and in denoun- 
cing the guilt of the Jews in rejecting him. This vineyard 
represented the Jewish people who had been chosen of God, 
nurtured and watched over with the most jealous care. A 
well-appointed vineyard was protected from wild beasts and 
robbers by a substantial hedge ; it was planted with the 
choicest vines ; a wine-fat was prepared under ground as a 
safe and cool receptacle for the juice as it flowed from the 
press ; and a tower was erected from which the owner could 
survey his growing crop, and watch against thieves. So the 
nation, hedged about with the law and the covenant, had been 



2. And at the season he sent to the husband- 
men a servant, that he might receive from the 
husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 

3. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent 
him away empty. 

4. And again he sent unto them another ser- 
vant ; and at him they cast stones, and wounded 
him in the head, and sent him away shamefully 
handled. 

5. And again he sent another ; and him they 
killed, and many others ; beating some, and killing 
some.' 

6. Having yet therefore one son, his well-be- 
loved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, 
They will reverence my son. 

7. But those husbandmen said among them- 
selves, This is the heir : come, let us kill him, and 
the inheritance shall be ours. 

8. And they took him, and killed him, and cast 
him out of the vineyard. 

9. What shall, therefore, the lord of the 
vineyard do? He will come and destroy the 
husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto 
others. 

10. And have ye not read this scripture : The 
stone which the builders rejected is become the 
head of the corner : 

11. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvel- 
lous in our eyes ? 

12. And they sought to lay hold on him, but 
feared the people ; for they knew- that he had 
spoken the parable against them : and they left 
him, and went their way. 



trained by a succession of prophets, and watched over con- 
tinually by the Lord. But they had. rejected prophet after 
prophet, ofttimes with violence, stoning some, beating some, 
killing some ; and now they were about to fill up the measure 
of their iniquity by taking the life of the Son. Jesus here 
describes himself as the Son of God in a sense in which none 
other could be ; his only Son, his well-beloved Son, deserving 
of reverence. But this very claim the more enraged hearts 
that were filled with enmity toward the faithful witnesses for 
the truth. A people so privileged and so perverse must be 
set aside, and the place which they had abused be given to 
the Gentiles. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 99, 159. 



Heavenly Father, we bless thee for the light of the 
morning. Oh for a heart to love thee, to praise thee, 
to serve thee, as we ought ! Thou didst create us for 
thy glory ; thou hast enriched us with thy bounty ; 
thou hast redeemed us with the precious blood of 
thy Son ; thou hast sent forth thy Spirit into our 
hearts to quicken us to a new life, that we might re- 
ceive the adoption of children. Disobedient and un- 
thankful children we have been ; and we confess our 
waywardness and our sin. Eorgive us, we beseech 
thee, our Father ! for the sake of thy dear Son. 



We pray thee this day to deliver us from tempta- 
tion, to defend us from evil. Make sure to this 
family the mercies of thy covenant. Remember 
all dear to us. Bless thy Church here, and in our 
land, and throughout the world. Oh ! send thy 
salvation to all people. We beseech thee to com- 
fort the poor, the sick, the sorrowing, the dying ; 
and Lord ! when heart and flesh shall fail us, 
be thou the strength of our heart, and our portion 
forever, for His sake who ever liveth to make in- 
tercession for us. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



373 



WEDNESDAY. 



Mark xii. — 13. And they send unto him cer- 
tain of the Pharisees, and of the Herodians, to 
catch him in his words. 

14. And, when they were come, they say unto 
him, Master, we know that thou art true, and 
carest for no man ; for thou regardest not the per- 
son of men, but teachest the way of God in truth. 
Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not ? 

15. Shall we give, or shall we not give ? But 
he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why 
tempt ye me ? Bring me a penny, that I may see 
it. 

16. And they brought it. And he saith unto 
them, Whose is this image and superscription ? 
And they said unto him, Caesar's. 

17. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Ben- 
der to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to 
Go'l the things that are God's. And they mar- 
velled at him. 

18. Then come unto him the Sadducees, which 
say there is no resurrection ; and they asked him, 
saying, 

19. Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's 
brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and 



leave no children, that his brother should take his 
wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 

20. Now, there were seven brethren; and the 
first took a wife, and, dying, left no seed. 

21. And the second took her, and died ; neither 
left he any seed ; and the third likewise. 

22. And the seven had her, and left no seed : 
last of all, the woman died also. 

23. In the resurrection, therefore, when they 
shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them ? for the 
seven had her to wife. 

24. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Do 
ye not therefore err, because ye know not the 
scriptures, neither the power of God ? 

25. For, when they shall rise from the dead, they 
neither many, nor are given in marriage, but are 
as the angels which are in heaven. 

26. And as touching the dead, that they rise : 
have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the 
bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God 
of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of 
Jacob ? 

27. He is not the God of the dead, but the God 
of the living : ye, therefore, do greatly err. 



The Herodians were politicians who favored the imperial | 
f overnment at Rome as represented by the dynasty of Herod. ] 
The Pharisees adhered with Jewish pride to the traditions of 
the nation, and denounced the Roman rule as a usurpation of 
the kingdom of God. Though hating one another, these 
classes laid together a trap to catch Jesus in his words. If he 
should advocate paying tribute to Cassar, the Pharisees would 
denounce him to the populace as an enemy to Jewish inde- 
pendence, and therefore not the promised deliverer of the na- 
tion ; if be should declare the Roman tax illegal, the Herodians 
would denounce him to the governor as a seditious person : 
yet, by using coin stamped by the Roman government, both 
classes admitted its authority ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Our Lord's answer to the Sadducees is full of instruction. 
He teaches that departed saints are living in their personal 
identity. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, are all living now in the 
presence of God. This individuality will favor the recogni- 
tion of friends in the hereafter. The embarrassment sup- 
posed by the Sadducees could not arise if there should be no 
such recognition. But our Lord does not dispose of the diffi- 
culty by denying that the friendships of this world shall be re- 
rived in the next : he teaches that those who have lived 
together here shall know one another there ; but they them- 
selves shall be so lifted above the envyings and jealousies of 
this life, and even so above its most favored relations, that, lov- 
ing with an angel's purity, they shall know the joy of angels. 



[Nos. 8, 20, 42, 105. 



Prayer. 

Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto j We thank thee, Lord ! for the precious com- 
Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb fort that remains to us concerning dear friends 
for ever and ever ! God, our Father ! how shall who have departed in the faith ; that to them 



we praise thee for thy love in Jesus Christ, our 
Saviour ? When we were utterly lost in our sins, 
thou didst not spare thine own Son, but didst de- 



heaven is even now a reality ; that they have no 
more want, nor sorrow, nor care, nor sin. Oh, 
may heaven be a reality to our faith ! and may the 



liver him up for us all. Blessed be thy name that ihope of it, yea. the assurance of it, as our home, 
thou didst crown the suffering of the cross with ! lift its above all the temptations and trials of this 
the glory of the resurrection, and hast given us | present world ! 

herein the assurance of the re-union of thy saints ; We praise thee, as a family, for thy constant 
in the kingdom of heaven ! Lord ! fill our ' goodness to us ; for all the way in which thou hast 
souls with thankfulness to thee, that thy love led us ; for the home which thou hast given us ; 
may constrain us evermore. May we be filled for our means of support and of enjoyment ; for 
with the spirit of Christ, and wholly given to ' the loves and hopes that brighten our way ; and for 
the service of Christ ! And, oh, may each day all the dealings of thy providence with us. 
witness in our hearts, in this community, in the Lord ! unite us all in the faith and hope of the gos- 
church, in our land, in all the world, new tri- pel, and in the family of thy redeemed, through 
umphs of redeeming grace ! May He who was Jesus Christ ; who, with thee and the Holy Spirit, 
lifted up upon the cross draw all men unto him ! liveth evermore. Amen. 



374 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



I Kings xvii. — 1. And Elijah the Tishbite, who 
was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, 
As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I 
stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years 
but according to my word. 

2. And the word of the Lord came unto him, 
saying, 

3. Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and 
hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before 
Jordan. 

4. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the 
brook ; and I have commanded the ravens to feed 
thee there. 

5. So he went and did according unto the word 
of the Lord ; for he went and dwelt by the brook 
Cherith, that is before Jordan. 

6. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh 
in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening ; 
and he drank of the brook. 

7. And it came to pass after a while that the 
brook dried up, because there had been no rain in 
the land. 

8. And the word of the Lord, came unto him, 
saying, _ 

9. Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth 
to Zidon, and dwell there : behold, I have com- 
manded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 



10. So he arose, and went to Zarephath. And 
when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the 

| widow woman was there gathering of sticks ; and 
j he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, 
a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 

11. And, as she was going to fetch it, he called 
to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel 
of bread in thine hand. 

12. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, 
I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in a bar- 
rel, and a little oil in a cruse; and, behold, I am 
gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress 
it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 

13. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and 
do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little 
cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make 
for thee and for thy son. 

14. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The 
barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the 
cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord send- 
eth rain upon the earth. 

15. And she went and did according to the say- 
ing of Elijah ; and she and he and her house did 
eat many days. 

16. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither 
did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of 
the Lord which he spake by Elijah. 



Dean Stanley has pronounced Elijah the Tishbite " the 
grandest and the most romantic character that Israel ever pro- 
duced." And certainly his is the name most worthy to be 
associated with Moses, — the representative of the prophets, 
as Moses of the law ; and these two together brought all the 
grandeur and glory of the Old Testament to render homage 
to Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. Elijah had a 
rugged and stormy life. After the death of Solomon, ten 
tribes revolted from his son, and established in the north the 
kingdom of Israel, with Samaria as its capital ; while, in the 
south, Judah retained Jerusalem and the temple. The north- 
ern kingdom soon fell into idolatry. It had a succession of 
evil kings, of whom Ahab was the most conspicuous : his wife 
Jezebel was a monster of crime. It was in his reign chiefly 
that Elijah flourished ; and the contests of the prophet of Je- 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Thou, Lord, hast made our cup to overflow with 
blessings. From the first moment of our being, 
thou hast been our Guardian ; thou hast visited our 
home with daily benefits ; thou hast given us the 
comforts of thy providence and grace ; thou hast 
shielded us from unknown dangers ; thou hast 
warded off unseen calamities : no earthly friend 
could have loved us and cared for us like thee. 

blessed Saviour, who hast sanctified the home 
of love with thy presence and benediction ! may thy 
presence ever abide with us, thy benediction ever rest 
upon us ! Thou who art the Lord of all ! help us 
to discern thy hand in the supply of our daily wants, 
and to remember that the power which created all 
things at the first, the power which hath wrought 



hovah with this impious champion of Baal are sublime ex- 
amples of moral courage facing down wickedness in high 
places. Not Luther or John Knox was bolder than he. As 
a punishment for the sins of Ahab, Elijah threatened a famine 
of three years. The king sought to take the life of the pro- 
phet ; but Elijah found refuge in the wild recesses of the Jor- 
dan valley, near the bed of a mountain-torrent, where ravens 
brought him food. The water failing, bis next refuge was in 
Phoenicia, which lay to the north-west of Israel, along the Med- 
iterranean. Here the humble hospitality of a widow was re- 
quited by the miraculous support of the widow and her fam- 
ily. The manner of the miracle was such as to teach daily 
dependence upon the unfailing source of supply, — a lesson no 
less pertinent to us, who receive our daily bread from Him who 
giveth rain from heaven and fruitful seasons. 



[Nos. 55, 68, 1(12. 



Prayer. 

mighty wonders in times past, is the same which 
provides for us through the regular and silent course 
of nature, and by the ministry of human love. 

Bless our family and friends. May this be a 
household where the God of salvation dwells ! 

We pray for all the families of the earth, that they 
may be blessed in thee. We pray for the homeless 
and the desolate ; and beseech thee to be the God 
of the widow, and the Father of the fatherless. 

We ask all these manifold blessings in the name 
and for the sake of our adorable Lord and Saviour, 
who is now within the veil ; where with thee, eter- 
nal Father ! and thee, O ever-blessed Comforter ! 
three in one, he ever liveth and reigneth, world 
without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



375 



FRIDAY. 



I Kings xviii. — 25. And Elijah said unto the 
prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for your- 
selves, and dress it first ; for ye are many ; and 
call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 

26. And they took the bullock which was given 
them, and they dressed it, and called on the name 
of Baal from morning even until noon ; saying, 
Baal ! hear us. But there was no voice, nor any 
that answered. And they leaped upon the altar 
which was made. 

27. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah 
mocked them, and said, Cry aloud ; for he is a 
god : either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he 
is in a journey ; or peradventure he sleepeth, and 
must be awaked. 

28. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves 
after their manner with knives and lancets till 
the blood gushed out upon them. 

29. And it came to pass, when mid-day was 
past, and they prophesied until the time of the 
offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was 
neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that re- 
garded. 

30. And Elijah said unto all the people, Come 
near unto me ; and all the people came near unto 
him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that 
was broken down. 

31. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to 
the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, 
unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, 
Israel shall be thy name ; 

32. And with the stones he built an altar in the 



Under the name of Baal, the Phoenicians worshipped the 
productive power in nature. Baal was the chief male divin- 
ity of the Canaanites : his worship was very ancient, and 
was attended with cruel and impure rites. Ahab had married 
a Phoenician ; and he built in Samaria a temple to Baal, the 
god of her country. The whole nation was corrupted by his 
example ; and Jezebel sought to exterminate the worship of 
Jehovah by causing his prophets to be put to death. But the 
famine sent as a judgment upon the land was causing mutiny 
among the people ; and in this crisis Elijah once more ap- 
peared to Ahab, and challenged him to an open contest of 
divinities. At the base of Carmel — a ridge, which, running 
back from the Mediterranean for twelve miles, forms the 
southern boundary of the plain of Esdraelon — the people 
were gathered from all the country to witness this bold appeal 



name of the Lord; and he made a trench about 
the altar, as great as would contain two measures 
of seed. 

33. And he put the wood in order, and cut the 
bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and 
said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on 
the burnt-sacrifice and on the wood. 

34. And he said, Do it the second time ; and 
they did it the second time. And he said, Do it 
the third time ; and they did it the third time. 

35. And the water ran round about the altar ; 
and he filled the trench also with water. 

36. And it came to pass at the time of the offer- 
ing of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the pro- 
phet came near and said, Lord God of Abraham, 
Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that 
thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, 
and that I have done all these things at thy word. 

37. Hear me, Lord ! hear me, that this people 
may know that thou art the Lord God, and that 
thou hast turned their heart back again. 

38. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed 
the burnt-sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, 
and the dust, and licked up the water that ivas in 
the trench. 

39. And, when all the people saw it, they fell on 
their faces : and they said, The Lord, he is the 
God; the Lord, he is the God. 

40. And Elijah said unto them, Take the pro- 
phets of Baal : let not one of them escape. And 
they took them ; and Elijah brought them down 
to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. 



of the prophet. " How long halt ye," said he, " between two 
opinions 1 If the Lord be God, follow him ; but if Baal, 
then follow him." The test was, " The God that answereth 
by fire, let him be God." How sublimely did the prophet 
stand forth at the last in his solitary faith, knowing that 
his failure would be his death, yet deluging his altar with 
water in order that the answer of Jehovah, which he was 
sure would come, might be the more signal and impressive ! 
The Lord came down in fire as at Sinai ; and like the destruc- 
tion of the worshippers of the golden calf was the swift 
and terrible penalty upon the priests of Baal. Then fol- 
lowed the long-wished-for rain, — a cloud rising out of the 
sea, at the first no bigger than a man's hand, but presently 
spreading over the whole heaven, and pouring life and plenty 
into the withered earth. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 7, 22, 28. 



Lord God of Elijah and of the prophets, thou art 
not the God of the dead, but of the living ; for all 
live to thee. Baptize us with the Holy Ghost and 
with fire. Kindle in our hearts the flame of 
sacred love and of pure devotion, that we may love 
thee supremely, and worship thee in spirit and 
in truth. Too often have we forsaken thee, and 
served other gods. Lord ! make clean our hearts 
before thee, and lead us in the way everlasting. 

May this home be consecrated by thy presence, 



and our hearts be the temples of the Holy Spirit ! 
Purify thy Church, Lord ! May thy ministers 
be faithful to thy Word, and thy people be all 
righteous. Bless our land with plenty and with 
peace, with uprightness and pure religion. May 
Baal and the priests of Baal, and all the worship- 
pers of idols, cease from the earth ! and may the 
hour soon come when all shall say, "The Lord, he 
is God ! " We beseech thee to hear us, and pardon 
us, for the sake of Christ our Lord. Amen. 



376 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



I Kings xix. — 4. But he himself [Elijah] 
went a day's journey into the wilderness, and 
came and sat down under a juniper-tree : and he 
requested for himself that he might die ; and said, 
It is enough : now, Lord ! take away my life ; 
for I am not better than my fathers. 

5. And as he lay and slept under a juniper-tree, 
behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto 
him, Arise and eat. 

6. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake 
baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his 
head ; and he did eat and drink, and laid him 
down again. 

7. And the angel of the Lord came again the 
second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and 
eat, because the journey is too great for thee. 

8. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and 
went in the strength of that meat forty days and 
forty nights unto Horeb, the mount of God. 

9. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged 
there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came 
to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou 
here, Elijah ? 

10. And he said, I have been very jealous for 
the Lord God of hosts ; for the children of Israel 



have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine 
altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword : and 
I, even I only, am left ; and they seek my life, to 
take it away. 

11. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the 
mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord 
passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the 
mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before 
the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind : and 
after the wind an earthquake ; but the Lord was 
not in the earthquake : 

12. And after the earthquake a fire ; but the 
Lord was not in the fire : and after the fire a still 
small voice. 

13. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he 
wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and 
stood in the entering-in of the cave. And, behold, 
there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest 
thou here, Elijah ? 

14. And he said, I have been very jealous for 
the Lord God of hosts ; because the children of 
Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down 
thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the 
sword : and I, even I only, am left ; and they seek 
my life, to take it away. 



There are gorges near Sinai where at times the wind 
rushes with such fury, that neither man nor beast can stand 
before the blast : rocks are loosened, and hurled across the 
path, and the mountains bellow with tempest. There are signs 
that the earthquake has shaken those stupendous masses of 
rock from base to summit, opening new chasms, and dislodg- 
ing ancient cliffs. Sometimes the violence of the wind is ag- 
gravated by the roar of thunder, and lightnings seem to belch 
forth from the mountain-tops as from a glaring furnace. In 
all these grand and terrible phenomena of Nature, Jehovah had 
spoken from Sinai at the giving of the law ; and Elijah 
naturally looked for him in like manifestations. But the 
Lord came to him in the still small voice, rebuking the timid- 
ity that distrusted the Lord after the miracles of fire and 
tempest at Mount Carmel had ceased. Not miracles alone 
testify to the presence of God, but equally the silent opera- 



tion of moral causes, the gradual development of truth, light, 
and love. Our faith in Providence is distorted when we are 
always straining after marvels, watching for signs of tempest 
and earthquake, hearing no voices of the night, seeing no 
wonders in the dawn. An earthquake may startle California 
once a year : the flowers bloom all the year round. And, in 
the moral world, seedtime and harvest are constant, the storm 
and fire the exceptions. The most potent forces in physical 
nature, light and heat, are silent in their coming and their 
working ; and, in the moral world, that Coming which has 
wrought the greatest marvels was in the silence of the night 
and the lowliness of the manger ; that Character which has 
caused the greatest revolutions in human life and society was 
His who said, " I am meek and lowly of heart." Oh ! let us 
humbly, gently, learn of him. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 56, 57, 72. 



Lord Jesus, the author and the finisher of our 
faith ! we give thee thanks for all thy servants 
departed in the faith, who, having witnessed a good 
confession, have entered into rest. Grant us grace, 
we beseech thee, to be faithful unto death, that 
we also may receive a crown of life. May we 
have such a sense of thy presence and glory as 
shall lift us above the love or the fear of this 
world ! Assist us by thy grace to do this day such 
things as are pleasing to thee. Deliver us from 
anxiety about earthly things, from a discontented 
and unthankful spirit. 

Strengthen, Lord ! our faith in the promises of 
thy Word. Enable us to stay our minds on thee. 
Thou knowest our exceeding weakness, and the 
numberless dangers which every day surround us. 



Supply all our need. Be thou our defender through 
all the trials of life, our hope in death, and our 
portion forever. 

We thank thee for thy loving-kindness in the 
night-season. Be pleased, Lord ! to bless all who 
are near and dear to us. Lead all whom we love into 
the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Bless our 
neighbors. Look graciously upon this part of thy 
vineyard, and grant that true godliness may in- 
crease and abound among us. Help us to shine 
as lights in the world, and to commend the reli- 
gion which we profess by the meekness and gen- 
tleness of our conduct, and by the holiness of our 
lives. Make us happy in our own souls, and useful 
to all around us. These mercies we ask in the 
name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



377 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



2 Kings ii. — 8. And Elijah took his mantle, 
and wrapped it together, and smote the waters ; 
and they were divided hither and thither, so that 
they two went over on dry ground. 

9. And it came to pass, when they were gone 
over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I 
shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. 
And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion 
of thy spirit be upon me. 

10. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing : 
nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken 
from thee, it shall be so unto thee ; but if not, it 
shall not be so. 

11. And it came to pass, as they still went on, 
and talked, that behold there appeared a chariot 
of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both 
asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into 
heaven. 

12. And Elisha saw it ; and he cried, My father, 
my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen 
thereof! And he saw him no more ; and he took 
hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 

Luke ix. — 28. And it came to pass, about an 
eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and 
John and James, and went up into a mountain to 
pray. 



This scene stands forth like a picture, in the clear, bold out- 
line of the mountain, in the brightness of the cloud upon its 
summit, and in the expression and attitudes of the six figures 
there grouped together, in relations never repeated within the 
experience of man. So near and real does it seem, that we 
could almost touch it ; yet so sublime withal, that we gaze 
upon it with a distant awe. Not even Raphael, in the mas- 
ter-painting of the world, has worthily conceived it, — so im- 
measurable, so unattainable, is the height of glory to which the 
spiritual meaning of the transfiguration lifts it above the 
range of human art. Following directly upon the announce- 
ment, that the Son of man " must suffer and be killed," came 
this manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God. Midway be- 
tween the incarnation and the ascension, the transfiguration 
blended the humiliation and the glory, the humanity and the 
divinity, of our Lord. As of his person, so of his kingdom : 
this was the unifying symbol, which conjoined all agencies 
and dispensations in Jesus as the centre of glory and of power. 



29. And, as he prayed, the fashion of his coun- 
tenance was altered, and his raiment was white 
and glistering. 

30. And, behold, there talked with him two 
men, which were Moses and Elias; 

31. Who appeared in glory, and spake of his 
decease which he should accomplish at Jerusa- 
lem. 

32. But Peter and they that were with him 
were heavy with sleep ; and, when they were 
awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that 
stood with him. 

33. And it came to pass, as they departed from 
him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for 
us to be here : and let us make three tabernacles ; 
one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias ; 
not knowing what he said. 

34. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, 
and overshadowed them ; and they feared as they 
entered into the cloud. 

35. And there came a voice out of the cloud, 
saying, This is my beloved Son : hear him. 

36. And, when the voice was past, Jesus was 
found alone. And they kept it close, and told no 
man in those days any of those things which they 
had seen. 



The great lawgiver of the Old Testament and the grandest 
of the prophets came in their heavenly forms and splendor to 
do homage to the Son of man on earth, to testify of his cruci- 
fixion as the crowning of their work, and to greet the apostles 
of his future Church. The unity of doctrine, the unity of pur- 
pose, the unity of ministration, the unity of fellowship, the 
unity of redemption, were thus manifested in Him who " gath- 
ered in one all things which are in heaven and which are on 
earth." Supreme in authority as the Son of God, Jesus must 
be heard and obeyed by every soul that would be saved. Yet 
from the glory of that presence which would fill us with dread 
he comes to us with the tender voice of friendship, saying, 
"Arise; be not afraid." Equally at home with God in 
heaven and with man on earth, passing and repassing from 
one world to the other, he has effaced the shadows of the 
spiritual world, has peopled that world with loved and fa- 
miliar names, and transfigured death into his own glorified 
' presence. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 6, 17, 80. 



Thou art the King of glory, Christ ! Thou 
art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou 
hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst 
open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou 
sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the 
Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be 
our Judge. We therefore pray fliee help thy ser- 
vants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious 
blood : make them to be numbered with thy saints in 
glory everlasting. May thy Church this day honor 
and serve thee with gladness of heart ! Bless thy 
Word, in the family, in the Sunday school, in the 
house of God ; and pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh. 



Thou who hast brought us again from sleep 
to behold the light of a new day ! help us so to con- 
fide in thee, to keep thee ever so near and so pre- 
cious to our thought, that we shall live above the 
fear of death, and look forward with joy to our 
final rest with thee. As children of the light, 
may we shun all evil, and show forth thy praise ! 
Comfort all in sorrow. Be the God of the widow 
and the fatherless. May this household, and all 
dear to us, be joined to the family of the saints 
on earth, and finally to the company of the re- 
deemed in heaven, through Him who died for us ! 
to whom be glory forever. Amen. 



378 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Mark ix. — 14. And, when he came to his dis- 
ciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and 
the scribes questioning with them. 

15. And straightway all the people, when they 
beheld him, were greatly amazed, and, running to 
him, saluted him. 

16. And he asked the scribes, What question ye 
with them? 

17. And one of the multitude answered and 
said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, 
which hath a dumb spirit ; 

18. And, wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth 
him ; and he foameth and gnasheth with his teeth, 
and pineth away : and I spake to thy disciples 
that they should cast him out, and they could not. 

19. He answereth him, and saith, faithless 
generation ! how long shall I be with you ? how 
long shall I suffer you ? Bring him unto me. 

20. And they brought him unto him : and, when 
he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and 
he fell on the ground, and wallowed, foaming. 

21. And he asked his father, How long is it ago 
since this came unto him ? And he said, Of a 
child. 



22. And oft-times it hath cast him into the fire, 
and into the waters, to destroy him ; but, if thou 
canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and 
help us. 

23. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, 
all things are possible to him that believeth. 

24. And straightway the father of the child cried 
out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe : help 
thou mine unbelief. 

25. When Jesus saw that the people came run- 
ning together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying 
unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge 
thee, come out of him, and enter no more into 
him. 

26. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and 
came out of him: and he was as one dead; inso- 
much that many said, He is dead. 

27. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted 
him up ; and he arose. 

28. And, when he was come into the house, his 
disciples asked him privately, Why could not we 
cast him out ? 

29. And he said unto them, This kind can come 
forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting. 



From the divine exaltation of his transfiguration our Lord 
descended to mingle again with the sorrows of humanity, — 
more glorious even in his deeds of mercy than in the personal 
splendors of the mount. The more elevated our joy in com- 
munion with God, the more tender and practical should be 
our beneficence toward men. The genuineness of our spirit- 
ual frames is attested by the constancy and fervency of our 
spiritual works. " There is hardly such another contrast to 
be found in the gospel as this, between the open heaven and 
the sons of glory on the mount, and the valley of tears, with 
its terrible forms of misery and pain and unbelief." Raphael 



has grouped the two together with thrilling effect in his 
picture of the Transfiguration ; though this feature of it does 
violence to the history, which places the two incidents upon 
separate days. The disciples, though empowered to cast out 
devils, had failed in this instance because of the weakness of 
their faith. Jesus honored the tearful, trembling faith of the 
agonized father, in whom the very kindling of hope was a 
revelation of his almost utter despair. The hand of Jesus 
reaches forth to draw near to himself the soul that begins to 
turn to him with one inquiring look of faith. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 9, 56, 98. 



O Lord ! how great is thy mercy toward us, in l the hearts of our rulers unto thyself. Sanctify all 
the circumstances of our lives, in the comforts of] trade, industry, knowledge, all wealth and influ- 



our home, in the means of grace, and the hope of 
the gospel ! We bless thee for the sacred rest of the 
sabbath, for the peace and quietness in which we 
dwell, for the plenty that spreads our table and 
fills our cup. Oh ! feed us with the bread of life. 

Bring home to our hearts thy truth which has 
this day been preached. May it prove to be the 
power of God unto the salvation of our souls ! 
Grant that the words which we have heard with 
our outward ears may through thy grace be so 
grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring 
forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honor 
and praise of thy name. 

May it please thee to bring into the way of 
truth all such as have erred and are deceived ; to 
strengthen such as do stand; to comfort and help 
the weak-hearted; to raise up those who fall; and 
finally to beat down Satan under our feet! 

We beseech thee to bless our country. Turn 



ence, unto thy service. May we be truly a Chris- 
tian people ! Prosper all missionary labors, and 
open in all lands the way of thy salvation. Oh ! 
bring in the latter-day glory upon all nations, and 
fill the earth with thy praise. 

We commend unto thee, God ! all who are dear 
to us, and also those who are at this time afflicted 
or distressed in mind, body, or estate. May it 
please thee to relieve them according to their sev- 
eral necessities, giving them patience under their 
sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflic- 
tions ! 

And now, Father ! we desire to put ourselves 
under thy protection and care for the coming 
night. Defend us from all harm. Let thine an- 
gels encamp round about us, and keep us in 
all our ways ; and so do thou bring us at length 
unto our Father's house, through Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



379 



MONDAY. 



Habakkuk iii. — 17. Although the fig-tree shall 
not hlossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines ; 
the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall 
yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the 
fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls : 

18. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord ; I will joy in 
the God of my salvation. 

19. The Lord God is my strength ; and he will 
make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make 
me to walk upon mine high places. 

Philippians iii.— 1. Finally, my brethren, re- 
joice in the Lord. To write the same things to 
you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is 
safe. 

2. Beware of dogs, beware of evil-workers, be- 
ware of the concision. 

3. For we are the circumcision, which worship 
God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and 
have no confidence in the flesh. 

4. Though I might also have confidence in 
the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he 
hath wherefore he might trust in the flesh, I 
more : 

5. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of 
Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the 
Hebrews ; as touching the law, a Pharisee ; 

6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; 
touching the righteousness which is in the law, 
blameless. 

7. But what things were gain to me, those I 
counted loss for Christ. 



The gospel incites within us the noblest ambition, and 
kindles us to enthusiastic endeavor for the highest attain- 
ment. Its prize is not merely the enjoyment of future 
blessedness : it is the possession of a Christlike character. 
That knowledge of Christ which sums up in itself the excel- 
lency of wisdom and the glory of moral perfection ; that 
knowledge which appropriates the death of Christ for the 
soul's redemption, and the righteousness of Christ for its 
sanctification ; that knowledge which through the power of 
bis resurrection quickens the soul to life in Christ, which assim- 
ilates it to him in the spirit of self-sacrifice, which leads it not 



8. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss 
for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ 
Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss 
of all things, and do count them but dung, that I 
may win Christ, 

9. And be found in him, not having mine own 
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which 
is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness 
which is of God by faith ; 

10. That I may know him, and the power of 
his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffer- 
ings, being made conformable unto his death ; 

11. If by any means I might attain unto the 
resurrection of the dead. 

12. Not as though I had already attained, either 
were already perfect ; but I follow after, if that I 
may apprehend that for which also I am appre- 
hended of Christ Jesus. 

13. Brethren, I count not myself to have appre- 
hended ; but this one thing I do, forgetting those 
things which are behind, and reaching forth unto 
those things which are before, 

14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the 
high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

20. For our conversation is in heaven : from 
whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord 
Jesus Christ; 

21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may 
be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according 
to the working whereby he is able even to subdue 
all things unto himself. 



only to accept his death on its behalf, but to conform its life 
to the purpose of that death by the destruction of sin, — this 
knowledge of Christ is the prize set before us, — a knowledge 
which shall be consummated when the believer shall rise from 
the dead to see Christ as he is, and to be like him in his 
glory. In comparison with this, all other attainments are 
cheap, all other possessions worthless. Apart from this, all 
progress and development must end in failure. But he who 
keeps this mark in view shall grow to the stature of the 
divine, and win all things in winning Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 160, 168. 



Lord, who by the example of thy blessed 
apostle Paul hast taught us to forget those things 
which are behind, and to reach forth unto those 
things that are before ! give us grace this day that 
we may press toward the mark for the prize of our 
high calling of thee in Christ Jesus. May we lay 
aside every weight, and the sins which so easily 
beset us, and run with patience the race set be- 
fore us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher 
of our faith ! As he for the joy set before him 
endured the cross, despising the shame ; even so 
may we ever have before us our heavenly reward, 
and in like manner not fear what men can do unto 
us, if only we may acceptably serve thee ! 



In the constant sense of our membership of 
Christ ; in the unfailing thought that we are his 
soldiers and servants ; in the love of our Father's 
house, and the blessed hope of our eternal home, — 
Lord, preserve and keep us. 

For the mercies of the past night ; for the health 
and comfort with which we begin the day ; for the 
provision of our wants ; for means of improve- 
ment, of enjoyment, and of usefulness, — we hum- 
bly thank thee, the Giver of all good. Bless all 
dear to us ; multiply the preachers of thy gospel ; 
turn opposers and persecutors into witnesses for 
thee ; aud subdue all hearts unto thyself, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



380 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Psalm cxvi. — 1. I love the Lord, because he 
hath heard my voice and my supplications. 

2. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, 
therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 

3. The sorrows of death compassed'me, and the 
pains of hell gat hold upon me : I found trouble 
and sorrow. 

4. Then called I upon the name of the Lord: 
Lord ! I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 

5. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous ; yea, our 
God is merciful. 

6. The Lord preserveth the simple : I was 
brought low, and he helped me. 

7. Return unto thy rest, my soul ! for the 
Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 

8. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, 
mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 

9. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the 
living. 

12. What shall I render unto the Lord for all 
his benefits toward me ? 

13. I will take the cup of salvation, and call 
upon the name of the Lord. 

14. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in 
the presence of all his people. 

15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the 
death of his saints. 

16. Lord ! truly I am thy servant ; I am thy 
servant, and the son of thine handmaid : thou hast 
loosed my bonds. 



The leprosy, though not properly contagious, was shunned 
as a loathsome disease, and was generally looked upon as in- 
curable. As it was hereditary, those who were afflicted with 
it were obliged to keep themselves apart from the common 
society of men. At the present day, the lepers of Jerusalem 
occupy a distinct quarter of the city. In the rare event of 
the healing of a leper, he was required to report himself to 
the priest, in order, that, after a ceremonial purification, he 
might receive an official certificate of cure. Jesus had 
cleansed many lepers ; and these poor wretches had faith 



17. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanks- 
giving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. 

18. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in 
the presence of all his people, 

19. In the courts of the Lord's house, in the 
midst of thee, Jerusalem ! Praise ye the 
Lord. 

Luke xvii. — 11. And it came to pass, as he 
went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the 
midst of Samaria and Galilee. 

12. And, as he entered into a certain village, 
there met him ten men that were lepers, which 
stood afar off; 

13. And they lifted up their voices, and said, 
Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 

14. And, when he saw them, he said unto them, 
Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it 
came to pass, that, as they went, they were 
cleansed. 

15. And one of them, when he saw that he was 
healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glori- 
fied God, 

16. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving 
him thanks ; and he was a Samaritan. 

17. And Jesus, answering, said, Were there not 
ten cleansed ? but where are the nine ? 

18. There are not found that returned to give 
glory to God, save this stranger. 

19. And he said unto him, Arise ; go thy way : 
thy faith hath made thee whole. 



not only to call upon him for mercy, but to obey his com- 
mand, and go to the priest without as yet one sign of 
healing. " Faith they had, enough to go, and enough to be 
cleansed; but love (with the one exception), gratitude, they 
had not." 

Is not this too often a picture of our hearts ? Are not 
we forward to call upon the Lord in trouble ? slow to acknowl- 
edge him when the trouble is over 1 — more ready to pray 
when we want than to praise when we have received ? Great 
as is our lack of faith, our lack of love is even greater. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 2, 27. 



We come to thee this morning, heavenly Father, 
with hearts full of thankfulness for the mercies of 
the night. We have rested in safety and in peace 
under the shadow of thy wing. Thou hast kept us 
quiet from the fear of evil : nor sickness nor death, 
nor tempest nor fire, nor any calamity, hath over- 
taken us or our dwelling. How sure are the mercies 
of thy covenant, O Lord ! All thy promises in Christ 
Jesus are Yea and Amen. Fulfil 'unto us, we be- 
seech thee, these thy mercies and promises, and 
cause that this day we may rejoice in thy salvation. 
May we be ever grateful toward thee, and be just 
and true, loving and kind, gentle, forbearing, and 
forgiving, toward our fellow-men ! May every day 
witness some new victory over evil desires and 
passions within us, and over the evil that is in the 



world ! May we grow up into Him who is our Life 
and Head, even Christ! [Oh, may these children 
grow in grace as they grow in years and in knowl- 
edge! May they shun evil companions and evil 
ways, and walk in the way of thy commandments!] 
Keep all dear to us even as the apple of thine eye. 
Bless our neighbors, and send thy Spft-it upon 
this whole community. Bless our rulers, and the 
schools and churches in our land. May all who 
rule, and all who teach, be led and taught by 
thee! Have pity upon the poor and the sorrow- 
ing; upon homes made desolate by famine, pes- 
tilence, fire, or war. Mercifully forgive our sins, 
and bring Us unto the perfection of knowledge, of 
holiness, and of blessedness, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



381 



WEDNESDAY. 



I Corinthians X. — 16. The cup of blessing 
which we bless, is it not the communion of the 
blood of Christ ? The bread which we break, is 
it not the communion of the body of Christ ? 

17. For we, being many, are one bread and 
one body; for we are all partakers of that one 
bread. 

18. Behold Israel after the flesh : are not they 
which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar ? 

19. What say I, then ? that the idol is any 
thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols 
is any thing ? 

20. But I say that the things which the Gen- 
tiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to 
God ; and I would not that ye should have fellow- 
ship with devils. 

21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and 
the cup of devils ; ye cannot be partakers of the 
Lord's table and of the table of devils. 

22. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy ? are 
we stronger than he ? 

23. All things are lawful for me, but all things 
are not expedient ; all things are lawful for me, 
but all things edify not. 

24. Let no man seek his own, but every man 
another's wealth. 



25. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that 
eat, asking no question for conscience' sake ; 

26. For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness 
thereof. 

27. If any of them that believe not bid you to a 
feast, and ye be disposed to go, whatsoever is set 
before you eat, asking no question for conscience' 
sake. 

28. But if any man say unto you, This is 
offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his 
sake that showed it, and for conscience' sake ; 
for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness 
thereof : 

29. Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the 
other ; for why is my liberty judged of another 
ma?i , s conscience? 

30. For if I by grace be a partaker, why 
am I evil spoken of for that for which I give 
thanks ? 

31. Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or what- 
soever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 

32. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor 
to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God ; 

33. Even as I please all men in all things, not 
seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, 
that they may be saved. 



The principles which the apostle laid down npon the ques- 
tion of eating meat offered to idols will solve many difficulties 
which Christians have to encounter in their intercourse with the 
world. " This was one of those cases where the true decision 
of duty lay in great obscurity. If they ate the meat, they 
seemed to sanctify idolatry ; if they abstained, they seemed to 
say that an idol was a real being, and so they gave a sanction 
to superstition." To meet this difficulty, the apostle gave two 
principles. First, a feast in honor of an idol was an act of wor- 
ship ; and therefore a Christian could not attend it without 
giving his fellowship to devils, and degrading the Lord's table 



to the same level. But, on the other hand, if meat offered in 
sacrifice was afterwards sold in the market, a Christian could 
buy and eat it without compromising himself: or, if a pagan 
friend should ask him to dinner, he might eat such meat with- 
out comment ; but should the friend represent it as sacred, 
then the Christian should refrain, in order not to minister to 
the superstition of his friend. On the one hand, " we are not 
to torment ourselves with unnecessary scruples ; but, on the 
other, we should study appearances so far as these are likely to 
be injurious to others." The glory of God and the good of 
man are the motives that should regulate our daily conduct. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 145, 156, 157. 



Our Father in heaven, thou hast kept us in the 
watches of the night from every trouble, sorrow, 
and alarm; thou hast given us refreshing sleep. 
And now we bless thee for the day, for life and 
health, for food and raiment, for home and friends, 
for means of education and of enjoyment, for 
means of occupation and of support, for means 
of improvement in the knowledge of thyself from 
thy works and thy Word, and for opportunities of 
doing good to others. Oh ! grant us grace that 
we may use to thy glory the lives which thou didst 
give, and which thy mercy doth continually spare. 

We acknowledge, Lord ! our unworthiness 
and our sinfulness, and beseech thee to pardon our 
transgressions and heal our infirmities. Help us 
this day to live aright. In the business of life 
may we be diligent, faithful, true ! In our in- 
tercourse with others, may we manifest the gentle- 
ness, the sincerity, the charity, of the gospel of 



Christ ! May we be patient under trials, meek 
under injuries, firm against temptation, bold for 
the truth, zealous for thy cause ! May we be kind 
to the poor, helpful to the suffering, gentle toward 
all men ! [Give unto these children, Lord ! 
grace to serve thee in the morning of life, and in 
their thoughts and words, their studies and their 
play, always to please their Father in heaven.] 
Remember with thy mercy all our friends : grant 
unto them that which is needful for the present 
life, and a good hope, through grace, of the life 
everlasting. Keep all dear to us even as the apple 
of thine eye. Bless the community in which we 
dwell. Build up, Lord ! thy Church ; prosper 
thy kingdom in our land, and throughout the 
world. Ever guide, keep, and bless us. Bring us 
to the close of the day in peace, and to the close 
of life in a hope full of immortality, for Christ's 
sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Galatians V. — 1. Stand fast, therefore, in the 
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and 
he not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

2. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye be 
circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 

3. For I testify again to every man that is cir- 
cumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 

4. Christ is become of no effect unto you, who- 
soever of you are justified by the law : ye are fallen 
from grace. 

5. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope 
of righteousness by faith. 

6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision 
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but faith 
which worketh by love. 

13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto lib- 
erty : only use not liberty for an occasion to the 
flesh, but by love serve one another. 

14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even 
in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 

15. But, if ye bite and devour one another, take 
heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 

16. This I say, then, Walk in the Spirit, and 
ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 

17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and 



It is the ceremonial law of which the apostle here speaks ; 
since the moral law is equally and forever binding upon all, 
whether Jew or Christian, circumcised or uncircumcised. 
Men do not assume the obligations of the moral law : these 
exist in their own nature. The ceremonial law was never 
binding upon any but Jews, and such as voluntarily assumed 
it by embracing Judaism. Now, Jewish Christians insisted 
that Gentile Christians should be circumcised ; but by this 
act they would have abandoned the doctrine of salvation by 
grace, and have looked to their works to justify them before 
God. " Circumcision is the seal of the law. He who willingly 
and deliberately undergoes circumcision enters upon a com- 
pact to fulfil the law. To fulfil it, therefore, he is bound, 



the Spirit against the flesh ; and these are contra- 
ry the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the 
things that ye would. 

18. But, if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not 
under the law. 

19. Now, the works of the flesh are manifest, 
which are these, Adultery, fornication, unclean- 
ness, lasciviousness, 

20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emula- 
tions, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 

21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, 
and such like ; of the which I tell you before, as I 
have also told you in time past, that they which 
do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of 
God. 

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, 
peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

23. Meekness, temperance : against such there 
is no law. 

24. And they that are Christ's have crucified 
the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

25. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in 
the Spirit. 

26. Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, pro- 
voking one another, envying one another. 



and he cannot plead the grace of Christ ; for he has entered 
on another mode of justification." 

But the faith which gives our only hope of justification is 
not a quiescent frame of belief and expectation : it is an ac- 
tive principle, a working power ; only it works, not by the 
constraining force of law, but by the energizing force of love. 
This is the fulfilling of the law : love sums it up in one sen- 
tence, simple, comprehensive, complete. The fruit of this 
spiritual obedience is seen in all that makes society endurable, 
makes home blessed, makes life beautiful, — in all that gives 
hope to the world through the coming-in of the kingdom of 
God. 



Appropriate Hymns.J 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 4, 50, 53. 



Graciously bestow upon us, heavenly Father ! 
thy Holy Spirit, to quicken within us the Word 
that we have now read. Take away our ignorance, 
our hardness and coldness of heart, and our love 
of this present world. Enlighten our understand- 
ings ; give unto us the spirit of wisdom and revela- 
tion in the knowledge of Christ. May we know 
thee as our God and Saviour, and glorify thee by the 
holy obedience of our lives ! Grant that, being set 
free from sin, and made servants to God, we may have 
our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 

Lord! we beseech thee, quicken thy Church 
to greater fruitfulness in thy service ; and suffer 
not thy word to return to thee void, but bring 
multitudes to the acknowledging of the truth as it 
is in Jesus. May thy people be wise to discern 
the true spirit of the gospel, and to show forth its 
virtues and graces in their daily lives ! 



We thank thee for all thy goodness and thy 
care. Thou spreadest our table ; thou givest us 
life and breath and all things. Lord! our souls, 
and all that is within us, would bless and praise 
thy holy name. As a family, we bless thee for 
our home, and for all the comforts and joys of our 
daily life. [May the children whom thou hast so 
favored in this house remember thee, their heaven- 
ly Father, and love and serve thee !] Be with us 
this day to guide and keep us. 

O most merciful Saviour, our compassionate 
High Priest ! pity all our infirmities ; heal our souls' 
sicknesses ; give us the joy of thy salvation, and a 
hope full of immortality. Strengthen us to live 
and labor for thee ; and at length take us to rest 
with thee above, for thine own name and mercy's 
sake. And unto thee, with the Father and the 
Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



383 



FRIDAY. 



Job xxxi. — 13. If I did despise the cause of 
my man-servant or of my maid-servant when they 
contended with me, 

14. What, then, shall I do when God riseth up ? 
and, when he visiteth, what shall I answer him ? 

16. If I have withheld the poor from their de- 
sire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail ; 

17. Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and 
the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; 

19. If I have seen any perish for want of cloth- 
ing, or any poor without covering ; 

20. If his loins have not blessed me, and if he 
were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep ; 

21. If I have lifted up my hand against the 
fatherless when I saw my help in the gate : 

22. Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder- 
blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. 

24. If I have made gold my hope, or have said 
to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence ; 

25. If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, 
and because mine hand had gotten much ; 

26. If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the 
moon walking in brightness ; 

27. And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or 
my mouth hath kissed my hand : 

28. This also were an iniquity to be punished by 
the judge ; for I should have denied the God that 
is above. 



The sycamore of Palestine sends out large leafy branches 
at no great height from the ground, and hence is planted for 
its shade along the highways, and at the points where several 
roads meet. Such a tree, easy to climb, and overhanging the 
way, just suited the purpose of Zaccheus. This man, though 
a Jew, held the unpopular office of a tax-gatherer under the 
Roman government : and, as a farmer of the revenues, he 
had evidently used his place to his own profit ; for the if in 
verse 8 does not imply uncertainty, but is equivalent to what- 
ever, — " whatever I have exacted from any man by false 
representation." Something more than curiosity impelled 
this rich official to resort to such a conspicuous mode of get- 



Luke XIX. — 1. And Jesus entered and passed 
through Jericho. 

2. And, behold, there was a man named Zac- 
cheus, which was the chief among the publicans ; 
and he was rich. 

3. And he sought to see Jesus who he was ; and 
could not for the press, because he was little of 
stature. 

4. And he ran before, and climbed up into a syca- 
more-tree to see him ; for he was to pass that way. 

5. And, when Jesus came to the place, he looked 
up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, 
make haste, and come down ; for to-day I must 
abide at thy house. 

6. And he made haste, and came down, and re- 
ceived him joyfully. 

7. And, when they saw it, they all murmured, 
saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man 
that is a sinner. 

8. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, 
Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the 
poor; and, if I have taken any thing from any 
man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 

9. And Jesus said unto him, This clay is salva- 
tion come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a 
son of Abraham. 

10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to 
save that which was lost. 



ting a sight of Jesus. The joyful readiness with which he 
responded to the proposal of Jesus to be his guest ; the for- 
wardness with which he accused himself, confessed his wrongs, 
and promised a most liberal restitution, — showed that the 
religious excitement which Jesus had awakened had stirred 
his conscience, and kindled in him a susceptibility to faith. 
Jesus knew his heart, and reached him, not by accusation and 
reproof, but by an act of gracious confidence. Zaccheus was 
in bad odor with his townsmen : the Pharisees had branded 
him as a sinner; but just such the Lord Jesus came to save. 
Rich and poor alike are lost without him, and can be saved 
only by him. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 103, 113, 124. 



Search us, God ! and know our hearts ; try us, 
and know our thoughts ; and see if there be any 
wicked way in us ; and lead us in the way ever- 
lasting. Have mercy upon us, Lord ! according 
to thy loving-kindness ; according to the multi- 
tude of thy tender mercies, blot out our transgres- 
sions. 

We thank thee that thou hast brought us in 
safety to the beginning of this day ; defend us in 
the same by thy mighty power : and grant that 
this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any 
kind of danger, but that all our doings, being 
ordered by thy governance, may be righteous in 
thy sight. Fit us day by day for the duties that 
lie before lis. We would put ourselves and all that 
concerns us into thy hands, and ask thee to be our 



Guide and Counsellor. In all our ways we desire 
to acknowledge thee ; and do thou direct our path. 
Keep us, we beseech thee, from all evil, that we, 
being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully 
accomplish those things that thou wouldst have us 
to do. Fit us, Lord ! for all the events of this 
short and uncertain life. 

[Give unto the children of this family grace to 
serve thee in the morning of life. Oh ! keep them 
from temptation and evil, and from every false and 
hurtful way.] P>e very gracious to our friends : 
grant to them health and prosperity in this life, 
and make them meet for the life everlasting. And, 
Lord ! bless and save the whole world. 

We ask these blessings in the name of Jesus 
Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



384 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Luke xix. — 11. And, as they heard these things, 
he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh 
to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the 
kingdom of God should immediately appear. 

12. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went 
into a far country to receive for himself a king- 
dom, and to return. 

13. And he called his ten servants, and deliv- 
ered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy 
till I come. 

14. But his citizens hated him, and sent a mes- 
sage after him, saying, We will not have this man 
to reign over us. 

15. And it came to pass, that when he was re- 
turned, having received the kingdom, then he 
commanded these servants to be called unto him 
to whom he had given the money, that he might 
know how much every man had gained by trading. 

16. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy 
pound hath gained ten pounds. 

17. And he said unto him, Well, thou good 
servant : because thou hast been faithful in a very 
little, have thou authority over ten cities. 

18. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy 
pound hath gained five pounds. 

19. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also 
over five cities. 



20. And another came, saying, Lord, behold 
here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a 
napkin : 

21. For I feared thee, because thou art an 
austere man ; thou takest up that thou lay- 
edst not down, and reapest that thou didst not 
sow. 

22. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own 
mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. 
Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking 
up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did 
not sow: 

23. Wherefore, then, gavest not thou my money 
into the bank, that at my coming I might have re- 
quired mine own with usury ? 

24. And he said unto them that stood by, Take 
from him the pound, and give it to him that hath 
ten pounds. 

25. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten 
pounds.) 

26. For I say unto you, That unto every one 
which hath shall be given ; and from him that 
hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away 
from him. 

27. But those mine enemies, which would not 
that I should reign over them, bring hither, and 
slay the, i before me. 



In the time of our Lord, the land of Palestine was parcelled 
out among the family of Herod ; but the kings of this line 
went to Rome to be formally invested with rc^al authority 
by the emperor. Archelaus was so unpopular, that, when he 
went to receive the kingdom from Augustus, the Jews sent 
after him a deputation bearing a protest : " We will not have 
this man to reign over us." Our Lord was now about to depart 
to his Father, to be fully invested with that kingly authority 
which had been veiled during his earthly humiliation. In 
his absence, his disciples are charged with responsibilities 
according to their several gifts and opportunities ; and, at his 



coming, every one shall be judged by the measure of his 
fidelity. It is not the largeness of the return, but the fidel- 
ity of the service, that receives the reward. But while 
the reward shall be thus rich, bountiful, and free, indif- 
ference, neglect, perversion, opposition, abuse of privilege, 
shall be punished by " destruction from the presence of the 
Lord and from the glory of his power, when he shall come to 
be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that 
believe." Let us ever keep in mind that He who now sitteth 
at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father, will 
come again, to be our Judge. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Our Father which art in heaven, we draw nigh 
to thee through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Thou 
reignest above in light unapproachable. Heaven 
is thy throne, and earth is thy footstool : what 
are we that thou shouldst regard us, and adopt us 
as thy reconciled children ? Teach thou us to for- 
get ourselves, and seek thy glory. Let thy praise 
be shown forth in our time ; let thy great name 
be known and feared ; let the kingdoms of the 
world become thine, till thy holy law is kept by 
men as angels keep it above. And as for us, 
Father ! preserve us from day to day, and feed us 
with food convenient for us. And, inasmuch as our 
love cannot reach the measure of thine, teach us 
to forgive others as thou hast forgiven us. Suffer 
us not to be tempted above that we are able : but, 
however thou triest us, keep us from harm within 
and without ; from the evil in the world around 



Prayer. [Nos. 121, 128, us. 

us ; from the evil that is in ourselves ; from the 



Evil One, who lies in wait for our souls. 

Thou, our Father, canst hear and answer our 
prayers ; for thou reignest over all from the be- 
ginning, and with thee nothing is impossible : for 
thy pleasure and thy praise all things are, and were 
created. Thou hast created us, preserved us, re- 
deemed us ; our lives have been full of thy mercies ; 
thou hast blessed us in our home, in our friends, 
in our country, in our times, in the means of 
knowledge and of grace. Help us to use to thy 
glory, and the good of others, that which we have 
so freely received. We come unto thee through 
Him who taught us to pray, — even Jesus Christ 
our Lord ; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, 
be all praise and dominion ; for thine is the 
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



385 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Luke xix. — 28. And, when he had thus spoken, 
he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. 

29. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh 
to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called 
the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 

30. Saying, Go ye into the village over against 
you; in the which at your entering ye shall find 
a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat : loose him, 
and bring him hither. 

31. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose 
him? thus shall ye say unto him: Because the 
Lord hath need of him. 

32. And they that were sent went their way, 
and found even as he had said unto them. 

33. And, as they were loosing the colt, the own- 
ers thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt ? 

34. And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 

35. And they brought him to Jesus ; and they 
cast their garments upon the colt, and they set 
Jesus thereon. 

36. And, as he went, they spread their clothes 
in the way. 

37. And when he was come nigh, even now at 
the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole 
multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and 



The villages of Bethphage and Bethany lay upon the 
eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, some distance below 
the summit, upon a rocky plateau facing the descent to the 
Valley of the Jordan. In rounding the southern shoulder of 
the mountain, on the road to the capital, the traveller comes 
suddenly upon the most imposing view of Jerusalem to be 
obtained from any point, — the city in its entire circuit spread 
out before him, every object distinct in its details, and the 
whole grouped together with an impressive magnificence. 
Pausing here as he looked upon the shining walls and glitter- 
ing pinnacles of the temple, and the massive towers of the 
city gates, relieved against a background of groves, gardens, 
and villas, our Lord poured forth his touching lament over 
its coming doom. The series of miracles which culminated 



praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty 
works that they had seen ; 

38. Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in 
the name of the Lord : Peace in heaven, and glory 
in the highest. 

39. And some of the Pharisees from among 
the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy 
disciples. 

40. And he answered and said unto them, I tell 
you, that, if these should hold their peace, the 
stones would immediately cry out. 

41. And, when he was come near, he beheld the 
city, and wept over it, 

42. Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at 
least in this thy day, the things which belong 
unto thy peace ! but now they are hid from thine 
eyes. 

43. For the days shall come upon thee that 
thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and 
compass thee round, and keep thee in on every 
side, 

44. And shall lay thee even with the ground, 
and thy children within thee ; and they shall not 
leave in thee one stone upon another ; because 
thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 



in the raising of Lazarus had so kindled the enthusiasm of 
the disciples, that they were ready to proclaim him King ; and 
the vast multitudes gathered for the feast were catching the 
excitement of the hour. But, at this supreme moment of 
earthly popularity, Jesus abandoned himself to compassion 
for his enemies. It was then a time of peace, and apparent 
security ; but, forty years later, every word of his prophecy 
was fulfilled. Titus " cast a trench," or more properly a 
mound, against the city ; then built a wall to hem it in on 
every side, and reduce it by famine ; and, when at last he 
gained possession, the temple, already ruined by fire, and all 
the walls and towers of the city, were razed even with the 
ground. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 177, 182, 187. 



Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the 
world, have mercy upon us. Saviour ! full of 
pity and of grace, look down upon us with thy 
benediction of peace. Conscious of our own lost 
and helpless state, we cast ourselves on thy bound- 
less compassion and love. We bow at the foot- 
stool of divine mercy, and penitently confess our 
manifold transgressions. Enter not into judgment 
with thy servants. Take the burden of sin from 
our hearts, and the guilt of sin from our consciences, 
and the darkness of sin from our minds; that, 
beholding thy glory, we may say, " Blessed be the 
King that cometh in the name of the Lord ! " 

God of the sabbath and of the sanctuary, go with 
us to thy house of prayer, and there manifest 
thyself unto us in the fulness of thy grace. 
Clothe thy ministers with salvation, and let thy 



chosen people be glad. Hear the hosannas of 
children, and bless thy Word to the young. Bless 
thy whole Church, and fill the earth with thy 
glory. Gather in thine ancient Israel to the Jeru- 
salem that is above. 

Graciously be with those whose sabbath shall be 
spent in the chamber of solitude and sickness. Let 
the consolations of thy Spirit abound in the chil- 
dren of sorrow and suffering and bereavement; and 
grant to those appointed unto death a hope full of 
glory. Thankful for the mercies of the night, we 
cheerfully commit ourselves to thee. 

O Thou that dwellest between the cherubim ! 
shine forth. Let thy glory appear unto thy ser- 
vants, and grant us the foretaste of eternal joy. 
And this we beg through Jesus Christ, our only 
Saviour and Mediator. Amen. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



• Hosea vi. — 1. Come, and let us return unto 
the Lord : for he hath torn, and he will heal us ; 
he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 

2. After two days will he revive us : in the third 
day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 

3. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know 
the Lord : his going-forth is prepared as the morn- 
ing ; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the 
latter and former rain unto the earth. 

4. Ephraim ! what shall I do unto thee? 
Judah ! what shall I do unto thee ? for your good- 
ness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it 
goeth away. 

5. Therefore have I hewed them by the proph- 
ets ; I have slain them by the words of my 
mouth ; and thy judgments are as the light that 
goeth forth. 

6. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice ; and 
the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings. 

7. But they, like men, have transgressed the 
covenant : there have they dealt treacherously 
against me. 

Revelation iii. — 14. And unto the angel of 
the church of the Laodiceans write : These things 
saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, 
the beginning of the creation of God : 



•"Laodicea was a city of extensive money transactions. 
To thb merchants and factors of this wealthy mercantile city, 
Christ atidresses himself in their own dialect. He has gold 
so fine that none will reject it. The wools of Laodicea, of a 
raven blacknes.% were famous throughout the world ; but he 
has raiment of purest white for those who will put it on. 
There were ointments for which many of the Asiatic cities 
were famous ; but he has eye-salve more precious than them 
all." Gold, raiment, ointment, are symbols of faith, virtue, 
knowledge, in the spiritual life. A faith unclouded with 
doubt, undimmed by fear, that will bear the test of time and 
trial, and be unaffected by the fluctuations of outward things, 
— this is the true standard gold. A fair and beauteous char- 
acter is the raiment of the gospel. " He hath clothed me 
with the garments of salvation, as a bride adorneth herself 



15. I know thy works, that thou art neither 
cold nor hot : I would thou wert cold or hot. 

16. So then, because thou art lukewarm, and 
neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my 
mouth ; 

17. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and in- 
creased with goods, and have need of nothing; 
and knowest not that thou art wretched, and mis- 
erable, and poor, and blind, and naked. 

18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in 
the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white 
raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that 
the shame of thy nakedness do not appear ; and 
anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest 
see. 

19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten : 
be zealous, therefore, and repent. 

20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. If 
any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will 
come in to him, and will sup with him, and he 
with me. 

21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit 
with me in my throne, even as I also overcame 
and am set down with my Father in his throne. 

22. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the 
Spirit saith unto the churches. 



with her jewels." There is a " garment of praise," a " cloth- 
ing of humility," a " mantle of charity ; " but fairest and 
richest in this heavenly wardrobe is the " robe of righteous- 
ness," — fine linen, white and clean. The illuminating grace 
of the Holy Spirit, enlightening the understanding to discern 
the truth and to see God, is the anointing of the eyes. 
All these precious gifts are to be found in Christ without 
money and without price : yea, he even urges them upon us, 
coming to the door of our hearts laden with every blessing, 
and knocking, that he may acquaint us with his presence ; and 
calling, that he may obtain a welcome for his mercy. But if, 
in our pride and self-sufficiency, we neglect his grace, though 
we fancy ourselves secure and satisfied, we shall awake at last 
to realize that we are bankrupt in character, in hope, and in 
happiness, and shall go into eternity naked and desolate. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 117, 147, 156. 



God, whose mercy is from everlasting to ever- 
lasting ! we bless thee for thy loving-kindness to 
us in the abounding gifts of thy providence and 
grace ; but, above all, for the gift of thy Son, our 
Mediator, who standeth between us and our just 
condemnation as the bow that is in the cloud in 
the day of rain. May he be our righteousness 
and our peace ! Deliver us from self-righteous- 
ness, from formalism, from worldliness, from having 
a name to live when we are dead. 

We thank thee for this holy day ; for its hours 
of rest, and for its means of grace. Quicken thy 
Church, Lord ! to a higher life in thyself. Has- 
ten that blessed time when thy kingdom shall have 
come, and all shall know thee, from the least even 
to the greatest ; when the knowledge of thy glory 



shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. 
And, to that end, prosper the missionary work of 
thy Church. Pour out more and more upon thy 
people the spirit of grace and supplication, the 
spirit of zeal and devotion, the spirit of holy fear 
and Christian love. 

To thee, heavenly Father, we commend ourselves 
this night. thou Good Shepherd ! watch over 
us, the sheep of thy pasture. Holy Ghost, the 
Comforter ! hallow our thoughts, and comfort our 
hearts. Thou in whom all families are blessed, bless 
thou our kindred and friends. May all who are 
united to us be with us united to thee ; be with us 
presented by thee in the presence of thy Father 
with exceeding joy ! And to the Father, the Son, 
and the Holy Ghost, be glory everlasting. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



387 



MONDAY. 



2 Kings V. — 1. Now Naaman, captain of the 
host of the king of Syria, was a great man with 
his master, and honorable, because by him the 
Lord had given deliverance unto Syria : he was 
also a mighty man in valor ; but he was a leper. 

2. And the Syrians had gone out by companies, 
and had brought away captive out of the land of Is- 
rael a little maid ; and she waited on Naaman's wife. 

3. And she said unto her mistress, Would God 
my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria ! 
for he would recover him of his leprosy. 

4. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, 
Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of 
Israel. 

5. And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I 
will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And 
he departed, and took with him ten talents of sil- 
ver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten 
changes of raiment. 

6. And he brought the letter to the king of Is- 
rael, saying, Now, when this letter is come unto 
thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my 
servant to thee, that tbou mayest recover him of 
his leprosy. 

7. And it came to pass, when the king of Israel 
had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and 
said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that 
this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his 
leprosy ? Wherefore consider, I pray you, and see 
how he seeketh a quarrel against me. 



No one who has looked upon the rivers of Damascus can 
wonder that Naaman despised the turbid Jordan in compari- 
son with their sparkling clearness. It is these that have re- 
deemed from the desert that " vast island of verdure, — walnuts 
and apricots waving above, corn and grass below," — which 
makes the first view of Damascus the most fairy scene in all 
the East. The kingdom of Syria, lying to the north and east 
of Israel, was a troublesome neighbor. There were frequent 
forrays over the border, in which captives were seized for slave- 
ry ; and so it came to pass that a little maid of Israel, who 
knew the fame of her country's prophet, became the messenger 
of mercy to the great Syrian captain. She pitied those who 
had done her wrong, and wished to return good for evil. The 
pride of Naaman's heart needed to be cured quite as much as 
the leprosy of his body ; and it was to this that the prophet 



8. And it was so, when Elisha the man of God 
had heard that the king of Israel had rent his 
clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Where- 
fore hast thou rent thy clothes ? let him come now 
to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet 
in Israel. 

9. So Naaman came with his horses and with his 
chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 

10. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, say- 
ing, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy 
flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be 
clean. 

11. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, 
and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come 
out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the 
Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, 
and recover the leper. 

12. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Da- 
mascus, better than all the waters of Israel ? may 
I not wash in them, and be clean ? So he turned, 
and went away in a rage. 

13. And his servants came near, and spake unto 
him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid 
thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have 
done it? how much rather, then, when he saith to 
thee, Wash, and be clean ? 

14. Then went he down, and dipped himself 
seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of 
the man of God ; and his flesh came again like 
unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 



directed his prescription. The healing was not to be had for 
money, rank, power ; it must come by faith : and for this 
there must first be a humble mind. At every step of the pro- 
cess, the means were adapted to humble the haughty dicta- 
torial captain of the host. A captive maid-servant told him 
of Elisha. When he stood with his chariot at the prophet's 
door, Elisha did not even come out to see him, but sent a ser- 
vant ; and his own servants brought him to reason. Seven 
times, too, he must wash in Jordan ; but, when he was will- 
ing to do that, he was made clean. How many fail of the 
healing, cleansing virtue of the gospel, solely through their 
own pride ! They would gladly do some great thing in the 
way of gift or sacrifice to purchase salvation ; but this can 
be had only by those who come to Christ in the spirit of a 
little child. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 171, 195. 



Our voice shalt thou hear in the morning, 
Lord ! in the morning will we direct our prayer 
unto thee, and will look up. Oh ! lead us this day 
in thy righteousness ; make thy way straight before 
our face. Keep us from self-dependence, from 
pride, self-will, and presumption. Plant in our 
hearts thy holy fear ; and may we show such meek- 
ness and gentleness and humility as become the 
true followers of Christ ! 

While diligent in business, may we have grace 
to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord ! May we 



not be conformed to this world, but transformed by 
the renewing of our minds, that we may prove 
what is that good and acceptable and perfect will 
of God ! In the spirit of little children may we 
love and serve Him who came into the world to 
save sinners ! And, oh ! may the world be saved ; 
may all men come to Christ ; may peace reign on 
earth, and goodwill bind all hearts together for 
the glory of God ! And to the Father, Son, and 
Holy Spirit, be honor and praise throughout all 
ages. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Romans xiv. — 1. Him that is weak in the 
faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 

2. For one believeth that he may eat all things; 
another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 

3. Let not him that eateth despise him that 
eateth not; and let not him which eateth not 
judge him that eateth ; for God hath received 
him. 

4. Who art thou that judgest another man's ser- 
vant? To his own master he standeth or falleth: 
yea, he shall be holden up ; for God is able to make 
him stand. 

5. One man esteemeth one day above another ; 
another esteemeth every day alike. Let every 
man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 

6. He that regardeth the day regardeth it unto 
the Lord ; and he that regardeth not the day, to 
the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, 
eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks ; and 
he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and 
giveth God thanks. 

7. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man 
dieth to' himself. 

8. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord ; 
and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: wheth- 
er we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 



9. For to this end Christ both died and rose 
and revived, that he might be Lord both of the 
dead and living. 

10. But why dost thou judge thy brother ? or 
why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we 
shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. 

11. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, 
every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue 
shall confess to God. 

12. So, then, every one of us shall give account 
of himself to God. 

13. Let us not, therefore, judge one another any 
more ; but judge this rather, that no man put a 
stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his 
brother's way. 

14. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord 
Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself; but 
to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to 
him it is unclean. 

15. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, 
now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not 
him with thy meat for whom Christ died. 

16. Let not, then, your good be evil spoken of; 

17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and 
drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the 
Holy Ghost. 



Had the principles of this lesson been always observed, the 
spirit of sect could never have arisen in the Church. The 
first broad principle here laid down is, that, in all details of the 
Christian faith and life, every man must be allowed to act ac- 
cording to what he himself regards as the will of God. The 
second principle is, that, since Christ is the Judge to whom 
every one must give account of himself, there should be no 
tribunal in the Church for enforcing uniformity in matters of 
belief, worship, and life. The third principle is, that inasmuch 
as to each individual his own conscience must be the rule, and 
to violate that would bring him under condemnation, his con- 
scientious scruples should be respected even by those who dif- 
fer from him in views of duty or of expediency. The fourth 
principle is, that Christian fellowship is to be accorded upon 
the basis of devotion to Christ, and not of conformity in de- 



tails of Christian conduct. And a fifth principle is, that even 
those whose faith is weak through ignorance or prejudice 
should be received to fellowship, not with a view to proselyting 
them to a certain set of opinions, or course of action, but in 
order to strengthen their faith and zeal in the service of 
Christ. 

In the primitive churches, disputes arose touching the law- 
fulness of eating meats offered to idols : the Jew thought this 
an abomination ; the weaker Gentile might be betrayed by it 
into idolatry ; the more enlightened and liberal could do this 
with impunity. Paul advises mutual forbearance in such 
matters. The same principle applied to the observance of the 
Jewish sacred days. Liberty of conscience, mutual respect 
and good-will, maintained in the love of Christ, will give a 
peaceable solution of all such questions. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 53, 63. 



God ! we pray thee, make thy strength perfect 
in our weakness. In the trials and conflicts of life, 
in its perils and temptations, be thou ever nigh to 
counsel, uphold, direct, and comfort us. May we 
set our hearts supremely upon our duties to thee, 
and never fear what man can do unto us ! 

We beseech thee to regard us as a family, and 
constrain us by thy Spirit to walk in the narrow 
way. Help us to rely on thy promises, and obey 
thy commands. May the Holy Comforter guide 
us into all truth, sanctify us for every duty, sustain 
us under every trial ! May Christ be in our hearts 
the hope of glory ! 

We commend unto thy fatherly mercy all classes 
and conditions of men: more especially do we 



pray for the poor, the sick, the widow, the orphan, 
and all in any trouble or sorrow. 

May all who are weary and heavy-laden come to 
Jesus, and find rest! May thy heralds be multi- 
plied until the world shall hear and obey thy truth ! 
and, according to thy promise, pour out thy Spirit 
upon all flesh, that all may be saved. 

Lord ! we commend ourselves and all our 
concerns to thy gracious care. Keep us to-day 
from every snare of sin and of the Wicked One. 
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
evil ; and whether we eat or drink, or whatever 
we do, may we do all to the glory of God ! And 
we will ascribe all praise to the Father, the Son 
and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



WEDNESDAY. 



Daniel V. — 17. Then Daniel answered and said 
before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and 
give thy rewards to another ; yet I will read the 
writing unto the king, and make known to him the 
interpretation. 

18. O thou king ! the most high God gave 
Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and ma- 
jesty and glory and honor ; 

19. And, for the majesty that he gave him, all 
people, nations, and languages trembled and 
feared before him : whom he would he slew, and 
whom he would he kept alive ; and whom he would 
he set up, and whom he would he put down. 

20. But when his heart was lifted up, and his 
mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his 
kingly throne, and they took his glory from him ; 

21. And he was driven from the sons of men ; 
and his heart was made like the beasts, and his 
dwelling was with the wild asses ; they fed him 
with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with 
the dew of heaven ; till he knew that the most 
high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that 
he appointeth over it whomsoever he will, 



22. 



And thou his son, Belshazzar! hast not 



humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this, 

23. But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord 

of heaven ; and they have brought the vessels of 



The ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel were carried into 
captivity by the king of Assyria about 730 B.C., and were 
settled in a fertile district of Media. They never returned to 
Palestine, and all definite trace of them has been lost. A 
century and a half later, the kingdom of Judah was con- 
quered by Nebuchadnezzar, and Jerusalem taken and burnt. 
The bulk of the Jews had already been carried as captives to 
Babylon. Among these was Daniel, a youth of personal 
beauty, of promising gifts, and of rare purity of character. 
He early developed the faculty of prophetic insight; and, hav- 
ing interpreted a dream of Nebuchadnezzar, — in which four 
kingdoms were represented in a great image of gold, silver, 
brass, iron, and clay, — he was honored with gifts, and made 
ruler over the whole province of Babylon. The death of 
Nebuchadnezzar threw Daniel into the background, until the 
incident described in the text again brought him forward. 
Belshazzar, who was probably a grandson of Nebuchadnez- 



his house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy 
wives and thy concubines, have drunk wine in 
them ; and thou hast praised the gods of silver 
and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which 
see not, nor hear, nor know ; and the God in whose 
hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, 
hast thou not glorified. 

24. Then was the part of the hand sent from 
him ; and this writing was written. 

25. And this is the writing that was written : 
MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 

26. This is the interpretation of the thing: 
MENE, God hath numbered thy kingdom, and 
finished it. 

27. TEKEL, Thou art weighed in the bal- 
ances, and art found wanting. 

28. PERES, Thy kingdom is divided, and 
given to the Medes and Persians. 

29. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they 
clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of 
gold about Lis neck, and made a proclamation con- 
cerning him, that he should be the third ruler in 
the kingdom. 

30. In that night was Belshazzar the king of 
the Chaldeans slain. 

31. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, 
being about threescore and two years old. 



zar, was given to sensuality. In one of his impious revels, he 
caused the vessels which had been brought from the temple at 
Jerusalem to be used as wine-cups. At that moment there 
appeared upon the wall the shadow of a man's hand tracing 
mysterious characters. In terror the king summoned his 
soothsayers ; but they could not interpret the writing. The 
queen sent for Daniel, and he read Belshazzar's doom. Ac- 
cording to history, Babylon was taken by stratagem in the 
night, when the king and court, suspecting no danger, were in 
the midst of a boisterous festival : the army of Cyrus marched 
in by draining the channel of the river which ran through the 
heart of Babylon. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Jere- 
miah : " One post shall run to meet another, and one mes- 
senger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that 
his city is taken at one end. Behold, the spoiler is come 
upon her, even upon Babylon ; and her mighty men are 
taken." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 7, 22, 70. 



Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 
Who shall not fear thee, Lord ! and glorify thy 
name ? We confess our sins of thought, word, and 
action ; our sins against light and privilege, and 
providence and grace. We cast ourselves upon 
Him who came to seek and to save the lost. Thanks 
be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Remember- 
ing at what price our redemption hath been pur- 
chased, we would consecrate our lives to Him who 
loved us, and gave himself for us. 

Bless the members of this household. May they 
walk before thee with a perfect heart ! May the 
young adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all 



things ! Have mercy, Lord ! upon a world that 
lieth in wickedness and in the shadow of death. 
We pray for all in authority, that they may be 
filled with the spirit of wisdom and integrity. 
May our rulers in this land discharge their duties 
in thy fear, and to the best good of the people ! 

Thankful for the mercies of the night, we com- 
mend ourselves to thee for this day. Guide us ; 
provide for us ; go before us with thy presence ; 
defend us by thy grace. And now, Lord, what 
wait we for ? Our hope is in thee. Prepare us 
for living ; prepare us for dying. And all we ask 
is for Christ's sake. Amen. 



390 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Psalm Ixxx. — 1. Give ear, Shepherd of Is- 
rael ! thou that leadest Joseph like a flock ; thou 
that dwellest between the eherubims, shine forth. 

2. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manas- 
seh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. 

3. Turn us again, God ! and cause thy face to 
shine ; and we shall he saved. 

4. Lord God of hosts ! how long wilt thou be 
angry against the prayer of thy people ? 

5. Thou feedest them with the bread of tears, 
and givest them tears to drink in great measure. 

6. Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbors ; 
and our enemies laugh among themselves. 

7. Turn us again, God of hosts ! and cause thy 
face to shine; and we shall be saved. 

I Peter ii. — 13. Submit yourselves to every 
ordinance of man for the Lord's 
be to the king, as supreme ; 

14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are 
sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and 
for the praise of them that do well. 

15. For so is the will of God, that with well- 
doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of fool- 
ish men ; 

16. As free, and not using your liberty for a 
cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of 
God. 



sake ; whether it 



Fear 



17. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. 
God. Honor the king. 

18. Servants, be subject to your masters with all 
fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to 
the froward. 

19. For this is thank-worthy, if a man for con- 
science toward God endure grief, suffering wrong- 
fully. 

20. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted 
for your faults, ye shall take it patiently ? but if, 
when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it pa- 
tiently, this is acceptable with God. 

21. For even hereunto were ye called ; because 
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, 
that ye should follow his steps ; 

22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in 
his mouth ; 

23. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again - r 
when he suffered he threatened not, but commit- 
ted himself to him that judgeth righteously; 

24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own 
body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should 
live unto righteousness ; by whose stripes ye were 
healed. 

25. For ye were as sheep going astray, but are 
now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of 
your souls. 



The example of Christ, the doctrine of Christ, are some- 
times magnified to the exclusion of the thought of his vicari- 
ous suffering ; but here both example and doctrine are made 
to hinge upon the fact, the manner, the purpose, of his suf- 
fering. That Christ suffered, that he suffered for us, that he 
suffered for our sins, — this is made the lesson of his gospel, 
this the example that we should follow in his steps. That he 
suffered to destroy sin should make sin hateful to us ; should 
move us by this great argument to become dead to sin, as 
being ourselves crucified to it. That he, in giving himself for 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



us, meekly bore the revilings of men, should move us to gen- 
tleness and forbearance under provocation. That he patiently 
drank the cup which his Father gave him to drink should 
move us to bear patiently all that God appoints for us. Even 
the redemption that Christ has purchased for us should not 
betray us into a too free and forward manner of life ; but, in 
every position, we should show the largeness of Christian 
liberty by the largeness of self-sacrifice to the glory of God 
and the good of man. 



[Nos. 116, 117, 147. 



Thou holy and blessed Son of God, who for our 
sakes didst endure such contradiction of sinners 
against thyself, grant us, we pray thee, the spirit 
of meekness and patience under injury, and of for- 
giveness toward all who do us wrong. How often 
have we grieved and offended thee ! Have mercy 
upon us, we beseech thee, and teach us to be merci- 
ful unto all men ! May we be followers of thee, 
doing good as we find opportunity. 

Heavenly Father, we bless thee for thy loving- 
kindness toward us, so free, so constant, so abound- 
ing. We would show forth thy loving-kindness 
in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. 
Oh ! grant, that, walking in love, we may be the 
children of our Father in heaven. 

[May the children of this family set thy love 
before them as their chief portion in life, and 
make thy Word their guide ! May they always 
speak the truth, and grow up free from guile ! 



Prayer. 

May they hear the voice of Jesus, and follow 
him !] Be gracious, O Lord ! to all our kindred. 
Visit thy Church with thy salvation. Inspire thy 
people with a readiness to testify of thy love, and 
to invite others to thy grace. May we behold 
even greater fruits of thy coming than were seen 
by thine own apostles! Open thou the, windows 
of heaven, and cause thy glory to shine forth, 
that all the ends of the earth shall acknowledge 
thee. 

God, whose blessed Son was manifested that 
he might destroy the works of the Devil ! grant 
us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may 
purify ourselves even as he is pure ; that, when he 
shall appear again with power and great glory, we 
may be made like unto him in his eternal and glo- 
rious kingdom ; where with thee, Father ! and 
thee, Holy Ghost ! he liveth and reigneth, ever 
one God, world without end. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



391 



FRIDAY. 



Luke XI. — 37. And, as he spake, a certain 
Pharisee besought him to dine with him ; and he 
went in, and sat down to meat. 

38. And, when the Pharisee saw it, he mar- 
velled that he had not first washed before dinner. 

39. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye 
Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and 
the platter ; but your inward part is full of rav- 
ening and wickedness. 

40. Ye fools ! did not he that made that which is 
without make that which is within also ? 

41. But rather give alms of such things as ye 
have ; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. 

42. But woe unto you, Pharisees ! for ye tithe 
mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass 
over judgment and the love of God: these ought 
ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 

43. Woe unto you, Pharisees ! for ye love the 
uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings 
in the markets. 

44. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites ! for ye are as graves which appear not, and 
the men that walk over them are not aware of them. 

45. Then answered one of the lawyers, and said 
unto him, Master, thus saying, thou reproachest 
us also. 



46. And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers ! 
for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, 
and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one 
of your fingers. 

Matthew xxiii. — 29. Woe unto you, scribes and 
Pharisees, hypocrites ! because ye build the tombs 
of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the 
righteous, 

30. And say, If we had been in the days of our 
fathers, we would not have been partakers with 
them in the blood of the prophets. 

31. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves 
that ye are the children of them which killed the 
prophets. 

32. Fill ye up, then, the measure of your fathers. 

33. Ye serpents ! ye generation of vipers ! how 
can ye escape the damnation of hell ? 

37. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, • thou that killest 
the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto 
thee ! how often would I have gathered thy chil- 
dren together even as a hen gathereth her chickens 
under her wings, and ye would not ! 

38. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 

39. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me 
henceforth till ye shall say, Blessed is he that 
cometh in the name of the Lord. 



It may seem that this style of address was discourteous from 
a guest toward the host and his company. But a prophet 
was always a privileged character ; and there was no doubt a 
gravity and a pathos in the tones of our Lord that relieved 
the seeming harshness of his speech. Moreover, as Alford has 
well observed, " the intentions of the Pharisees towards him 
were not so friendly as these invitations seem to imply. They 
were given mostly from deference to popular opinion, and 
from no love to him, — sometimes even with a directly hostile 
object ; and his solemn work of reproof and teaching was 
never suspended out of mere compliment." Jesus never de- 
parted from the law of true kindness ; and here, in reproving 
hypocrisy, he sought to redeem religion from reproach, to 
save his hearers from delusion, and to set all men upon search- 
ing their hearts and lives for that which is truly acceptable to 
God. No forms of righteousness, no outward charities, no 
cherishing of sacred names, places, and traditions, can com- 
pensate for the want of a sincere, humble, loving devotion to 
God. He who opened his ministry with benedictions upon the 
poor, the humble, the penitent, closed it with denunciations 



upon the rapacious, the proud, the hypocritical. That the 
meek and gentle Jesus was thus searching and severe in his 
tests of character should warn us against vague expectations 
of mercy at the last, if our " inward part " is not cleansed by 
his grace for the daily life. 

To crown their hypocrisy, the Pharisees boasted their su- 
periority in virtue to their fathers, while they reproduced their 
crimes. They were ready to build monuments to prophets 
whom their fathers had put to death for their fidelity, yet were 
at that moment thirsting for the blood of Christ ! 

Yet, in the midst of so deserved indignation, pity rules in 
the heart of the Son of man. He yearns over Jerusalem, 
which shall soon take upon herself the guilt of his death. 
Fain would he still deliver her from the calamity which her 
sins have brought upon her. No feeling of personal resent- 
ment blends with his condemnation of her sins ; no hope of 
personal escape blends with his desire for her rescue. Nay, 
he is ready to lay down his life that even his enemies might 
be saved. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 171, 182, 187. 



Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord ! and glorify thy 
name ? We confess our sins of thought, word, and 
action ; our sins against light and privilege, and 
providence and grace. We cast ourselves upon 
Him who came to seek and to save the lost. Thanks 
be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Bemember- 
ing at what price our redemption hath been pur- 
chased, we would consecrate our lives to Him who 
loved us, and gave himself for us. 

Bless the members of this household. May they 



walk before thee with a perfect heart ! May the 
young adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all 
things ! Have mercy, Lord ! upon a world that 
lieth in wickedness and in the shadow of death. 

Thankful for the mercies of the night, we com- 
mend ourselves to thee for this day. Guide us ; 
provide for us ; go before us with thy presence ; 
defend us by thy grace. And now, Lord, what 
wait we for? Our hope is in thee. Prepare us 
for living ; prepare us for dying. And all we ask 
is for Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Psalm ciii. — 1. Bless the Lord, my soul! 
and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 

2. Bless the Lord, my soul ! and forget not all 
his benefits ; 

3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who heal- 
eth all thy diseases; 

4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction ; 
who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and ten- 
der mercies ; 

5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, 
so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

6. The Lord executeth righteousness and judg- 
ment for all that are oppressed. 

7. He made known his ways unto Moses, his 
acts unto the children of Israel. 

8. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to 
anger, and plenteous in mercy. 

9. He will not always chide ; neither will he 
keep his anger forever. 

10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, 
nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 

11. For as the heaven is high above the earth, 
so great is his mercy toward them that fear 
him. 



12. As far as the east is from the west, so far 
hath he removed our transgressions from us. 

13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the 
Lord pitieth them that fear him : 

14. For he knoweth our frame ; he remembereth 
that we are dust. 

15. As for man, his days are as grass ; as a 
flower of the field, so he flourisheth : 

16. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; 
and the place thereof shall know it no more. 

17. But the mercy of the Lord is from ever- 
lasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, 
and his righteousness unto children's children ; 

18. To such as keep his covenant, and to those 
that remember his commandments to do them. 

19. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the 
heavens ; and his kingdom ruleth over all. 

20. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in 
strength, that do his commandments, hearkening 
unto the voice of his word. 

21. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts ; ye min- 
isters of his, that do his pleasure. 

22. Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of 
his dominion ; bless the Lord, my soul ! 



One who has looked upon a Western prairie in June can 
appreciate the allusions of the Bible to the grass and the 
flower of the field. Yet the brightest gardens of California 
hardly rival the grassy plains of Syria in the abundance, 
variety, and brilliancy of flowers. There plain and hillside 
seem carpeted for a king's palace. The bright red of the 
rose ; the orange of the crocus ; the lilac thistles ; the blue 
larkspur; the white, almost translucent, everlasting; the star 
of Bethlehem : the yellow and scarlet poppies that everywhere 
predominate ; the daisies, hyacinths, and lilies mingling with 
these in richest contrasts of color ; the blood-red anemone, 
seeming to run over the fields like balls of fire, — no skill 
of tapestry, no artist's pencil, can picture to the eye what 
Jesus looked upon when he said, " Solomon in all his glory 
was not arrayed like one of these." Yet it may happen that 
this gorgeous beauty will vanish like a dream ; that the gay 
carpet of flowers spread before you in the morning will be 



found at evening a naked, arid field, so dry and withered, that 
a spark would consume it away. For, when there sweeps 
over the plains of Syria the " east wind " of the Arabian 
desert, this sirocco scorches as it goes : it blisters the face, 
parches the skin, burns up the moisture of the eyes, makes 
clothing hot to the touch, and the atmosphere like an oven ; 
it fades the grass, withers the flowers, and turns the fresh 
field into hay and stubble. So does man fade away in 
the midst of his pride and luxuries, of his plans and 
hopes. 

In contrast with man's weak and perishable frame appears 
the mercy of the Lord, — a mercy that has provided comfort for 
man's feebleness, solace for his troubles, pardon for his sins ; 
and for all who will commit themselves in humble, holy fear, 
everlasting peace and joy. Oh that our souls might rise to 
more worthy praise of this constant, this tender, this unfailing 
love! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 22, 38, 142. 



Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies, for 
the mercies of the past night ; for shelter, safety, 
comfort, rest, and peace. How precious are thy 
thoughts unto us, God ! how great is the sum of 
them! When we awake, we are still with thee. 
So would our hearts rise to thee, Lord ! with the 
morning light, with the incense of prayer and 
praise ; yea, we would present our bodies unto 
thee a living sacrifice. May this, our reason- 
able service, be made holy through the blood of 
Jesus, and acceptable through the Spirit of all 
grace ! May the Holy Spirit descend and rest 
upon us, making our home and our hearts the 
abode of peace ! 

[Grant, Father! we beseech thee, that the 
children of this family may share the mercies of thy 



covenant, and taste the sweetness of thy grace. In 
the morning of life may they seek thee, and find their 
chief pleasure in keeping thy commandments !] 

Help us this day to live unto thee, and in all 
our works and ways to do that which is well pleas- 
ing in thy sight. Prosper the labor of our hands, 
our studies, our various callings ; bless to us the 
means of knowledge and improvement ; make us 
thoughtful of others, considerate of the poor and 
afflicted, wise and ready unto every good word 
and work. We commend unto thee our kindred and 
friends, beseeching thee to grant them the promise 
of the life that now is ; and in the world to come, 
life everlasting. We pray for thy holy Church uni- 
versal, for the coming of light, peace, and salvation 
in all the earth, through Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Job xxix. — 1. Moreover, Job continued his 
parable, and said, 

2. Oli that I were as in months past, as in the 
days token God preserved me ; 

3. When his candle shined upon my head, and 
when by his light I walked through darkness ; 

4. As I was in the days of my youth, when the 
secret of God was upon my tabernacle ; 

5. When the Almighty was yet with me, when 
my children were about me ! 

11. When the ear heard me, then it blessed me ; 
and, when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me ; 

12. Because I delivered the poor that cried, and 
the fatherless, and him that had none to help 
him. 

13. The blessing of him that was ready to 
perish came upon me ; and I caused the widow's 
heart to sing for joy. 

14. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me : 
my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 

15. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to 
the lame. 

16. I was a father to the poor ; and the cause 
which I knew not I searched out. 

2 Corinthians viii. — 1. Moreover, brethren, we 
do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on 
the churches of Macedonia ; 

2. How that, in a great trial of affliction, the 



The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in giving himself for 
our redemption is here made the argument for our liberality 
to the poor among his disciples, and to all who are in want. 
But when was he "rich"'? Born in a manger, of a lowly 
virgin, brought up in the humble home of a village carpenter, 
in mature life the companion of the poor, not having where 
to lay his head, Jesus, in his earthly life, had none of those 
things that make men rich. If we look upon him simply 
under the conditions of his humanity, there was no contrast 
in his circumstances at different periods of his life, no relin- 
quishment of earthly riches for earthly poverty, that could 
justify this appeal to his example. The Lord Jesus was rich 
in the glory which he had with the Father before the world 
was ; rich in his equality with God, the manifestation of 



abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, 
abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 

3. For to their power I bear record, yea, and 
beyond their power, they were willing of them- 
selves ; 

4. Praying us with much entreaty, that we 
would receive the gift, and take upon us the fel- 
lowship of the ministering to the saints. 

7. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in 
faith and utterance and knowledge, and in all dili- 
gence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound 
in this grace also. 

8. I speak not by commandment, but by occa- 
sion of the forwardness of others, and to prove' the 
sincerity of your love. 

9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes 
he became poor, that ye through his poverty might 
be rich. 

10. And herein I give my advice ; for this is 
expedient for you, who have begun before, not only 
to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 

11. Now, therefore, perform the doing of it; 
that as there was a readiness to will, so there may 
be a performance also out of that which ye have. 

12. For, if there be first a willing mind, it is 
accepted according to that a man hath, and not ac- 
cording to that he hath not. 



which he laid aside when he came into our world. In leaving 
the bosom of the Father to become like one of us, he aban- 
doned the highest riches for the deepest poverty. This he did 
of his own will. He became poor by freely assuming our 
nature ; and he did it for our sakes, that, through his humil- 
iation, we might be exalted to share his glory. This won- 
drous grace of Christ is the appeal to our hearts to be forward 
to relieve the necessities of others by denying ourselves. The 
churches of Macedonia, though poor, were thus forward to 
minister to the saints at Jerusalem who were suffering from 
famine ; and in this they found the joy of Hiin who had said, 
" It is more blessed to give than to receive." To be liberal 
and self-sacrificing is to be like Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 173, 177, 183. 



Lord, the Giver of life ! thou hast created us ; 
thou hast redeemed us ; thou hast preserved us ; 
of thee, and through thee, and to thee, are all 
things ; and to thee be glory and praise forever. 

Above all do we praise and adore thee for thy 
mercy in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Oh ! do thou 
for his sake take away our sins, which with one 
accord we now confess before thee ; and sanctify 
our hearts by thy truth and thy Spirit. Bless to 
us the reading and hearing of thy Word, the wor- 
ship and order of thy house; bless the assemblies 
of thy people, the communion of thy saints, the 
instruction of children, the visiting and teaching 
of thy servants among the poor, by the wayside, 



and from house to house. Command thy blessing 
upon Zion, even life forevermore. 

As a family we consecrate ourselves to thee, our 
Father in heaven ; giving thanks to thee for such 
a home, for such love and peace and prosperity, as 
it is ours to enjoy. We bless thee for the memory 
of the good who have gone before us, and for the 
hope of immortality brought nigh to us in the 
gospel. May we so improve these earthly sab- 
baths, that by thy grace we shall come unto the 
fruition of this blessed hope with the spirits of just 
men made perfect in heaven, through Him who 
died and rose again! — to whom, with thee and 
the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory. Amen. 



394 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm cxii. — 1. Praise ye the Lord. Blessed 
is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth 
greatly in his commandments. 

2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth : the 
generation of the upright shall be blessed. 

3. Wealth and riches shall be in his house ; and 
his righteousness endureth forever. 

4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the 
darkness : he is gracious, and full of compassion, 
and righteous. 

5. A good man showeth favor, and lendeth : he 
will guide his affairs with discretion. 

6. Surely he shall not be moved forever: the 
righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 

7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings : his 
heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. 

8. His heart is established, be shall not be 
afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. 

9. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the 
poor ; his righteousness endureth forever ; his horn 
shall be exalted with honor. 

Romans xv. — 1. We then that are strong ought 
to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to 
please ourselves. 

2. Let every one of us please his neighbor for 
his good to edification. 

3. For even Christ pleased not himself; but as 
it is written, The reproaches of them that re- 
proached thee fell on me. 



4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime 
were written for our learning, that we through 
patience, and comfort of the scriptures, might 
have hope. 

5. Now the God of patience and consolation 
grant you to be like-minded one toward another 
according to Christ Jesus ; 

6. That ye may with one mind and one mouth 
glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, 

7. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ 
also received us to the glory of God. 

8. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister 
of the circumcision for the truth of God, to con- 
firm the promises made unto the fathers ; 

9. And that the Gentiles might glorify God for 
his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will 
confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto 
thy name. 

10. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, 
with his people. 

11. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles ; 
and laud him, all ye people. 

12. And again Esaias saith, There shall be a 
root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over 
the Gentiles : in him shall the Gentiles trust. 

13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy 
and peace in believing, that ye may abound in 
hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 



The God of patience, the God of consolation, the God of 
hope, — what precious names are these in the ear of a sinning, 
sorrowing world ! The Christians of Rome, to whom this epis- 
tle was addressed, were familiar with divinities of every form 
and name, to each of which, in turn, the worshipper must 
resort for the particular benefit which each was supposed to 
impart. This necessity of going to one god for one thing, 
and to another for another, made the pagan worship burden- 



some, costly, and unsatisfying. But, without resorting to any 
temple, the Christian can look up in prayer to the one God, 
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and obtain from him 
peace, patience, consolation, hope, joy, — all that the heart 
needs, — in the one comprehensive gift of the Holy Ghost. The 
secret of obtaining these many and various blessings is not in 
finding the right place of prayer, the true shrine of the Divin- 
ity, but in having in our own hearts the spirit of Christ. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 37, 50, 56. 



Almighty God, from whom all good things do 
come, we thank and praise thee for the mercies of 
this holy day. Make our hearts so deeply thankful 
for its many blessings, that we shall be ready to 
devote ourselves afresh — body, soul, and spirit — 
to thy service through the coming week. 

Give unto us, God ! more of the mind which 
was in Christ Jesus. May we esteem others bet- 
ter than ourselves ! Teach us to pity and to help 
all who are in want and sorrow. May we show 
that we are Christians, not in name only, but in 
deed and truth ! and, by our holy and blameless 
lives, may we adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour 
in all things ! May thy truth make us free ! 

Almighty Father, teach us to imitate thy love, 
that we may be sanctified in heart and life, fitted 
to serve thee here, and to dwell with thee here- 
after. May we be temples of the Holy Ghost, and 



be sealed by him unto the day of redemption ! 
May his gracious teaching enlighten us, and his 
holy comfort cheer and refresh our souls ! May no 
cherished sin grieve this blessed Spirit, or quench 
the flame of love which he would kindle within us ! 

Bless, Lord ! thy Church with light and peace. 
Bless our government and our country. Make us 
a nation fearing thee and working righteousness. 

Be gracious to all our dear friends and relatives, 
and guide their feet into the way of holiness. 
Bring nigh any who may be yet far from thee. 
Stablish, strengthen, and settle those who know 
and love thee. 

Hear, Lord ! we beseech thee, these our sup- 
plications. Pardon for thy mercy's sake all our 
iniquities, and do for us exceeding abundantly above 
all that we ask or think, for the sake of Jesus Christ, 
our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



395 



MONDAY. 



Psalm xcvi. — 1. Oh ! sing unto the Lord a new 
song ; sing unto the Lord, all the earth. 

2. Sing unto the Lord; bless his name; show 
forth his salvation from day to day. 

3. Declare his glory among the heathen, his 
wonders among all people. 

4. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be 
praised : he is to be feared above all gods. 

5. For all the gods of the nations are idols ; but 
the Lord made the heavens. 

6. Honor and majesty are before him ; strength 
and beauty are in his sanctuary. 

7. Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the 
people ! give unto the Lord glory and strength. 

8. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his 
name ; bring an offering, and come into his courts. 

9. Oh ! worship the Lord in the beauty of holi- 
ness ; fear before him, all the earth. 

10. Say among the heathen that the Lord 
reigneth : the world also shall be established that 
it shall not be moved : he shall judge the people 
righteously. 

11. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth 
be glad ; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. 

12. Let the field be joyful, and all that is there- 
in: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 

13. Before the Lord; for he cometh, for he 
cometh, to judge the earth : he shall judge the 
world with righteousness, and the people with his 
truth. 



Psalm xcvii. — 1. The Lord reigneth: let the 
earth rejoice ; let the multitude of isles be glad 
thereof. 

2. Clouds and darkness are round about him; 
righteousness and judgment are the habitation of 
his throne. 

3. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his 
enemies round about. 

4. His lightnings enlightened the world: the 
earth saw, and trembled. 

5. The hills melted like wax at the presence of 
the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole 
earth. 

6. The heavens declare his righteousness, and 
all the people see his glory. 

7. Confounded be all they that serve graven im- 
ages, that boast themselves of idols : worship him, 
all ye gods. 

8. Zion heard, and was glad ; and the daughters 
of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, 
Lord! 

9. For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth ; 
thou art exalted far above all gods. 

10. Ye that love the Lord, hate evil : he pre- 
serveth the souls of his saints ; he delivereth them 
out of the hand of the wicked. 

11. Light is sown for the righteous, and glad- 
ness for the upright in heart. 

12. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous ; and give 
thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 



To appreciate the force and beauty of these psalms, we 
should bear in mind, that, at the date of their composition, the 
Jews were surrounded with idolatrous nations, some of which 
— as Phoenicia, Egypt, and Assyria — were foremost in the arts 
and industries of a material civilization. These nations wor- 
shipped under various names and forms the powers of Na- 
ture, both the beneficent and the terrible : every district of the 
country, every season of the year, every interest of life, was 
under the direction of some particular god ; and each circle 
of gods had its superior divinity. Yet the poet of the small 
and isolated Hebrew nation pours contempt upon all these 
gods and their worshippers. He sets up Jehovah as alone 
worthy to be praised, and represents Nature and all her phe- 
nomena as but the expression of the power and the will of the 
Lord. The great naturalist, Humboldt, remarked this strik- 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Lord God! our fathers trusted in thee, and 
were not ashamed ; and in thy love we would con- 
fide for ever and ever. In health and in sickness, 
in hope and in sorrow, in enjoyment and in suffer- 
ing, we would look up to the hills, whence cometh 
our help ; and we pray that we may have the per- 
fect peace of those whose minds are stayed upon 
the Lord. 

We thank thee for the mercies of another night, 
and for the goodness thou hast provided with the 
opening day. The sun has spread its light over 
the world; the earth is bringing forth renewed 



ing characteristic of the poetry of the Hebrews, — that, " as 
a reflex of Monotheism, it always embraces the universe in 
its unity, comprising both terrestrial life and the luminous 
realms of space." The Hebrew poet does not depict Nature 
as a self-dependent object, but always as in relation and sub- 
jection to a higher spiritual Power. Nature is to him a work 
of creation and order, — the living expression of the omnipres- 
ence of the Divinity in the visible world. The psalms just 
read present Jehovah in his unity, his sovereignty, his spirit- 
uality, his holiness. Though all the contemporary religions 
have perished, the representation of God here given has 
stood the test of all the ages since ; and it addresses our moral 
sense to-day with the authority of Him who is our Creator 
and our Lord, and who is to be our Judge. 



[Nos. 70, 88, 132. 



Prayer. 

supplies of good. "We bless thee, Lord ! for all 
thy gifts, and pray thee to be merciful to us in our 
renewed wants, and visit us with thy salvation. 
Continue to us, we entreat thee, the gifts of thy 
providence ; and pour upon us the blessings of thy 
grace. Go forth with us, Lord ! to the engage- 
ments, the trials, the duties, and the pleasures which 
await us to-day. Oh ! keep us from evil and sin. 
Bless all who are dear to us by any tie ; all who are 
in any want, trouble, or sorrow. Deliver thy Church 
in her conflicts, and hasten the final triumph of 
thy kingdom, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Matthew xxiv. — 1. And Jesus went out, and 
departed from the temple ; and his disciples came 
to him for to show him the buildings of the tem- 
ple. 

2. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all 
these things ? Verily I say unto you, There shall 
not be left here one stone upon another that shall 
not be thrown down. 

3. And, as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the 
disciples came unto him privately, saj'ing, Tell us, 
when shall these things be? and what shall be the 
sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world ? 

4. And Jesus answered and said unto them, 
Take heed that no man deceive you. 

5. For many shall come in my name, saying, I 
am Christ; and shall deceive many. 

6. And ye shall hear of wars, and rumors of 
wars : see that ye be not troubled ; for all these 
things must come to pass ; but the end is not yet. 

7. For nation shall rise against nation, and 
kingdom against kingdom ; and there shall be 
famines and pestilences and earthquakes in divers 
places. 

8. All these are the beginning of sorrows. 

9. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, 
and shall kill you ; and ye shall be hated of all 
nations for my name's sake. 

10. And then shall many be offended, and shall 
betray one another, and shall hate one another. 



Paris in 1870-71 has reproduced the terrors of the siege of 
Jerusalem eighteen hundred years before. A foreign foe en- 
circling the city and reducing it by famine, internal factions 
contending with one another more fiercely than they had 
fought against the common enemy, destroying public build- 
ings and monuments, defiling sacred places, massacring 
the innocent, subverting public faith and confidence be- 
tween man and man, and establishing a reign of terror, — 
all this is a picture of woe such as our Lord beheld when 
he foresaw the destruction of the Holy City. The story 
of the Jewish war by Josephus, and fragments of Roman his- 
tory of the same period, furnish a striking commentary 
upon these words of Christ. National tumults, — one at Se- 
leucia, in which more than fifty thousand Jews were killed ; 
famines and pestilences, — one at Rome (A. D. 65), of which 
thirty thousand died ; earthquakes, — at least six severe ones 
are on record in Syria and adjacent countries between A.D. 



11. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall 
deceive many. 

12. And, because iniquity shall abound, the love 
of many shall wax cold. 

13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the 
same shall be saved. 

14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be 
preached in all the world for a witness unto all 
nations ; and then shall the end come. 

15. When ye, therefore, shall see the abomina- 
tion of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the pro- 
phet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let 
him understand), 

16. Then let them which be in Judaea flee into 
the mountains : 

17. Let him which is on the house-top not come 
down to take any thing out of his house; 

18. Neither let him which is in the field return 
back to take his clothes. 

19. And woe unto them that are with child, and 
to them that give suck, in those days ! 

20. But pray ye that your flight be not in the 
winter, neither on the sabbath day : 

21. For then shall be great tribulation, such as 
was not since the beginning of the world to this 
time ; no, nor ever shall be. 

22. And, except those days should be shortened, 
there should no flesh be saved ; but, for the elect's 
sake, those days shall be shortened. 



46 and A.D. 67 ; persecutions both of Jews and of Christians ; 
frequent rumors of war against the Jews, which terminated 
in the destructive invasion of Jud*a by Titus, — these fill up 
the immediate foreground of this prophetic vision. According 
to Josephus, the zealots polluted the temple with their orgies. 
As the dreadful siege of the city drew on, the Christians fled 
to Pella beyond Jordan, and escaped the fate which overtook 
their countrymen. Contrary to the commands of Titus, the 
Roman soldiers, infuriated by the stubborn resistance of the 
Jews, when at last they gained the temple, set fire to it, and so 
defaced it, that Titus ordered it to be levelled to the ground. 
Amid such catastrophes, each day must have brought to the 
disciples some new conviction of the divine foreknowledge of 
their Lord. But lie demanded of them, as he now demands of 
us, a faith in his word that needed not such tangible evi- 
dences, and a love for himself that would outlast all the com- 
motions and perils of the world. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 26, 29, 34. 



O Thou who didst humble thyself to be born of 
a virgin, the everlasting Son of the Father, the 
Prince of peace ! we bless and adore thee for thy 
grace, and compassion for us sinners. Oh ! grant 
us, we beseech thee, thy peace, through the forgive- 
ness of sin, reconciliation with God, and the in- 
dwelling of the Spirit, that we may glorify and 
praise thee in our lives. 

Save us, Lord ! from unbelief. Forbid that, 
by indifference to the gospel of thy Son, we should, 
at the last, fall under the condemnation of the 



Saviour as our Judge. And grant, we pray thee, 
that thy very judgments in the earth, overturning 
the powers of wickedness, may open the way for 
his grace to all nations. We give thee thanks for 
peaceful rest. Lord, keep this household from evil. 
May we love and serve Him who came into the 
world to save sinners ! And, oh, may the world 
be saved ! may all men come to Christ ! may peace 
reign on the earth, and good-will bind all hearts to- 
gether for the glory of God ! And to Father, Son, 
and Holy Spirit, be all the praise. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



397 



WEDNESDAY. 



Matthew xxiv. — 23. Then if any man shall say 
unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it 
not. 

24. For there shall arise false Christs and false 
prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders ; 
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall de- 
ceive the very elect. 

25. Behold, I have told you before. 

26. Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, 
Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth ; be- 
hold, he is in the secret chambers, believe it 
not. 

27. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, 
and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the 
coming of the Son of man be. 

28. For wheresoever the carcass is, there will 
the eagles be gathered together. 

29. Immediately after the tribulation of those 
days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon 
shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from 



heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be 
shaken : 

30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son 
of man in heaven ; and then shall all the tribes of 
the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man 
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and 
great glory. 

31. And he shall send his angels with a great 
sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together 
his elect from the four winds, from one end of 
heaven to the other. 

32. Now learn a parable of the fig-tree : When 
his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, 
ye know that summer is nigh : 

33. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these 
things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 

34. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall 
not pass till all these things be fulfilled. 

35. Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my 
words shall not pass away. 



The highly figurative language of these verses has led some 
to question whether the word " generation," in verse 34, should 
be limited to the men of that age. The same word is sometimes 
used in the New Testament for an indefinite period ; but here 
the line of thought seems to restrict it to its customary mean- 
ing. Our Lord's discourse began with a reference to the de- 
struction of Jerusalem. In asking when that should be, the 
disciples had confounded with it Christ's final coming and the 
end of the world ; and hence his answer covers this latter topic 
also. But there is a marked transition from one to the other. 
The first event he describes minutely, even to the open defiling 
of the temple; and the counsel, that, on the appearing of that 
sign, his disciples in Judaea should flee to the mountains, fixes 
the time and place of the event itself. 

In contrast with this precision of statement, he opens his 
description of " the end of the world " by disclaiming any 
knowledge of "that day and hour" (p. .398). So the previous 
description holds good of the destruction of Jerusalem. Now, 



this would involve the final overthrow of the temple and its 
service, of the Jewish nation and its polity, of that visible king- 
dom of God which Moses had constituted at Sinai. To the 
mind of a Jew, no catastrophe could be more terrible, nor 
could any political event have a wider influence upon the future 
of mankind ; since it should be preceded by the apostolic mis- 
sion to the nations at large, and followed by stupendous judg- 
ments upon the persecuting powers of the pagan world. Gov- 
ernments civil and ecclesiastical, orders, hierarchies, should be 
shaken; the sublimity of the judgment, like that upon Paris' 
in our time, should strike terror to the nations : Christ's elect 
alone, under the safe conduct of his ministering angels, would 
feel secure. The prophecy repeats itself. The catastrophes 
of nations are judgments from the hand of Christ, — his com- 
ing. Often he appears with the swiftness of the lightning, 
and illumines the wide horizon with his glory ; but if we love, 
trust, and serve him, we shall never fear for ourselves nor for 
his cause. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 47, 56, 69. 



Thou only, O Lord! makest us to dwell in 
safety. We thank thee for another night of 
rest and comfort ; for another day of life, health, 
and hope. We praise thee that thou didst create 
us with powers of knowing and of loving, and 
hast made this world so full of wonders and beau- 
ties to feed our minds with knowledge, and to 
stir our hearts with love and joy. May the glory 
of the heavens, the richness and bounty of the 
earth, as adapted to our wants, fill us with admi- 
ration of thy power, thy wisdom, thy goodness ! 
and may the voices of gladness with which all Na- 
ture celebrates thy praise move our souls to bless 
and praise thee also ! Lord ! may we be found 
faithful to thee in the duties of this day ! and, 
amid its temptations and its trials, do thou sustain 
us, comfort us, keep us, and grant us grace in all 
we do to seek thy glory. May this household, 
which thou hast so blessed, serve thee, not at this 



altar only, but in all the walks of life ! As we en- 
gage in the business of the world, as we go into 
society, wherever we are, and whatever we do, may 
we remember thee, and do thy will ! Oh ! grant 
that every member of this family may be a child 
of God. Bless all dear to us who are absent from 
us. Do thou, Lord ! dwell by thy Spirit in the 
hearts and the minds of all our friends. We sup- 
plicate thy mercy for the needy, the afflicted, the 
bereaved and sorrowing. 

Build up thy Church, Lord ! Fill our land 
with pure religion. Bless the industry of the peo- 
ple ; and may its fruit be consecrated to the good 
of men ! May our rulers be faithful and just, 
walking in thy fear ! And we beseech thee to 
bring all lands under the power and glory of thy 
kingdom. In thy great mercy, Lord ! forgive 
our sins, and bring us unto thy heavenly kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Matthew xxiv. — 36. But of that day and hour 
knoweth no man; no, not the angels of heaven, 
but my Father only. 

37. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also 
the coming of the Son of man be. 

38. For as, in the days that were before the 
flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and 
giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered 
into the ark, 

39. And knew not until the flood came, and 
took them all away ; so shall also the coming of 
the Son of man be. 

40. Then shall two be in the field: the one 
shall be taken, and the other left. 

41. Two women shall be grinding at the mill : 
the one shall be taken, and the other left. 

42. Watch, therefore ; for ye know not what 
hour your Lord doth come. 

43. But know this, that, if the goodman 
of the house had known in what watch the 
thief would come, he would have watched, and 



The thirty-sixth verse marks the transition from the 
destruction of Jerusalem, which was the starting-point of our 
Lord's discourse, to " the end of the world," which was included 
by the disciples in their first question. It has been aptly said 
that there is in the New Testament " a distinction between the 
religious measure of time and the chronological measure of 
time." The prophet might foresee events as facts, and in an 
order of succession, yet not measure them off upon a scale of 
years ; and, though the humiliation of the Son of man was so 
nearly ended, his human consciousness might have been 
veiled as to that great and notable day of which he here spoke. 
Two facts only he announces, — the certainty of its coming, 
and its suddenness. The element of uncertainty in death, in 
the second advent of Christ, in the day of judgment, is in- 
tended, not to excite the imagination to curiosity, but to 
arouse the conscience to vigilance, and the heart to fidelity. 
" It is the fundamental law of watchfulness to be a/.ww/s 
watching." Yet the watching is not to be that of anxious 
waiting, but of faithful doing. Men steeped in worldliness are 
heedless of death and the judgment to come. They lose the 



would not have suffered his house to be broken 
up. 

44. Therefore be ye also ready ; for, in such an 
hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh. 

45. Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant, 
whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, 
to give them meat in due season ? 

46. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when 
he cometh, shall find so doing. 

47. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make 
him ruler over all his goods. 

48. But and if that evil servant shall say in his 
heart, My lord delayeth his coming ; 

49. And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, 
and to eat and drink with the drunken ; 

50. The lord of that servant shall come in a 
day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour 
that he is not aware of, 

51. And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him 
his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be 
weeping, and gnashing of teeth. 



thought of consequences, and grow reckless and unscrupu- 
lous as to the methods by which they gratify their desires. 
But the servant of Christ holds every thing in trust for his 
Lord, and uses time, talents, means, life itself, for his glory. 
Such fidelity to trust shall be rewarded with confidence and 
honor from his Lord. But sad and hopeless shall be the 
doom of such as waste life's opportunities, and live only for 
self and sin. Here, as in the parable of the talents, not posi- 
tion, nor quantity, but fidelity, is the test. Yet, the more we 
have received, the more must we account for. But the law of 
responsibility runs through every gradation of life. Christ 
sets forth very clearly a punishment reserved for the disobe- 
dient and unfaithful. It will be just and discriminating, but 
certain and decisive. But, on the other hand, the reward to 
fidelity is such as should incite every servant to the highest 
diligence, in the spirit of love and thankfulness. Let us be 
moved by love rather than by fear, looking for that tran- 
scendent glory that shall be revealed when Christ shall raise 
his faithful servant to sit with him in his throne. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 39, 54, 82. 



God, who hast spared our lives, and brought 
us to the beginning of another day ! we lift up 
our hearts to thee. We thank thee for rest 
during the past night ; for life preserved, and 
strength renewed; and for the many tokens of 
thy loving -kindness which surround us. May 
we ever have true gratitude for thy mercies, 
and never grieve thee by a hard and unthankful 
heart ! 

And now, Lord! prepare us for the duties 
and trials which this day may bring. What- 
ever we have to do, may we do it willingly and 
heartily, as unto thee, and not as unto men ! 
Whatever may be our besetting sins, grant that 
we may know them, and watch and fight against 
them. 



Let not the world with its cares and vanities fill 
our hearts, and so make us forget the worth of our 
souls, the love of our Saviour, and the nearness of 
eternity. 

Lord, watch over us, and all who are dear to us, 
this day. Defend our souls from the assaults of 
the Wicked One, and preserve our bodies in health 
and safety. May all thy wise and merciful dealings 
bind us to thee, and fit us better for thy service ! 
May we walk in the light of thy countenance, and 
know the happiness of those who have the Lord 
for their God ! Finally, prepare us to depart and be 
with Christ. Hear us, heavenly Father, and when 
thou hearest forgive, for the sake of our Saviour ; 
who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, reigneth ever- 
more. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



399 



FRIDAY. 



Galatians vi. — 1. Brethren, if a man be over- 
taken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore 
such a one in the spirit of meekness ; considering 
thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 

2. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil 
the law of Christ. 

3. For if a man think himself to be something, 
when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 

4. But let every man prove his own work, and 
then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and 
not in another. 

5. For every man shall bear his own burden. 

6. Let him that is taught in the word com- 
municate unto him that teacheth in all good 
things. 

7. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for 
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 

8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the 
flesh reap corruption ; but he that soweth to the 
Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

9. And let us not be weary in well-doing ; for 
in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do 



good unto all men, especially unto them who are 
of the household of faith. 

11. Ye see how large a letter I have written 
unto you with mine own hand. 

12. As many as desire to make a fair show in the 
flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised ; only lest 
they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 

13. For neither they themselves who are circum- 
cised keep the law, but desire to have you cir- 
cumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 

14. But God forbid that I should glory, save in 
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the 
world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 

15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision 
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new 
creature. 

16. And as many as walk according to this rule, 
peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel 
of God. 

17. From henceforth let no man trouble me ; for 
I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. 

18. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 
be with your spirit. Amen. 



The second and fifth verses here seem to contradict each 
other in words ; but it is only in words. Every man has his 
own burden of duties and responsibilities which he cannot 
throw off; but every one is required to help others bear their 
burdens of trial and sorrow. Even when the trial or sorrow 
has been brought on by some act of sin, instead of aggravat- 
ing it by reproaches, one should seek to lighten it by helps 
toward recovery, in the spirit of meekness and forbearance. 
In like manner, Paul exhorts that all should share the burden 
of maintaining the Christian ministry and the institutions of 
the gospel. Niggardliness here is an attempt to mock God ; 



but they who are sparing in providing for spiritual things, in 
order that they may have more plentifully the things of the 
flesh, shall reap the bitter fruit in the corruption of body and 
soul. This sympathy with the brotherhood, this compassion 
for the erring and the sorrowing, this sacrificing of the tem- 
poral and earthly to the spiritual and divine, all spring from 
and are sustained by the love of Christ. The cross upon 
which he gave himself for us becomes so precious, so inspir- 
ing an example of self-sacrifice, that we are ready to crucify 
the world upon it, that it may be to us as dead ; or to be our- 
selves crucified, that we may no longer feel the power of sin. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Pra3 T er. 



[Nos. 91, 108, 160. 



Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the 
Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, 
and ever shall be, world without end. We praise 
thee, God ! we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. 
All the earth doth worship thee, the Father ever- 
lasting. Heaven and earth are full of the majesty 
of thy glory. 

For our creation and preservation ; for our sleep 
last night, and our safety this morning; for the 
comforts of this world, and the hopes of the world 
to come, — we bless thee, good Lord. 

For our stations and occupations in life ; for our 
dear relations and friends ; for all that reminds us 
of thee, and all opportunities of glorifying thee, — 
we bless thee, good Lord. 

For thy love in our redemption ; for thy free be- 
stowal of thine only-begotten Son; for thine un- 
speakable gift of the Holy Spirit, — above all we 
bless thee, good Lord. 

We give thee thanks this day for home and 
country; for knowledge and freedom; for the favor 
of thy providence upon our land; for the tokens of 



thy mercy in thy Church. Help us, Lord! 
worthily to show forth thy praise. In all thy 
works, enable us to see thy hand; and, in tracing 
the laws of thy creation, may we never lose sight 
of thee, the Lawgiver! And as by obedience to 
thee the heavens declare thy glory, and the earth 
showeth forth thy praise ; even so may we obey thy 
holy Word in all things, and finally be glorified 
with Him who redeemed us, thy Son Jesus Christ 
our Lord ! 

We beseech thee, Lord! to continue the favor 
which thou hast shown unto us as a family. [May 
these children grow up in the knowledge and love 
of thy truth! May they always incline to thy 
will, and walk in thy way ! May they be kept 
from the evil that is in the world, and be the fol- 
lowers of the Lord Jesus!] Dwell by thy good 
Spirit in the homes of all whom we love. Bless 
this community, our State, our nation, with good 
things, temporal and spiritual; and do good, in 
thy loving-kindness, unto all men, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



400 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Matthew XXV. — 14. For the kingdom of heaven 
is as a man travelling into a far country, who 
called his own servants, and delivered unto them 
his goods. 

15. And unto one he gave five talents, to an- 
other two, and to another one ; to every man ac- 
cording to his several ability; and straightway 
took his journey. 

16. Then he that had received the five talents 
went and traded with the same, and made them 
other five talents. 

17. And likewise he that had received two, he 
also gained other two. 

18. But he that had received one went and 
digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 

19. After a long time the lord of those servants 
cometh, and reckoneth with them. 

20. And so he that had received five talents 
came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, 
thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I 
have gained beside them five talents more. 

21. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou 
good and faithful servant : thou hast been faith- 
ful over a few things ; I will make thee ruler 
over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy 
lord. 

22. He also that had received two talents came 
and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two tal- 



This parable, like that of the virgins, was designed to en- 
courage vigilance and activity in the disciples of Christ, and 
to rebuke sloth and neglect. That of the virgins referred to 
the preparation of the heart ; this, to faithfulness of service. 
Whatever we are in capacity, in ability, in position, in 
means, is the gift of God. Our talents are " his goods." The 
variety of distribution is also from his hand ; and there is the 
same wisdom in such variety in the kingdom of grace as in 
nature and in society. A period of probation, until Christ's 
second advent, is appointed for testing character. Every po- 
sition has its responsibility, and every lot its compensations. 
Divine grace does not merge all individuality of character in 
one type. In every case there exists a personal trust, and re- 



ents : behold, I have gained two other talents be- 
side them. 

23. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and 
faithful servant : thou hast been faithful over a few 
things ; I will make thee ruler over many things : 
enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 

24. Then he which had received the one talent 
came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art 
a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, 
and gathering where thou hast not strewed ; 

25. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy tal- 
ent in the earth : lo, there thou hast that is thine. 

26. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou 
wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I 
reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have 
not strewed : 

27. Thou oughtest, therefore, to have put my 
money to the exchangers, and then at my coming 
I should have received mine own with usury. 

28. Take, therefore, the talent from him, and 
give it unto him which hath ten talents. 

29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, 
and he shall have abundance ; but from him that 
hath not shall be taken away even that which he 
hath. 

30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into 
outer darkness : there shall be weeping, and gnash- 
ing of teeth. 



sponsibility is measured by the " several ability." The award 
is made, not to absolute or relative success, but to fidelity, 
which does not depend upon the amount committed to one's 
care. The trust and the ability to use it create the obligation. 
Negligence is punished upon its own showing. The plea of 
inability is false, and the plea of severity contradicts itself. 
The time and the labor of the slothful servant belonged to his 
Lord ; and his punishment was jiist, because he did not use 
for God the gifts that he had received from God. But, while a 
selfish disregard of the sacred trust of life receives this merited 
punishment, the reward of fidelity transcends all human esti- 
mate, — the public commendation and welcome of Christ, ex- 
altation with Christ in his joy, and dominion in his kingdom. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 21, 30, 89. 



O Lord, our heavenly Father ! we have nothing 
to bring to thee but our wants, and such poor re- 
turn of love and gratitude and praise as these 
hearts can render for thy goodness. As thou dost 
cause our lives to overflow with thy mercies, so do 
thou fill our hearts to overflowing with thy Spirit, 
that we may thank thee and praise thee as we 
ought. Every good gift cometh down from thee, 
the Father of lights ; and though we are so 
changeful in our love, so inconstant in our service, 
with thee there is no variableness, neither shadow 
of turning. Bind us to thyself by the mighty 
attraction of thy love in Christ our Saviour. 

We pray thee keep us this day from temptation, 
evil, and sin. Prosper us in our lawful under- 



takings : may we be upright in our dealings, true 
and kind in our speech, gentle and patient in our 
spirit, pure and holy in our walk ! May we do 
good to all as we shall have opportunity, and so 
exhibit in our lives the graces of the gospel, that 
we shall win others to the love of Christ ! And 
we pray that multitudes may be won to the Sa- 
viour ; that thy Church may increase ; that mis- 
sions may prosper ; that thy Word may be given 
to all people. We thank thee for our home, and 
pray thee to bless us with all things that we need 
as a family. Bless the absent who are dear to us ; 
and bring them, together with us, we beseech thee 
unto thy heavenly kingdom ; through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



401 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Matthew XXV. — 31. When the Son of man 
shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with 
him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory ; 

32. And before him shall be gathered all na- 
tions ; and he shall separate them one from another, 
as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats ; 

33. And he shall set the sheep on his right 
hand, but the goats on the left. 

34. Then shall the King say unto them on his 
right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, in- 
herit the kingdom prepared for you from the 
foundation of the world : 

35. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me 
meat ; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink ; I was 
a stranger, and ye took me in ; 

36. Naked, and ye clothed me ; T was sick, and 
ye visited me ; I was in prison, and ye came unto 
me. 

37. Then shall the righteous answer him, say- 
ing, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed 
thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 

38. When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee 
in ? or naked, and clothed thee ? 



This solemn utterance of Christ defines beyond appeal the 
final separation between the righteous and the wicked. The 
same term is used to denote the duration of the state of each : 
the punishment and the life run parallel to everlasting ages. 
Our Lord declares that the judgment shall be universal, and 
that its decisions shall hinge upon the spirit which men have 
exhibited toward himself in their dealings with their fellow- 
men. Christ is in the world in the person of the poor, the 
oppressed, the neglected, the persecuted, the suffering ; and to 
minister to these in the spirit of his love is to love and honor 
him. To be indifferent to the sufferings and sorrows of hu- 
manity is to be indifferent to Him who himself " bare our 
griefs and carried our sorrows, and was bruised for our in- 
iquities ; " and such selfishness can have no congeniality with 
the home of his love. 



39. Or when saw we thee sick or in prison, and 
came unto thee ? 

40. And the King shall answer and say unto 
them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have 
done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, 
ye have done it unto me. 

41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left 
hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting 
fire, prepared for the devil and his angels : 

42. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no 
meat ; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink ; 

43. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in ; 
naked, and ye clothed me not ; sick and in prison, 
and ye visited me not. 

44. Then shall they also answer him, saying, 
Lord, when saw we thee an hungred or athirst, 
or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and 
did not minister unto thee ? 

45. Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily 
I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one 
of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 

46. And these shall go away into everlasting 
punishment, but the righteous into life eternal. 



Yet, even in rejecting from his presence the selfish and the 
unpitying, the Saviour shows his pity to the end. The king- 
dom, the salvation, the blessing, were prepared for all who 
should give themselves to Christ : the curse, the woe, were pre- 
pared for the Devil ; and it is only of their own perversity in 
sin that any of the human race fall under that condemnation. 

The sublimity of this description surpasses all imagination, 
— Christ, as the Son of man, the Shepherd, the King, the 
Judge, as the centre and end of all human love, bringing out 
and rewarding his latent grace in those who have lived in 
love ; everlastingly punishing those who have quenched it in 
an unloving and selfish life ; and, in the accomplishment of his 
mediatorial office, causing even from out of the iniquities of a 
rebellious world his sovereign mercy to rejoice against judg- 
ment. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 7, SO, 82. 



Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the 
foundations of the earth ; and the heavens are the 
works of thine hands. They shall perish; but 
thou remainest : and they shall wax old as doth a 
garment ; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, 
and they shall be changed : but thou art the same, 
and thy years shall not fail. In thee, Lord ! do 
we put our trust : let us never be confounded. 
With our affections on things above, may we be 
ever looking for that blessed hope, even the glori- 
ous appearing of the great God. our Saviour Jesus 
Christ ! May our loins be girded, and our lamps 
burning ! and may we grow in faith and love, in 
charity and meekness, in diligence and faithful- 
ness, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God ! 

Teach us to use thy gifts to thy glory ; and, oh ! 
keep us, Lord, from all covetous desires, from all 
self-seeking, from all love of sinful pleasures. 



We bless thee for this holy day, and pray that 
we, with thy whole Church, may be blessed in thy 
worship, and may show forth thy praise. 

Almighty God, the Father and Saviour of all 
men, help us, we beseech thee, to behave with 
Christian charity to all that are in distress, poverty, 
or suffering. As thou hast had mercy upon us, 
let none of us come under thy condemnation on 
the great day of judgment for want of mercy or 
charity to our brethren, who, in this world of trial, 
were hungry or thirsty, or naked or sick, or in 
prison, and to whom, when we had the power, we 
did not administer. Help us to deny ourselves, 
that we may each, in our measure, have to give to 
them that need, and that we may ever work with 
thee, and for thee, in diminishing the sorrows, the 
miseries, and the sin of this evil world, for the sake 
of Him who suffered and died for all. Amen. 



I^^^H 



HH 



402 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Isaiah Ixiii. — 1. Who is this that cometh from 
Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah ? this 
that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the 
greatness of his strength ? I that speak in right- 
eousness, mighty to save. 

2. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and 
thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine- 
fat? 

3. I have trodden the wine-press alone ; and of 
the people there was none with me: for I will 
tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my 
fury ; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my 
garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 

4. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, 
and the year of my redeemed is come. 

5. And I looked, and there was none to help; 
and I wondered that there was none to uphold : 
therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto 
me ; and my fury, it upheld me. 

6. And I will tread down the people in mine 
anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will 
bring down their strength to the earth. 

7. I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the 
Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all 
that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great 
goodness toward the house of Israel which he 



hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, 
and according to the multitude of his loving-kind- 
nesses. 

8. For he said, Surely they are my people, chil- 
dren that will not lie : so he was their Saviour. 

9. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the 
Angel of his presence saved them ; in his love and 
in his pity he redeemed them ; and he bare them, 
and carried them all the days of old. 

10. But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy 
Spirit : therefore he was turned to be their enemy, 
and he' fought against them. 

11. Then he remembered the days of old, Moses 
and his people, saying, Where is he that brought 
them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his 
flock ? where is he that put his Holy Spirit within 
him? 

12. That led them by the right hand of Moses 
with his glorious arm, dividing the water before 
them, to make himself an everlasting name? 

13. That led them through the deep as a horse 
in the wilderness, that they should not stumble ? 

14. As a beast goeth down into the valley, the 
Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest : so didst 
thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious 
name. 



The expression, " I have trodden the wine-press alone," is 
commonly applied to Christ in the loneliness of his agony in 
Gethsemane, and in his desertion through the scenes of his 
trial and crucifixion. And there could not be a more vivid 
picture of the solitariness of the Saviour in his sufferings, — 
when " of the people there was none with him ; " when, as he 
lay upon the ground in his bloody sweat, his disciples were 
sleeping within sound of his groaning; when, as the traitor 
seized him, " all the disciples forsook him, and fled ; " and 
Peter mustered courage to follow him afar off, only to deny 
him at the last. Yet the connection shows that it is not the 
Redeemer in his sorrows, but in his triumphs, who is here 



depicted. He is coming from Edom, the typical enemy of 
Israel, where by his unaided strength he has visited judgment 
and destruction upon the foes of his Church. It is the same 
picture which is repeated, in Rev. xix. 13, of the "Word of 
God clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, who treadeth 
the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." 
Yet love and mercy ever predominate over judgments. His 
judgments upon the obdurate illustrate his grace to the peni- 
tent ; and often, as with Israel of old, judgments recall his 
people to their dependence upon his grace. The Saviour 
identifies himself with his flock. He makes their affliction 
his own, and will make them partakers in his triumph and joy. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 116, 181, 187. 



O Lord Jesus ! increase our faith, that we may 
know thee in the fellowship of thy sufferings, and 
in the power of thy resurrection. 

We thank thee, heavenly Father ! that of thy 
tender mercy thou hast given thine only Son Jesus 
Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our re- 
demption. Through faith in his blood, may we ob- 
tain remission of our sins ! May we know him 
and love him, and serve him with all our hearts ! 
and may we daily endeavor to follow the steps of 
his most holy life ! Lord ! let thy mercy be 
upon us as we do put our trust in thee. 

Teach us, O God ! both how to live and how to 
die. May our loins be always girt and our lamps 
burning, and we ourselves like servants who wait 
for the coming of their lord ! May we live a life 
of faith ! and may we die the death of the right- 
eous ! 



Look in mercy upon all our brethren, our friends, 
neighbors, and acquaintance. Be with all who are 
dear to us, especially with any who may at this 
time be in affliction or distress. Cheer their 
hearts, and lift up the light of thy countenance 
upon them. Send down upon all who minister in 
thy Church, and all congregations committed to 
their charge, the healthful spirit of thy grace; 
and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon 
them the continual dew of thy blessing. 

And be with us who are now gathered together 
in thy name. Defend us from all the perils and 
dangers of this night. Let thy fatherly hand 
ever be over us. Let thy Holy Spirit ever be 
with us. And so lead us in the knowledge and 
obedience of thy Word, that in the end we may 
obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



403 



MONDAY. 



Job ix. — 1. Then .Job answered, and said, 

2. How should man be just with God ? 

3. If he will contend with him, he cannot answer 
him one of a thousand. 

4. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength : 
who hath hardened himself against him, and hath 
prospered ? 

5. Which removeth the mountains, and they 
know not ; which overturneth them in his anger ; 

6. Which shaketh the earth out of her place, 
and the pillars thereof tremble ; 

7. Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth 
not ; and sealeth up the stars ; 

8. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and 
treadeth upon the waves of the sea; 

9. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, 
and the chambers of the south ; 

10. Which doeth great things past finding out ; 
yea, and wonders without number. 

11. Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not ; he 
passeth on also, but I perceive him not. 

12. Behold, he taketh away : who can hinder 
him ? Who will say unto him, What doest thou ? 

13. If God will not withdraw his anger, the 
proud helpers do stoop under him. 

14. How much less shall I answer him, and 
choose out my words to reason with him ? 

15. Whom, though I were righteous, yet would 
I not answer ; but I would make supplication to my 
judge. 

John xii. — 37. But though he had done so 
many miracles before them, yet they believed not 
on him; 



38. That the saying of Esaias the prophet 
might be fulfilled which he spake : Lord, who haih 
believed our report ? and to whom hath the arm of 
the Lord been revealed ? 

39. Therefore they could not believe, because 
that Esaias said again, 

40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened 
their heart ; that they should not see with their 
eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be con- 
verted, and I should heal them. 

41. These things said Esaias, when he saw his 
glory, and spake of him. 

42. Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also 
many believed on him ; but because of, the Phari- 
sees they did not confess him, lest they should be 
put out of the synagogue : 

43. For they loved the praise of men more than 
the praise of God. 

44. Jesus cried, and said, He that believeth on 
me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent 
me. 

45. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent 
me. 

46. I am come a light into the world, that who- 
soever believeth on me should not abide in dark- 
ness. 

47. And if any man hear my words, and believe 
not, I judge him not ; for I came not to judge the 
world, but to save the world. 

48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my 
words, hath one that judgeth him : the word that 
I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the 
last day. 



With these solemn words, Jesus summed up and closed his 
earthly ministry. By the great body of the Jews, both rulers 
and people, his doctrine had been rejected, his authority de- 
nied, his Messiahship despised. So inveterate were their pre- 
judices, that not all his mighty works could command their 
assent to his teachings. This result of his mission had been 
predicted by Isaiah, who, in the strong metaphor of the He- 
brew prophets, ascribed to the Lord this hardening, which 
came of the fact that he brought into the world a stronger, 



clearer light of conviction, against which men closed their 
eyes. But terrible is the responsibility of resisting truth. 
Truth never dies ; it lives in itself, it lives in the memory, it 
lives in the conscience : and the day will come when the truth, 
no longer hidden by prejudice, nor baffled b}' passion, shall 
put forth its judicial, its condemning power against the soul 
that has rejected it. And so the gospel of the Son of God 
shall be enthroned above the law of Sinai, to judge and con- 
demn the world because of unbelief. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 40, 172, 195. 



Almighty and most merciful Father, who of thy 
tender love toward us didst send thy Son, our Sa- 
viour Jesus Christ, to be our Advocate and Inter- 
cessor, hear us for his sake, and grant us the mer- 
cies which we need for another day. 

We thank thee for all thy goodness and thy care. 
Thou spreadest our table ; thou give st us life and 
breath and all things. Lord ! our souls, and all 
that is within us, would bless and praise thee. As 
a family, we bless thee for our home, and for all the 
comforts of our daily life. [May the children whom 
thou hast so favored in this house remember thee, 
their heavenly Father, and love and serve thee !] 



most merciful Saviour, our compassionate 
High Priest ! pity our infirmities ; heal our souls' 
sicknesses ; give us the joy of thy salvation, and a 
hope full of immortality. Strengthen us to live 
and labor for thee. Build up thy Church, Lord! 
Hasten that blessed day when war and violence, 
injustice and deceit, shall vex the earth no more, 
and the Prince of peace shall reign in righteous- 
ness. And at length take us to rest with thee 
above, for thine own name and mercy's sake ; 
and unto thee, with the Father and the Holy 
Ghost, be all honor and glory, now and evermore. 
Amen. 



404 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



Daniel vi. — 4. Then the presidents and princes 
sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning 
the kingdom : but they could find none occasion 
nor fault ; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither 
was there any error or fault found in him. 

5. Then said these men,. We shall not find any 
occasion against this Daniel, except we find it 
against him concerning the law of his God. 

6. Then these presidents and princes assembled 
together to the king, and said thus unto him : King 
Darius, live forever. 

7. All the presidents of the kingdom, the gov- 
ernors and the princes, the counsellors and the 
captains, have consulted together to establish a 
royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that who- 
soever shall ask a petition of any god or man for 
thirty days, save of thee, king ! he shall be cast 
into the den of lions. 

8. Now, king! establish the decree, and sign 
the writing, that it be not changed, according to the 
law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 

10. Now, when Daniel knew that the writing 
was signed, he went into his house; and, his win- 
dows being open in his chamber toward Jerusa- 
lem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a clay, 
and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he 
did aforetime. 

11. Then these men assembled, and found Dan- 
iel praying and making supplication before his God. 

15. Then these men assembled unto the king, 
and said unto the king, Know, king ! that the 
law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree 
nor statute which the king establisheth may be 
changed. 



After the capture of Babylon (see page 389), Darius the 
Mede came into power ; and his first act was to divide his 
kingdom into a hundred and twenty districts for revenue : 
over each of these was appointed a prince ; and over this body 
of officers were three presidents, to whom they must submit 
their accounts. The character of Daniel for wisdom and in- 
tegrity led to his promotion as chief of this board ; and this 
excited the envy of his associates. Yet they were obliged to 
admit that Daniel walked so uprightly, that they could bring- 
no charge against him : so they flattered the pride of the king, 
and procured a decree which was intended to insnare Daniel. 



16. Then the king commanded, and they brought 
Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Nou<, 
the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God 
whom thou servest continually, he will deliver 
thee. 

17. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the 
mouth of the den ; and the king sealed it with his 
own signet, and with the signet of his lords ; that 
the purpose might not be changed concerning 
Daniel. 

18. Then the king went to his palace, and passed 
the night fasting; neither were instruments of 
music brought before him ; and his sleep went 
from him. 

19. Then the king arose very early' in the morn- 
ing, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 

20. And, when he came to the den, he cried 
with a lamentable voice unto Daniel ; and the 
king spake and said to Daniel, Daniel, ser- 
vant of the living God ! is thy God, whom thou 
servest continually, able to deliver thee from the 
lions ? 

21. Then said Daniel unto the king, king ! 
live forever. 

22. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut 
the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me ; 
forasmuch as before him innocency was found in 
me ; and also before thee, king! have I done no 
hurt. 

23. / Then was the king exceeding glad for him, 
and commanded that they should take Daniel up 
out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of 
the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon 
him, because he believed in his God. 



Bitterly did the king lament his act when he saw its bearing 
upon his most trusted servant ; but he feared to violate his 
word, and to shake public confidence in the stability of the 
laws. Daniel alone felt no concern. He neither suspended 
his devotions, nor sought to conceal them, but went on as 
usual openly serving and honoring the Lord. And the Lord 
put honor upon him in the sight of the king and over all his 
enemies. Daniel's accusers were cast into the den of lions : 
and Darius made a decree, " That in every dominion of my 
kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel ; for 
he is the living God, and steadfast forever." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 157, 166, 192. 



Lord God ! our fathers trusted in thee, and 
were not ashamed; and in thy love we would con- 
fide for ever and ever. In health and in sickness, 
in hope and in sorrow, we would look up to the 
hills, whence cometh our help ; and we pray that we 
may have the perfect peace of those whose minds 
are stayed upon the Lord. We thank thee for the 
mercies of another night, and for the goodness thou 
hast provided with the opening day. The sun has 
spread its light over the world ; the earth is bring- 
ing forth renewed supplies of good. We bless thee, 



Lord ! for all thy gifts, and pray thee be merci- 
ful to us in our renewed wants, and visit us with 
thy salvation. Continue to us, we entreat thee, 
the gifts of thy providence ; and pour upon us the 
blessings of thy grace. Go forth with us, Lord ! 
to the engagements, the trials, the duties, and the 
pleasures which await us to-day. Oh ! keep us 
from evil and sin. Bless all who are dear to us by 
any tie; all who are in any want, trouble, or sor- 
row. Deliver thy Church, and hasten the triumph 
of thy kingdom, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



405 



WEDNESDAY. 



Luke xxii. — 24. And there was also a strife 
among them, which of them should be accounted 
the greatest. 

25. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gen- 
tiles exercise lordship over them ; and they that 
exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 

26. But ye shall not be so : but he that is great- 
est among you, let him be as the younger; and he 
that is chief, as he that doth serve. 

27. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at 
meat, or he that serveth ? is not he that sitteth at 
meat ? But I a:n among you as he that serveth. 

28. Ye are they which have continued with me 
in my temptations. 

29. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my 
Father hath appointed unto me ; 

30. That ye may eat and drink at my table in 
my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the 
twelve tribes of Israel. 

31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, 
Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift 
you as wheat ; 



How unseemly was the contention among the disciples for 
pre-eminence, at the very hour when for their sakes the Lord 
was about to humble himself unto death ! And yet how true 
to human nature ! How often do we see children turning 
from the death-bed of their father to quarrel over his will ! 
This strife may have arisen out of the charge of treason 
which our Lord had brought against one of their number, — 
each seeking to vindicate himself, and to magnify his own 
fidelity. Besides, as Jesus had just spoken of the mystery of 
his passion to be fulfilled in the kingdom of God, their world- 
ly idea of the Messiah's kingdom was revived, and with this 
their ambition for its honors. Jesus, in the exercise of his 
divine prerogative, promises to them a position of dignity and 
honor like that of the ancient patriarchs ; but their path to 
this kingdom of spiritual pre-eminence must lie, like his, 



32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith 
fail not ; and, when thou art converted, strengthen 
thy brethren. 

33. And he said unto him, Lord, I am 
ready to go with thee, both into prison and to 
death. 

34. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock 
shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt 
thrice deny that thou knowest me. 

35. And he said unto them, When I sent you 
without purse and scrip and shoes, lacked ye any 
thing ? and they said, Nothing. 

36. Then said he unto them, But now, he that 
hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his 
scrip ; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his 
garment, and buy one. 

37. For I say unto you, that this that is written 
must yet be accomplished in me, And he was 
reckoned among the transgressors ; for the things 
concerning me have an end. 

38. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two 
swords ; and he said unto them, It is enough. 



through humiliation and suffering. They must abide with 
him in his trials. Peter was quick to take his Lord's mean- 
ing, and, with the confidence of his enthusiastic nature, de- 
clared his readiness to go to prison and to death. But Jesus 
knew, that, at that very moment, Satan, who had just made 
sure of Judas, was preparing a deadly assault upon Simon. 
Ah ! how little do we know when our greatest dangers threat- 
en ! and how close should we cling to the intercession of Christ ! 
Our Lord warned his disciples that persecution was about to 
burst upon them ; that his death would be the prelude to the 
conflicts of his Church ; and, using a strong martial figure, he 
bade them prepare for this, not in the literal sense of fight- 
ing, but arming themselves with zeal, courage, faith, and 
devotion. He forbade the use of the sword in his own de- 
fence ; saying, " My kingdom is not of this world." 



Appropriate Hymxs,] 



Prayer. 



[Xos. 144, 147, 156. 



Almighty God, from whom all good things do 
come, we thank and praise thee for the mercies of 
this morning. Make our hearts so deeply thankful 
for our many blessings, that we shall be ready to 
devote ourselves afresh — body, soul, and spirit — 
to thy service. 

Give unto us, God ! more of the mind which 
was in Christ Jesus. May we esteem others bet- 
ter than ourselves ! Teach us to pity and to help 
all who are in want and sorrow. May we show 
that we are Christians, not in name only, but in 
deed and truth ! and, by our holy and blameless 
lives, may we adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour 
in all things ! May thy truth make us free ! 

Almighty Father, teach us to imitate thy love, 
that we may be sanctified in heart and life, fitted 
to serve thee here, and to dwell with thee here- 
after. May we be temples of the Holy Ghost, and 
be sealed by him unto the day of redemption ! 



May his gracious teaching enlighten us, and his 
holy comfort cheer and refresh our souls ! May 
no cherished sin grieve this blessed Spirit, or 
quench the flame of love which he would kindle 
within us ! 

Bless, Lord ! thy Church with light and peace. 
J Bless our government and our country. Make 
us a nation fearing thee and working righteous- 
ness. 

Be gracious to all our dear friends and relatives, 
and guide their feet into the way of holiness. 
Bring nigh any who may be yet far from thee. 
Stablish, strengthen, and settle those who know 
and love thee. 

Hear, Lord ! we beseech thee, these our sup- 
plications, pardon for thy mercy's sake all our in- 
iquities, and do for us exceeding abundantly above 
all that we ask or think, for the sake of Jesus Christ, 
our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. 



406 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Matthew xxvi. — 47. And, while he yet spake, 
lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a 
great multitude with swords and staves, from the 
chief priests and elders of the people. 

48. Now, he that betrayed him gave them a 
sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same 
is he : hold him fast. 

49. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, 
Hail, master ! and kissed him. 

50. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, where- 
fore art thou come ? Then came they, and laid 
hands on Jesus, and took him. 

51. And, behold, one of them which were with 
Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, 
and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote 
off his ear. 

52. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again 
thy sword into his place ; for all they that take 
the sword shall perish with the sword. 

53. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to 
my Father, and he shall presently give me more 
than twelve legions of angels ? 

54. But how, then, shall the scriptures be ful- 
filled, that thus it must be ? 

55. In that same hour said Jesus to the multi- 
tudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with 
swords and staves for to take me ? I sat daily 
with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no 
hold on me. 



The death of Christ was a voluntary surrendering- of himself 
for the redemption of the world. Knowing the designs of the 
Pharisees against him, he could have eluded them by remain- 
ing beyond Jordan. Knowing the purpose of Judas to betray 
him, he could have withdrawn to some place of safety. But 
now that his mission of healing, of teaching, of guiding, was 
accomplished, the hour of sacrifice had come ; and he was pre- 
pared to meet it. At the last, he could have summoned le- 
gions of angels to his help ; but he gave himself for us. Every 
possible aggravation was added to his sorrows, — the igno- 
minious manner of his arrest, the rabble hunting him as 
though he were a thief, the treachery of Judas, the desertion of 



56. But all this was done that the scriptures of 
the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the dis- 
ciples forsook him, and fled. 

57. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led 
him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the 
scribes and the elders were assembled. 

58. But Peter followed him afar off, unto the 
high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the 
servants to see the end. 

69. Now, Peter sat without in the palace ; and 
a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast 
with Jesus of Galilee. 

70. But he denied before them all, saying, I 
know not what thou say est. 

71. And, when he was gone out into the porch, an- 
other maid saw him, and said unto them that were 
there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 

72. And again he denied with an oath, I do not 
know the man. 

73. And after a while came unto him they that 
stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art 
one of them ; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 

74. Then began he to curse and to swear, say- 
ing, I know not the man. And immediately the 
cock crew. 

75. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, 
which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou 
shalt deny me thrice ; and he went out, and wept 
bitterly. 



all the disciples, the denial of Peter. In reviewing the scene, we 
are ready enough to condemn the faithlessness of those upon 
whom Jesus had lavished his love, and whom he had sought 
to fortify with his counsels ; but do not we ourselves some- 
times betray our trust, forsake our duty, deny our Lord % 
The treachery of Judas was the deliberate apostasy of a de- 
ceived and selfish heart ; the flight of the disciples was the 
impulse of sudden fear ; the denial of Peter was the re-action 
of an ardent temperament under a stunning, overwhelming 
disappointment. The conscience of Judas awoke to remorse : 
the heart of Peter, smitten by the sorrowful and reproving 
glance of his Lord, burst forth in bitter tears of penitence. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 30, 86. 



O Lord ! we beseech thee, grant us grace to with- 
stand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and 
the Devil, and with pure hearts and minds to fol- 
low thee. Suffer us never to fall away from 
Christ ; never, never to betray him. Oh ! keep 
us from all covetous and worldly desires. 

O Lord Jesus, who art exalted to be a Prince and 
a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of 
sins ! we do repent of our sins before thee, and hum- 
bly beseech thee to receive us, according to thy 
promise that him that cometh unto thee thou wilt 
in no wise cast out. Give unto us, Lord ! that 
sense of thy presence which shall preserve us 
from sin ; that strength of faith which shall over- 
come evil ; that peace which the world cannot give. 



We bring thee thanks for the mercies of the 
night, and supplicate thy grace for our friends and 
neighbors, for the absent dear to us, for thy Church, 
for this family, yea, Lord, for the whole family of 
mankind, — the world which thou hast died to 
save. Oh ! raise up a faithful ministry, and keep 
thy servants pure. 

We beseech thee, Lord ! to instruct us in our 
duty, and help us to perform it ; to give us a 
tender conscience and an earnest spirit ; to uphold 
us in the slippery ways of the world, and give us 
sterling integrity of heart ; and finally to receive 
us to thy presence in the world of endless life. 
And to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, 
be glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



407 



FRIDAY. 



Psalm cii. — 1. Hear my prayer, Lord! and 
let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face 
from me in the day when I am in trouble. 

6. I am like a pelican of the wilderness ; I am 
like an owl of the desert. 

7. I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the 
house-top. 

8. Mine enemies reproach me all the day ; and 
they that are mad against me are sworn against me. 

John xviii. — 28. Then led they Jesus from 
Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment : and it was 
early; and they themselves went not into the 
judgment-hall, lest they should be defiled ; but 
that they might eat the passover. 

29. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, 
What accusation bring ye against this man ? 

30. They answered and said unto him, If he 
were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered 
him up unto thee. 

31. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, 
and judge him according to your law. The Jews 
therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to 
put any man to death ; 

32. That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, 
which he spake, signifying what death he should 
die. 

33. Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall 



again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art 
thou the King of the Jews ? 

34. Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing 
of thyself? or did others tell it thee of me? 

35. Pilate answered, Am I a Jew ? Thine own 
nation, and the chief priests, have delivered thee 
unto me. What hast thou done ? 

36. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this 
world : if my kingdom were of this world, then 
would my servants fight, that I should not be de- 
livered to the Jews ; but now is my kingdom not 
from hence. 

37. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a 
king, then ? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I 
am a king. To this end was I born, and for this 
cause came I into the world, that I should bear 
witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the 
truth heareth my voice. 

38. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth ? And, 
when he had said this, he went out again unto the 
Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault 
at all. 

39. But ye have a custom that I should release 
unto you one at the passover : will ye, therefore, 
that I release unto you the King of the Jews ? 

40. Then cried they all again, saying, Not this 
man, but Barabbas. Now, Barabbas was a robber. 



To compass the death of Jesus, it was necessary to obtain 
the sanction of the Roman governor; and so the officers of 
the Sanhedrim led him to the Roman judgment-hall. But, 
though they were ready to steep their hands in the blood of 
an innocent man, so sanctimonious were they, that they would 
not enter a Gentile court for fear of defilement ! Not caring 
to mix himself up with religious controversies, Pilate sought 
to dismiss the case from his jurisdiction by conceding to the 
Jews the privilege of executing their own laws. But, much 
as they hated the Roman authority, they wished now to employ 
it to gratify their malice. Had Jesus been punished by Jew- 



ish law, he would have been stoned to death ; but a con- 
demnation for sedition by Roman law would be crucifixion. 
With what meek majesty did Jesus confront the representative 
of the greatest empire of the world, declaring himself a king 
in that higher realm of spiritual powers where truth rules 
over all ! Even the temporizing, truckling governor was 
awed by this strange assertion of a kingdom which his power 
could not touch, and to which every soul must bow. Yet the 
Roman empire long ago crumbled away, while Christ's king- 
dom lives and grows. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 16, 86. 



O Lord Jesus, who for our sakes didst endure 
such contradiction of sinners against thyself ! grant 
us grace, that, like thee, we may be meek and lowly 
of heart. When offended and wronged by others, 
may we remember Him, who, when he was reviled, 
reviled not again, and who from the cross prayed 
for the forgiveness of his enemies ! 

Our Father in heaven, as we pray thee to forgive 
our manifold offences, may we ever show the spirit 
of forgiveness toward all who do us harm ! Set a 
watch, Lord ! at the door of our lips, that we of- 
fend not in word ; and, while bold and firm for thy 
truth and cause, in all that concerns ourselves may 
we study the things that make for peace ! Help 
us this day to resist temptation, to walk uprightly, 
to do good as we have opportunity, to relieve the 
suffering and the needy, to be kind toward all, and 
to overcome the world. 



Father of all mercies, we commend this house- 
hold to thy loving care. [Oh ! take these children 
into thine arms ; defend them from the power of 
evil; draw them to the cross of Christ, that they 
may there be baptized into the love of Him who 
died for them.] Grant us, Lord ! such prosperity 
as shall please thee ; yet, in all that we possess and 
enjoy, help us ever to remember that we are not 
our own, but are bought with a price, — even the 
precious blood of Christ. We pray for thy Church 
which thou hast redeemed : grant her peace and 
unity. And, oh ! hasten the ingathering of the 
nations, that thou mayest see of the travail of thy 
soul, and be satisfied. Heavenly Father, we bless 
thee for the mercy which has brought us to the be- 
ginning of this day ; we supplicate thy favor upon 
all our friends ; and, Lord ! have mercy upon us, 
and upon all men, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



408 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



John xix. — 1. Then Pilate, therefore, took 
Jesus, and scourged him. 

2. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, 
and put it on his head, and they put on him a pur- 
ple robe, 

3. And said, Hail, King of the Jews ! and they 
snote him with their hands. 

4. Pilate, therefore, went forth again, and saith 
unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that 
ye may know that I find no fault in him. 

5. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown 
of thorns and the purple robe ; and Pilate saith 
unto them, Behold the man ! 

6. When the chief priests, therefore, and officers, 
saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, cru- 
cify him ! Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, 
and crucify him; for I find no fault in him. 

7. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and 
by our law he ought to die, because he made him- 
self the Son of God. 

8. When Pilate, therefore, heard that saying, he 
was the more afraid ; 

9. And went again into the judgment-hall, and 
saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou ? But Jesus 
gave him no answer. 

10. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou 
not unto me ? Knowest thou not that I have pow- 
er to crucify thee, and have power to release thee ? 



Was there ever such a mockery of law, such a perversion 
of justice, as this 1 For a time, it seemed that the blunt hones- 
ty of a pagan governor must get the better of the unscrupu- 
lous hatred of these religious rulers. But the Jews knew the 
weak points in Pilate's character. He was ambitious, and 
fond of popularity. As he could not take cognizance of a 
purely religious question, the priests trumped up against Jesus 
a charge of sedition, in that he set himself against Cassar by 
claiming to be a king. Now, they sincerely hated Cassar's 
government ; and nothing would have pleased them better 
than to have their Messiah appear, and wrest the kingdom of 
David from the hands of foreigners. But they hated still 



11. Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no 
power at all against me except it were given thee 
from above : therefore he that delivered me unto 
thee hath the greater sin. 

12. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to re- 
lease him ; but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou 
let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend. Who- 
soever maketh himself a king speaketh against 
Caesar. 

13. When Pilate, therefore, heard that saying, he 
brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judg- 
ment-seat, in a place that is called the Pavement, 
but, in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 

14. And it was the preparation of the passover, 
and about the sixth hour; and he saith unto the 
Jews, Behold your King ! 

15. But they cried out, Away with him! away 
with him! crucify him ! Pilate saith unto them, 
Shall I crucify your King ? The chief priests an- 
swered, We have no king but Caesar. 

16. Then delivered he him, therefore, unto them 
to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him 
away. 

17. And he, bearing his cross, went forth into a 
place called the place of a skull, which is called, in 
the Hebrew, Golgotha; 

18. Where they crucified him, and two other with 
him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. 



more the searching, spiritual doctrine of Christ, and his tests 
of membership in the kingdom of God ; and so they threat- 
ened to accuse Pilate of want of fidelity to the emperor if he 
should let Jesus go. Knowing their turbulent and reckless 
spirit, Pilate sought to conciliate them by sacrificing a man 
whom he had declared to be without fault. With gross cru- 
elty he scourged him, suffered him to be mocked and abused 
at the very judgment-seat, then delivered him to the mercies 
of the mob. With sublime majesty Jesus lifted himself above 
the power of governor and emperor, pronounced judgment 
upon his judge, and, accepting the will of his Father, meekly 
bore his cross, and suffered between two thieves. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 74, 86, 108. 



Lord Jesus ! how shall we ever love thee and 
praise thee for the greatness of thy love for us ? 
Forgive us our sloth and self-indulgence, our wa- 
vering and timidity ; and by thine agony and 
bloody sweat help us to bear our cross, and suffer 
us never to fall away from thee. May the love of 
Christ constrain us ! May we learn the joy of 
sacrifice, and be willing to labor and to suffer for 
those who do us wrong! Father in heaven, teach 
us like thyself to do good to the evil and the un- 
thankful. 

God, who makest the outgoings of the morn- 
ing and the evening to rejoice ! we bless thee that 
ours has not been a night of anguish and sorrow. 
We lift up our hearts to thee with gladness and 
thanksgiving for the joy of another day ; for re- 



newed vigor for its duties, appetite for its pleasures, 
and readiness for its opportunities of good. Bless 
us in our labors, keep us pure in our enjoyments, 
incite us to do thy will ; and oh ! we beseech thee, 
preserve us from harm, from temptation, and from 
sin. Keep us from that love and that fear of this 
world which would estrange us from thee. 

May we as a family honor thee in our daily walk 
and conversation ! May old and young alike know 
the beauty of holiness, the joy of consecration to 
Christ ! Grant thy grace to all who are dear to 
us ; and grant us grace to hold all men dear for 
Christ's sake, and to win them to the knowledge 
of his gospel. And may the peace of God, that 
passeth all understanding, keep our hearts and 
minds through Jesus Christ our Lord ! Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



409 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



John xxi. — 1. After these things, Jesus showed 
himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tibe- 
rias ; and on this wise showed he himself. 

2. There were together Simon Peter, and 
Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana 
in Galilee, and the sous of Zebedee, and two other 
of his disciples. 

3. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a-fishing. 
They say unto him, We also go with thee. They 
weat forth, and entered into a ship immediately; 
and that night they caught nothing. 

4. But, when the morning was now come, Jesus 
stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not 
that it was Jesus. 

5. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have 
ye any meat ? They answered him, ]STo. 

6. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the 
right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They 
cast, therefore ; and now they were not able to draw 
it for the multitude of fishes. 

7. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved 



saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now, when Simon 
Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fish- 
er's coat unto him (for he was naked), and did cast 
himself into the sea. 

8. And the other disciples came in a little ship 
(for they were not far from land, but, as it were, two 
hundred cubits), dragging the net with fishes. 

9. As soon, then, as they were come to land, they 
saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and 
bread. 

10. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish 
which ye have now caught. 

13. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to 
land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and 
three ; and for all there were so many, yet was not 
the net broken. 

12. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. 
And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art 
thou ? knowing that it was the Lord. 

13. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and 
giveth them, and fish likewise. 



Though our Lord had commissioned his apostles to go 
into all the world and preach the gospel, he had instructed 
them not to enter upon the work of evangelization till they 
should have received the power of the Holy Ghost. It was to 
their honor, therefore, that, instead of setting themselves up as 
a privileged class, they returned to their former occupation as 
a mjans of livelihood. All useful occupations are honorable 
and Christian ; and, while waiting for their divine call, these 
" fishers of mjn " were doing their duty in catching fish. 
They had bien out all night, bit had had no luck; when in 
the morning a stranger, walking on the shore, encouraged 
them to try on the right side of the ship. Acting, as men 
ofteu will, upon any suggestion, and perhaps supposing that 



he knew the locality, they tried, and were rewarded with ex- 
traordinary success. With the magnetism of a deep spiritual 
nature, John instantly felt, as in the very air, the presence of 
the Lord ; and Peter, whose native impetuosity was now at- 
tempered by love, plunged into the water to be the first to 
greet him. Yet as the disciples drew near and saw the fire, 
with fish and bread made ready by the same hand that had 
fed the five thousand, they were so filled with reverence, that 
they could not speak. Indeed, they always seemed to have 
an awe of the risen Saviour. This last miracle of Jesus hal- 
lowed once more that lovely lake which had been the scene of 
so many of his mighty works. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 6, 13, 100. 



Almighty God, who hast set apart one day in 
seven for the special good of our souls, enable us 
to keep this day holy. Thou hast bidden us to 
rest from our worldly labors and employments : do 
thou also shut the world out of our hearts, and 
take full possession of them thyself. 

Lord, most gracious Saviour, who on this day 
didst rise again from the dead! raise up our souls 
unto newness of life, granting us repentance from 
dead works, and planting us in the likeness of thy 
resurrection. 

Prepare for us this day a gracious feast of love. 
Oh ! feed us with the bread of heaven. May thy 
Word, thy sacraments, thy life, nourish, comfort, 
and sustain us ! Help us in all and through all the 
means of grace to discern thee, the risen Lord. 

Bless, gracious God, thy Church : make it the 
instrument in thy hands of leading many to heav- 
en. Raise up faithful and earnest men for the 
work of the minstry. Do thou thyself teach them, 
that they may teach others. Especially be with 
the minister of this parish, who is set over us in 



the Lord. Holy Spirit ! let thy grace descend 
upon us in large measure. Let thy power be felt 
among us, awakening those who sleep, leading us 
all to greater earnestness, and making us more holy 
in our lives. And wherever thy gospel is preached 
this day, whether at home or abroad, oh ! grant that 
its influence may be felt, and that thousands may 
be turned from darkness to light, and from the 
power of Satan unto God. 

Grant, Lord, that a special blessing may rest 
upon our Sunday schools, and all who are called to 
teach in them. Be with each one of our fellow- 
worshippers. Help them and us, and all who are 
dear to us, this day, on our way to heaven. 

We thank thee for all the mercies of the week ; 
we acknowledge thy goodness to this family ; and 
humbly commit ourselves to thy care, praying that 
our names may be written in heaven. 

Hear these our prayers, we beseech thee, and 
grant our requests, through the intercession 
of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
Amen. 



410 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



John xxi. — 15. So, when they had dined, Jesus 
saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, West 
thou me more than these ? He saith unto him, 
Yea, Lord : thou knowest that I love thee. He 
saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 

16. He saith to him again the second time, 
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith 
unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love 
thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 

17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, 
son of Jonas, lovest thou me ? Peter was grieved 
because he said unto him the third time, Lovest 
thou me ? And he said unto him, Lord, thou 
knowest all things : thou knowest that I love thee. 
Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 

18. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou 
wast young thou girdest thyself, and walkedst 
whither thou wouldest; but, when thou ehalt be 
old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another 
shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou would- 
est not. 

19. This spake he, signifying by what death he 



What so searching as love, so intense in its requirements, 
so severe in its tests, because so pure, so rich, so free in its 
outgoing ? Jesus, who had loved Peter so strongly, that, 
by the energy of prayer, he had rescued liim from the fate of 
Judas ; who had loved him so tenderly, that neither from the 
cross nor from the open sepulchre had he upbraided him with 
his fall, — now put to Peter the simple question, " Lovest thou 
me ? " Our Lord had the right to ask this question in the 
comparative ; for Peter had ever been forward to speak and act, 
and had just now plunged into the water to get to Jesus a 
little in advance of his brethren : " Lovest thou me more than, 
thy fellow-disciples ? " The reproving look which the Re- 
deemer had cast on Peter after his denial was still burning in 
his soul ; and now, like a triple hammer-stroke, the question 
falls upon his heart, " Lovest thou me 1 " The question, 
so severe and searching from its association, was the more so 



should glorify God. And, when he had spoken 
this, he saith unto him, Follow me. 

20. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the dis- 
ciple whom Jesus loved following; (which also 
leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, 
which is he that betrayeth thee ?) 

21. Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and 
what shall this man do ? 

22. Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry 
till I come, what is that to thee ? Follow thou me. 

23. Then went this saying abroad among the 
brethren, that that disciple should not die : yet 
Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die ; but, If I 
will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee ? 

24. This is the disciple which testifieth of these 
things, and wrote these things ; and we know that 
his testimony is true. 

25. And there are also many other things 
which Jesus did, the which, if they should be writ- 
ten every one, I suppose that even the world itself 
could not contain the books that should be written. 
Amen. 



from the words in which it was phrased. The English ver- 
sion does not show the difference ; but, the first time our 
Lord used a word that expresses only a reverential love, — put- 
ting Peter, as it were, in the place of a servant or disciple, — 
Peter responded with a word that expresses the warmest per- 
sonal devotion. The same distinction is repeated in the 
second asking. But the third time, as if to take Peter back 
to his heart, our Lord adopts his own warmth of utterance, 
and makes such love the qualification for feeding the flock. 
Not to precede in rank, but to excel in love, should be the am- 
bition of the Christian preacher. With such love in his 
heart, it was nothing to Peter to be warned that in his old 
age he should be bound and crucified for his Lord. The 
love which had conquered self had already conquered death. 
The one test of the believer's preparation for duty or for 
death is, " Lovest thou me 1 " 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 162, 168, 174. 



Lord ! we are not worthy to lift up our hearts 
and our voices unto thee ; but He is worthy in 
whose name we approach thee. Though thou art 
high and holy, yet dost thou humble thyself to be- 
hold the dwellers upon earth, and dost hearken to 
the cry of the needy for thy dear Son's sake. 

We thank thee for health and strength, and 
every earthly comfort and blessing. But we praise 
thee yet more for the measure of grace which thou 
hast given to us ; for thy holy Word, and for the 
way of salvation which it reveals. Teach us to 
devote all that we have, and all that we are, to 
Him who gave himself for us. Oh, may the love 
of Christ constrain us ! May we walk as children 
of the light ! and may our light so shine before 
men, that they may see our good works, and glorify 
our Father which is in heaven ! 

Give unto us the spirit of self-denial, — the 



same mind that was in Christ Jesus. So fill us 
with the grandeur of thy kingdom, with the real- 
ity of things not seen, with the nearness of eter- 
nity, that we shall count all earthly things but 
loss for thy sake. May we trust thy providence 
to take care of us while we seek first the kingdom 
of God ! 

[May the children of this family grow up in 
the love of all that is pure and good and holy !] 
We implore thy blessing upon all who are in any 
way connected with us, especially those who are 
in any trouble and sorrow. Comfort all that 
mourn. Enlighten and sanctify any who are yet 
far from thee. 

And now, most gracious Father, we pray thee 
to watch over and protect us through this night. 
Let thy love cheer us, and thy Holy Spirit comfort 
us, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



411 



MONDAY. 



Esther vii. — 1. So the king and Haman came 
to banquet with Esther the queen. 

2. And the king said again unto Esther on the 
second day at the banquet of wine, "What is thy 
petition, Queen Esther ? and it shall be granted 
thee; and what is thy request? and it shall be 
performed, even to the half of the kingdom. 

3. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If 
I have found favor in thy sight, king ! and if it 
please the king, let my life be given me at my 
petition, and my people at my request ; 

4. For we are sold, I and my people, to be de- 
stroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But, if we had 
been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had 
held my tongue, although the enemy could not 
counterveil the king's damage. 

5. Then the King Ahasuerus answered and said 
unto Esther the queen, "Who is he, and where is 
he, that durst presume in his heart to do so ? 

6. And Esther said, The adversary and enemy 
is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid 
before the king and the queen. 

7. And the king, arising from the banquet of 
wine in his wrath, went into the palace-garden : 
and Haman stood up to make request for his life 
to Esther the queen ; for he saw that there was 
evil determined against him by the king. 

8. Then the king returned out of the palace- 



Many years had passed since Daniel's promotion had made 
the Jews and their religion conspicuous throughout the 
Persian empire ; and Ahasuerus was now upon the throne of 
Babylon. He is described as a king of great power and re- 
nown, who reigned even from Judasa unto Ethiopia. If, as 
some suppose, he is to be identified with Xerxes, then the 
body of the Jews, by the favor of Cyrus, had returned to their 
native land. But many preferred to remain in the rich 
regions of Mesopotamia, where, indeed, two generations had 
grown up during the captivity. But, wherever they were, the 
Jews kept up their distinctions of race and religion. The 
king, having set aside Vashti for slighting his commands, was 
so pleased with Esther, a fair and beautiful Jewish maiden, 
that he made her queen. His prime-minister Haman, igno- 
rant of Esther's family and race, had plotted the extermina- 



garden into the place of the banquet of wine ; and 
Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther 
was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen 
also before me in the house ? As the word went 
out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's 
face. 

9. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, 
said before the king. Behold also, the gallows, fifty 
cubits high, which Hainan had made for Mordecai, 
who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the 
house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him 
thereon. 

10. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that 
he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the 
king's wrath pacified. 

Esther viii. — 15. And Mordecai went out from 
the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue 
and white, and with a great crown of gold, and 
with a garment of fine linen and purple ; and the 
city of Shushan rejoiced, and was glad : 

16. The Jews had light and gladness and joy 
and honor. 

17. And in every province, and in every city, 
whithersoever the king's commandment and his 
decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a 
feast and a good day. And many of the people 
of the land became Jews ; for the fear of the Jews 
fell upon them. 



tion of the Jews to avenge himself upon Mordecai, the uncle 
of Esther, who had refused to do him reverence. Guided by 
her uncle, and sustained by prayer, Esther had interposed to 
save her people ; and as Haman sat at table with her and the 
king, exulting in his own advancement, she exposed his 
wicked plot ; and, with the swiftness of Oriental justice, he was 
hurried to the gallows which he had built for Mordecai. The 
Jews celebrate every spring, in the festival of Purim, this 
great deliverance. The piety and faith of Esther, and her 
loving devotion to her guardian-uncle, impart a religious dig- 
nity to the romance of her life ; and the sequel of Jewish his- 
tory interprets the far-reaching and ever-merciful Providence 
that "brought her to the kingdom for such a time as this." 
God has ever his own methods, and can never fail of an instru- 
ment for accomplishing his plans. 



Appropriate Hyjixs,] 



Prayer*. 



[Xos. 114, 163. 



Our Father in heaven, we would draw nigh unto 
thee by that new and living way which hath been 
opened for us into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. 
"We thank thee for the mercies of the night. How 
sure are the mercies of thy covenant, Lord! All 
thy promises in Christ Jesus are Yea and Amen. 
Fulfil unto us, we beseech thee, these thy mercies 
and promises, and cause that this day we may re- 
joice in the consciousness of thy presence. Oh ! 
sanctify us by thy truth ; and, while we receive 
its instruction and comfort in our hearts, may we 
carry out its precepts in our lives. May every day 
witness some new victory over evil desires and 
passions within us, and over the evil that is in the 



world ! [Oh, may these children grow in grace as 
they grow in years and in knowledge ! May they 
shun evil companions and evil ways, and walk in 
the way of thy commandments !] Keep all dear to 
us even as the apple of thine eye. Bless our neigh- 
bors, and send thy Spirit upon this whole com- 
munity. Bless our rulers, and the schools and 
churches in our land. May all who rule, and all 
who teach, be led and taught by thee ! Have pity 
upon the poor and the sorrowing; upon homes 
made desolate by famine, pestilence, or war. 
Lord! send peace and salvation to all people. 
Mercifully forgive our sins, and finally bring us to 
behold thy face, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



412 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



TUESDAY. 



to pass in the 
year of Arta- 



Nehemiah ii. — 1. And it came 
month Nisan, in the twentieth 
xerxes the king, that wine was before him ; and 
I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. 
Now, I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 

2. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is 
thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick ? 
this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I 
was very sore afraid, 

3. And said unto the king, Let the king live for- 
ever : why should not my countenance be sad, when 
the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth 
waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire ? 

4. Then the king said unto me, For what dost 
thou make request '? So I prayed to the God of 
heaven. 

5. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, 
and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, 
that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the 
city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. 

6. And the king said unto me (the queen also 
sitting by him), For how long shall thy journey 
be ? and when wilt thou return ? So it pleased 
the king to send me ; and I set him a time. 

9. Then I came to the governors beyond the 
river, and gave them the king's letters. Now, the 
king had sent captains of the army and horsemen 
with me. 

11. So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three 
days. 



During their captivity in Bab3 r lon, many of the Jews rose 
to places of honor and power ; and the influence which they 
acquired they used for the advantage of their people. The 
captivity weaned them from idolatry, and strengthened the 
feeling of nationality ; and when at last the way was open 
for their return to Palestine, though many remained in Baby- 
lonia from preference, or because of official or family ties, 
they all contributed toward the restoration of Jerusalem and 
the temple. Nehemiah held a post of favor near the person 
of the king ; but, like Moses in the court of Pharaoh, he car- 
ried upon his heart the burden of his people, and did not 
suffer the temptations of the court to swerve him from liis 



12. And I arose in the night, I and some few 
men with me ; neither told I any man what my 
God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem ; 
neither was there any beast with me, save the beast 
that I rode upon. 

13. And I went out by night by the gate of the 
valley, even before the dragon-well, and to the 
dung-port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, 
which were broken down, and the gates thereof 
were consumed with fire. 

14. Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, 
and to the king's pool; but there was no place for 
the beast that was under me to pass. 

15. Then went I up in the night by the brook, 
and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered 
by the gate of the valley, and so returned. 

16. And the rulers knew not whither I went, 
or what I did ; neither had I as yet told it to the 
Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to 
the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. 

17. Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress 
that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the 
gates thereof are burned with fire : come, and let 
us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no 
more a reproach. 

18. Then I told them of the hand of my God 
which w T as good upon me ; as also the king's words 
that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let 
us rise up and build. So they strengthened their 
hands for this good work. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

Our Father in heaven, thou hast kept us in the 
watches of the night from every trouble, sorrow, 
and alarm ; thou hast given us refreshing sleep. 
And now we bless thee for the day ; for life and 
health, for food and raiment, for home and friends, 
for means of education and of enjoyment, for 
means of occupation and of support, for means 
of improvement in the knowledge of thyself from 
thy works and thy Word, and for opportunities 
of doing good to others. 

We acknowledge, Lord ! our unworthiness 
and our sinfulness, and beseech thee to pardon our 
transgressions and heal our infirmities. Help us 
this day to live aright. In the business of life 



piety. Fortified by prayer, he resolved to use his position for 
the relief of his suffering brethren. He gained the royal per- 
mission to rebuild the city and temple ; and in face of oppo- 
sition, apathy, and treachery, by dint of vigilance, persever- 
ance, and efficient organization, he succeeded in building the 
walls of Jerusalem, and in erecting a temple, which, though 
the old men grieved in comparing it with the glory of Solo- 
mon's, served to revive the worship of the fathers, and be- 
came once more the symbol of national unity and hope. To 
that temple came a greater than Solomon, — even the King 
in his glory. 



[Nos. 104, 121, 157. 



may we be diligent, faithful, true ! In our inter- 
course with others, may we manifest the gentle- 
ness, the sincerity, the charity, of the gospel of 
Christ ! May we be patient under trials, meek 
under injuries, firm against temptation, bold for 
the truth, zealous for thy cause ! May we be kind 
to the poor, helpful to the suffering, gentle toward 
all men ! Visit with thy grace the homes of all 
who are dear to us. Build up, Lord! thy 
Church; prosper thy kingdom in our land, and 
throughout the world. Ever guide, keep, and 
bless us. Bring us to the close of the day in 
peace, and to the close of life in a hope full of 
immortality, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 




WEDNESDAY. 



Numbers xxiv. — 15. And he took up his par- 
able, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, 
and the man whose eyes are open hath said ; 

16. He hath said, which heard the words of 
God, and knew the knowledge of the Most High, 
which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into 
a trance, but having his eyes open : 

17. I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold 
him, but not nigh : there shall come a Star out of 
Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and 
shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all 
the children of Sheth. 

18. And Edom shall be a possession ; Seir also 
shall be a possession for his enemies ; and Israel 
shall do valiantly. 

19. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have 
dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of 
the city. 

Matthew ii. — 1. Now, when Jesus was born 
in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the 
king, behold, there came wise men from the east to 
Jerusalem, 

2. Saying, "Where is he that is born King of 
the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, 
and are come to worship him. 

3. When Herod the king had heard these 
things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with 
him. 

4. And, when he had gathered all the chief 



priests and scribes of the people together, he de- 
manded of them where Christ should be born. 

5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of 
Juda?a ; for thus it is written by the prophet, 

6. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, 
art not the least among the princes of Juda ; for 
out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule 
my people Israel. 

7. Then Herod, when he had privily called the 
wise men, inquired of them diligently what time 
the star appeared. 

8. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, 
Go and search diligently for the young child ; and, 
when ye have found him, bring me word again, 
that I may come and worship him also. 

9. W T hen they had heard the king, they de- 
parted; and, lo, the star which they saw in the 
east went before them till it came and stood over 
where the young child was. 

10. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with 
exceeding great joy. 

11. And, when they were come into the house, 
they saw the young child with Mary his mother, 
and fell down and worshipped him ; and, when 
they had opened their treasures, they presented 
unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 

12. And, being warned of God in a dream that 
they should not return to Herod, they departed 
into their own country another way. 



The " east " was the region about the Euphrates ; and 
the "wise men," or Magi, probably belonged to the priestly 
and learned caste in Persia. Many of the Jews remained 
permanently in Babylonia when the bulk of the people re- 
turned from their captivity in that land, and by these the 
prediction of their Messiah would be kept alive among their 
neighbors. The prophecies of Daniel may have found a 
place in the writing's of the Magi ; for he was set above all the 
wise men of the Chaldeans. Astronomers have recorded the 
appearance of transient stars of great brilliancy ; and such a 
star, appearing at a time when there was a general expec- 
tation of some remarkable prince, would attract the gaze of 



the Magi, who were accustomed to find in the heavens tokens 
of important persons or events upon earth. Great was their 
disappointment at finding no trace of the child in the royal 
family at the capital; great their surprise at being led to the 
humble lodging of Mary at Bethlehem ; but greater still was 
the faith which led them to worship the babe in her arms, and 
lay their offerings at his feet. Their worship was a sign of 
the kingly, the divine glory hidden in the child ; their gifts 
were a prophecy of the coming of the Gentiles to his king- 
dom. While we admire their devotion, let us imitate it also, 
bringing our hearts and treasures to the Saviour-King. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 119, 201. 



O Thou who didst humble thyself to be oorn of 
a virgin, the everlasting Son of the Bather, the 
Prince of peace ! we bless and adore thee for thy 
grace and compassion for us sinners. We give 
thanks unto the Father, who so loved the world, 
that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever 
believeth in him should not perish, but have ever- 
lasting life ; we praise and worship the Son, who 
took upon him our nature that he might redeem us 
to God. Oh ! grant us, we beseech thee, thy peace, 
through the forgiveness of sin, reconciliation with 
God, and the indwelling of the Spirit, that we may 
glorify and praise thee in our lives for all that we 
have heard and seen of thy grace. We thank 
thee, Father ! for the quiet and rest of the 



past night, — that thine angels have watched 
over our beds with thy peace : we. would awake 
to show forth thy glory, and to spread good will 
among men. 

[May the children of this family remember that 
Jesus came as a little child to bless them ! May 
they give their hearts to his love !] And may 
we all, in the spirit of little children, love and 
serve Him who came into the world to save 
sinners ! And, oh ! may the world be saved ; 
may all men come to Christ ; may peace reign 
on earth, and good will bind all hearts together 
for the glory of God ! And to the Father, Son, 
and Holy Spirit, be honor and praise throughout 
all ages. Amen. 



414 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THURSDAY. 



Job xiv. — 1. Man, that is born of a woman, is 
of few days, and full of trouble. 

2. He cometb fortli like a flower, and is cut down ; 
he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 

5. Seeing his days are determined, the number 
of his months are with thee ; thou hast appointed 
his bounds that he cannot pass : 

6. Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall 
accomplish, as a hireling, his day. 

7. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, 
that it will sprout again, and that the tender 
branch thereof will not cease. 

8. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, 
and the stock thereof die in the ground ; 

9. Yet through the scent of water it will bud, 
and bring forth boughs like a plant. 

10. But man dieth, and wasteth away ; yea, 
man giveth up the ghost, and where is he ? 

11. As the waters fail from the sea, and the 
flood decayeth and drieth up ; 

12. So man lieth down, and riseth not : till the 
heavens be no more they shall not awake, nor be 
raised out of their sleep. 

14. If a man die, shall he live again? All the 
days of my appointed time will I wait till my 
change come. 

18. And surely the mountain, falling, cometh to 
nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. 



The great conquerors of the East caused military roads to 
be built across the desolate regions of Arabia lying between 
Palestine and Babylonia ; as, in later times, Rome had high- 
ways built through every country traversed by her armies. 
The march of a royal commander was heralded by pioneers 
to clear the way, and trumpeters to proclaim his coming. So 
the prophet conceives of Jehovah as about to lead his people 
from their captivity in Babylon to restore the Holy City ; and 
the heralds are sent forth into the wilderness to summon the 
engineers and workmen to prepare for his coming. His must 
be a high way, a straight way, a smooth way : every obstacle 
must be overcome, every annoyance removed ; nothing left 
to delay or to disfigure the march of this mighty, this glori- 



19. The waters wear the stones : thou wash- 
est away the things which grow out of the dust 
of the earth ; and thou destroyest the hope of 
man. 

Isaiah xl. — 1. Comfort ye, comfort ye my 
people, saith your God. 

2. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry 
unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that 
her iniquity is pardoned ; for she hath received of 
the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 

3. The voice of him that crieth in the wilder- 
ness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make 
straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

4. Every valley shall be exalted, and every 
mountain and hill shall be made low; and the 
crooked shall be made straight, and the rough 
places plain ; 

5. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, 
and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of 
the Lord hath spoken it. 

6. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What 
shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the good- 
liness thereof is as the flower of the field : 

7. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth ; be- 
cause the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it : 
surely the people is grass. 

8. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth ; but 
the word of our God shall stand forever. 



ous King. But the prophet looked beyond the redemption of 
Israel from captivity, — to the redemption of the nations from 
the God of this world, from the powers of darkness, through 
the coming of Christ. What might seem impossible to short- 
lived men, and to human agencies, that wither like the grass, 
was made sure by the enduring word of the Lord : and cen- 
turies later, when Jerusalem had forever lost her independent 
nationality, and was held as a vassal of Borne, the voice of 
John the Baptist was heard in the wilderness of Jndsea, cry- 
ing, " Prepare ye the way of the Lord ; " and her King came, 
whose triumph, begun in suffering, is going on to possess the 
earth till " all flesh shall see it together." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 146, 147, 159. 



Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the 
foundations of the earth ; and the heavens are 
the works of thine hands. They shall perish ; 
but thou remainest : and they shall wax old as 
doth a garment ; and as a vesture shalt thou 
fold them up, and they shall be changed ; but 
thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. 
In thee, Lord ! do we put our trust : let us 
never be confounded. With our affections on 
things above, may we be ever looking for that 
blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of the 
great God, our Saviour Jesus Christ ! May we 
grow in faith and love, in charity and meekness, 
in diligence and faithfulness, rejoicing in hope 
of the glory of God. Father, glorify thy name. 



May the time to favor Zion, yea, the set time, 
speedily come ! 

We bring to thee our personal and family wants, 
praying thee to guide, help, and bless us. [Give 
unto these children, Lord ! grace to serve thee 
in the morning of life, and in their thoughts and 
words, their studies and their play, always to please 
their Father in heaven.] Remember with thy 
mercy all our friends ; visit with thy grace the 
homes of all who are dear to us. We come with 
thanksgiving for the mercies of the night and of 
our past lives ; and for our future, trusting only 
in thy grace, we would commit our souls unto 
thee as to our faithful Creator ; to whom be glory 
and dominion forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



415 



FRIDAY. 



Jsremiah xxxi. — 15. Thus saith the Lord: A 
voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter 
weeping : Rahel, weeping for her children, re- 
fused to be comforted for her children, because 
they loere not. 

16. Thus saith the Lord : Refrain thy voice 
from weeping, and thine eyes from tears : for thy 
work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord ; and they 
shall come again from the land of the enemy. 

17. And there is hope in thine end, saith the 
Lord, that thy children shall come again to their 
own border. 

Matthew ii. — 13. Aid, when they were de- 
parted, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to 
Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the 
young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, 
and be thou there until I bring thee word; for 
Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 

14. When he arose, he took the young child and 
his mother by night, and departed into Egypt ; 

15. And was there until the death of Herod : 
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the 
Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I 
called my son. 

16. Then Herod, when he saw that he was 
mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and 



sent forth, and slew all the children that were in 
Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two 
years old and under, according to the time which 
he had diligently inquired of the wise men. 

17. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by 
Jeremy the prophet, saying, 

18. In Rama was there a voice heard, lamenta- 
tion and weeping and great mourning ; Rachel 
weeping for her children, and would not be com- 
forted, because they are not. 

19. But, when Herod was dead, behold, an angel 
of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in 

Egypt, 

20. Saying, Arise, and take the young child and 
his mother, and go into the land of Israel ; for they 
are dead which sought the young child's life. 

21. And he arose, and took the young child and 
his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 

22. But, when he heard that Archelaus did reign 
in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was 
afraid to go thither : notwithstanding, being 
warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into 
the parts of Galilee ; 

23. And he came and dwelt in a city called Naza- 
reth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken 
by the prophets, He shall be called a iSTazarene. 



After more than fifteen hundred years, Egypt, which had so 
sorely oppressed the people of God, became the refuge of their 
great Deliverer, of whom Moses was the type and forerunner. 
And the same cruelty of a tyrant, which had well-nigh caused 
the destruction of Moses at his birth, now led Joseph and Mary 
to seek safety in Egypt for the infant Jesus. So wonderfully 
does the providence of God frustrate the wrath of man, and even 
cause it to praise him ! The line of Pharaohs was long ago 
extinct, and Egypt was now a province of the Roman empire. 
The Jews were very numerous m that country, where they en- 
joyed protection and prosperity. An easy journey of three or 
four days — performed, probably, with the aid of a single ass — 
would place Joseph and the child beyond the reach of Herod. 



After the death of Herod the Great, his kingdom was di- 
vided by his will among several children ; and Archelaus had 
the province of Judaea. Joseph naturally feared that Arche- 
laus would inherit his father's jealousy of a king to be born 
unto the Jews ; but in Galilee, under "the milder rule of Anti- 
pas, he would be comparatively safe. Thus the narrative cor- 
responds minutely with the political history of the times. The 
loving care which Jehovah exercised over Jesus, as before he 
had done over Moses, is no doubt exercised over many a child, 
though its steps are not recorded. Some little incident in the 
life of a little child may have to do with the mighty purposes 
of God's kingdom. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 85, 201. 



God, the Father of all the families of men ! 
we thank thee for thy great love in the gift of 
children ; for all the joy they bring with them ; 
for all the good thou dost prepare for them and by 
them. We bless thee that thine only Son, our 
Saviour, came into the world as a little child, and 
so joined himself to our human life. [^Lry the 
children of this family be thine in the covenant 
of thy love, and grow up in the household of 
faith !] • . 

Lord ! we adore thee as God over all, blessed 
forevermore. Thou art the Former of our bodies, 
and the Father of our spirits. All we are and all 
we have is derived from thee. There is nothing 
which we have that we have not received. Oh ! 
give us the blessing of grateful hearts. Let thy 
Spirit be our teacher ; let thy Word be our guide ; 



let thy will be our sovereign motive ; let thy glory 
be our final end. 

Heavenly Father, we bring thee thanks for the 
rest and refreshment of sleep, and for the comforts 
of the morning. Bless us at our table, in our 
domestic occupations, and in all the business of 
life. Oh ! gladden this home with thy presence. 
Guide, keep, and prosper us this day. Bless all 
connected with us by whatever tie. May our ever- 
present God be with them, guiding them by his 
grace, defending them from temptation, and fitting 
them for the varied duties of the present life ! 

Bless the lambs of thy flock. We commend 
them to the Great Shepherd of the sheep, beseech- 
ing him to make them perfect, and to fold them 
in the arms of his mercy. And to thy name be 
ascribed all the praise. Amen. 



416 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SATURDAY. 



Psalm cxiv. — 1. When Israel went out of 
Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of 
strange language ; 

2. Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his do- 
minion. 

3. The sea saw it, and fled : Jordan was driven 
hack. 

4. The mountains skipped like rams, and the 
little hills like lambs. 

5. What ailed thee, thou sea ! that thou fled- 
dest ? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back ? 

6. Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams ; 
and ye little hills, like lambs ? 

7. Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the 
Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob ; 

8. Which turned the rock into a standing water, 
the flint into a fountain of waters. 

Isaiah lix. — 1. Behold, the Lord's hand is not 
shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear 
heavy that it cannot hear ; 

2. But your iniquities have separated between 
you and your God, and your sins have hid Ms face 
from you, that he will not hear. 

14. Judgment is turned away backward, and 
justice standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the 
street, and equity cannot enter. 

15. Yea, truth faileth ; and he that departeth 
from evil maketh himself a prey : and the Lord 



The prophet looks upon Israel in a state of utter apostasy, 
of seemingly hopeless corruption. No human reformer, no 
change of circumstances, no earthly intervention, can reach 
the deep necessities of their case. Indeed, they have fallen so 
low, that no one seems disposed to attempt a reformation, or 
to think of recovery as possible. The worst feature of their 
condition is, that they do not appear to know to what a depth 
they are sunk in degradation. Jehovah himself, by a strong 
figure of speech, is represented as wondering that no one 
attempts relief or intercession. Yet, because of this, his 
compassion is the more deeply stirred ; and, though their 
sins would justify him in leaving them to destruction, he 
will provide a Redeemer, and renew his covenant of salva- 



saw it, and it displeased him that there was no 
judgment. 

16. And he saw that there was no man, and 
wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore 
his arm brought salvation unto him ; and his right- 
eousness, it sustained him : 

17. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, 
and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he 
put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, 
and was clad with zeal as a cloak. 

18. According to their deeds, accordingly he 
will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to 
his enemies ; to the islands he will repay recom- 
pense. 

19. So shall they fear the name of the Lord 
from the west, and his glory from the rising of the 
sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, 
the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard 
against him. 

20. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and 
unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, 
saith the Lord. 

21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, 
saith the Lord : My spirit that is upon thee, and my 
words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not 
depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of 
thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, 
saith the Lord, from henceforth and forever. 



tion. It may be needful first to show his displeasure at 
sin by the judgments of his hand ; and these, like an over- 
whelming flood, or a river swept along by a mighty wind, 
shall cause the nations from east to west to fear the name 
of the Lord. Thus was it before the coming of Christ. The 
wants and woes, the struggles and strifes, of humanity had 
created a yearning for a Deliverer, had prepared the way for 
the Redeemer promised to Zion. The grace of God tri- 
umphs over the sins of men, and turns deserved judgments 
into agencies of moral reformation. The very helplessness 
to which mankind had reduced themselves by sin was the 
plea for the humiliation and sacrifice of the Son of God for 
their recovery. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 22, 56, 142. 



Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies, for 
the daily comforts of his providence and grace. 
Thy mercies, Lord ! are new every morning. 
Grant us grace dady to live unto thee, to do thy 
holy will, and to glorify thee in our bodies and 
spirits, which are thine. Suffer not the cares of life 
to distract our minds from thee ; but may we seek 
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness ! 

Give us, this day, our daily bread ; and feed our 
souls with that living bread which came down from 
heaven. May Christ be in us the hope of glory, 
and the power of an endless life ! Lord, the 
Maker and Ruler of all ! we bless thee for all thy 
marvellous works and for thy ways unto the chil- 
dren of men. Thou givest us rain from heaven, 



and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food 
and gladness. Bless the earth, we pray tine, with 
abundant harvests, that there may be seed for the 
sower, and bread for the eater. And, most mer- 
ciful Father ! do thou visit our land with plenteous 
showers of grace, making thy Word fruitful, reviv- 
ing thy Church, and causing righteousness to flour- 
ish and abound. Rule in the hearts of our rulers, 
and turn the people unto the things of thy king- 
dom. We commend unto thee all dear to us. We 
commit our souls unto thee for this day ; beseech- 
ing thee for Christ's sake to forgive our sins, to 
keep us unspotted from the world, and pure in thy 
sight. And to the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
Ghost, be glory forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



417 



SUNDAY MORNING. 



Psa!m XXXvi. — 1. The transgression of the 
wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear 
of God before his eyes. 

2. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, 
until his iniquity be found to be hateful. 

3. The words of his mouth are iniquity and de- 
ceit : he hath left off to be wise and to do good. 

4. He deviseth mischief upon his bed ; he set- 
teth himself in a way that is not good; he ab- 
horreth not evil. 

5. Thy mercy, Lord ! is in the heavens ; and 
thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. 

6. Thy righteousness is like the great moun- 
tains; thy judgments are a great deep: Lord! 
thou preservest man and beast. 

7. How excellent is thy loving-kindness, God ! 
therefore the children of men put their trust under 
the shadow of thy wings. 

8. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the 
fatness of thy house ; and thou shalt make them 
drink of the river of thy pleasures. 

9. For with thee is the fountain of life : in thy 
light shall we see light. 

10. Oh ! continue thy loving-kindness unto them 
that know thee, and thy righteousness to the up- 
right in heart. 

11. Let not the foot of pride come against me, 
and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. 

2 Timothy ii. — 1. Thou therefore, my son, be 
strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

2. And the things that thou hast heard of me 
among many witnesses, the same commit thou to 
faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 



The Christian ministry was never intended to be a posi- 
tion of selfish enjoyment, of worldly emolument and ease. It 
is the duty of the Church to see that the ministry is put above 
the distractions of earthly wants and cares ; but it is equally 
the duly of the ministry not to secularize its calling. That 
calling is here likened to the hard service of the soldier, whose 
special and seclusive duties forbid his absorption in the com- 
mon affairs of life, and bind him to his leader or his cause ; 
it is likened to the training of the athlete for the prize in the 



3. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good 
soldier of Jesus Christ. 

4. No man that warreth entangleth himself 
with the affairs of this life, that he may please 
him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

5. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is 
he not crowned except he strive lawfully. 

6. The husbandman that laboreth must be first 
partaker of the fruits. 

7. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee 
understanding in all things. 

8. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of 
David, was raised from the dead, according to my 
gospel ; 

9. Wherein I suffer trouble as an evil-doer, 
even unto bonds ; but the word of God is not 
bound. 

10. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's 
sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which 
is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 

11. It is a faithful saying, For if we be dead 
with him, we shall also live with him; 

12. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him; 
if we deny him, he also will denj r us ; 

13. If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful ; 
he cannot deny himself. 

14. Of these things put them in remembrance, 
charging them before the Lord that they strive not 
about words to no profit, but to the subverting of 
the hearers. 

15. Study to show thyself approved unto God, 
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, right- 
ly dividing the word of truth. 



race or other contests in the public games ; it is likened to the 
patient labor of the husbandman, by which alone the fruits of 
the earth can be secured. But though it is a work of self- 
denial, of toil, and of sacrifice, it is a most blessed and reward- 
ing work. He who enters upon it in the right spirit identifies 
himself with Christ in the object for which he came into the 
world, — the salvation of men, — is called of Christ, is sus- 
tained by Christ, lives in Christ, and, if faithful unto death, 
shall reign with Christ in glory everlasting. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 42, 80, 143. 



Lord, who by the example of thy blessed 
apostle Paul hast taught us to forget those things 
which are behind, and to reach forth unto those 
things that are before ! give us grace this day that 
we may press toward the mark for the prize of our 
high calling of thee in Christ Jesus. May we lay 
aside every weight, and the sins which so easily 
beset us, and run with patience the race set be- 
fore us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher 
of our faith ! As he for the joy set before him 
endured the cross, despising the shame ; even so 
may we ever have before us our heavenly reward, 
and in like manner not fear what men can do unto 
us, if only we may acceptably serve thee ! 



In the constant sense of our membership in 
Christ ; in the unfailing thought that we are his 
soldiers and servants ; in the love of our Father's 
house, and the blessed hope of our eternal home, — 
Lord, preserve and keep us. 

For the mercies of the past night ; for the health 
and comfort with which we begin the day ; for the 
provision of our wants ; for means of improve- 
ment, of enjoyment, and of usefulness, — we hum- 
bly thank thee, the Giver of all good. Bless all 
dear to us ; multiply the preachers of thy gospel ; 
turn opposers and persecutors into witnesses for 
thee ; and subdue all hearts unto thyself, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



418 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUNDAY EVENING. 



Psalm xxvii.— 4. One thing have I desired of 
the Lord, that will I seek after ; that I may dwell 
in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to 
behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in 
his temple. 

5. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me 
in his pavilion ; in the secret of his tabernacle 
shall he hide me ; he shall set me up upon a rock. 

6. Ami now shall mine head be lifted up above 
mine enemies round about me : therefore will I 
offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy ; I will sing, 
yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. 

7. Hear, Lord! when I cry with my voice; 
have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 

8. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my 
heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. 

9. Hide not thy face far from me ; put not thy 
servant away in anger : thou hast been my help ; 
leave me not, neither forsake me, God of my 
salvation ! 

10. When my father and -my mother forsake 
me, then the Lord will take me up. 

11. Teach me thy way, Lord ! and lead me in 
a plain path, because of mine enemies. 

12. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine 
enemies ; for false witnesses are risen up against 
me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 

13. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see 
the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 

14. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and 
he shall strengthen thine heart ; wait, I say, on 
the Lord. 



Obedience to these precepts would make life perfect both in 
its relations to the outer world and in its innermost relations 
with God. How peaceful would be the life of one who should 
never render evil for evil ! how beneficent the life that should 
ever follow toward all men that which is good ! how consist- 
ent and symmetrical the life, that, before committing itself to 
any opinion or action, should test its character, and then 
adopt and hold fast that which is good ! how gracious and 
gentle would be the life that should minister comfort and sup- 
port to the weak and the needy, and, while decided against 
every wrong, should be patient under all injury or provoca- 



I Thessalonians v. — 12. And we beseech you, 
brethren, to know them which labor among you, 
and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you ; 

13. And to esteem them very bighly in love for 
their work's sake. And be at peace among your- 
selves. 

14. Now, we exhort you, brethren, warn them 
that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, sup- 
port the weak, be patient toward all men. 

15. See that none render evil for evil unto any 
man; but ever follow that which is good, both 
among yourselves and to all men. 

16. Rejoice evermore. 

17. Pray without ceasing. 

18. In every thing give thanks ; for this is the 
will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

19. Quench not the Spirit. 

20. Despise not prophesyings. 

21. Prove all things : hold fast that which is good. 

22. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

23. And the very God of peace sanctify you 
wholly ; and / pray God your whole spirit and 
soul and body be preserved blameless unto the 
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

24. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will 
do it. 

25. Brethren, pray for us. 

26. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 

27. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle 
be read unto all the holy brethren. 

28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ he with 
you. Amen. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 

God, who hast taught us in thy Word that 
there is still laid up a rest for thy people, and who 
hast given us a promise of entering into it ! grant 
to us, we beseech thee, that we fail not of that 
promise through unbelief and disobedience. Teach 
us to look for a house that hath foundations, of 
which thou art the maker and builder. Lift our 
hearts thither in earnest desire. 

God the Father, who hast the times and sea- 
sons in thine own power! let not that day come 
upon us unawares. O God the Son, who art gone 
to prepare a place for us ! in thine own time take 
us to thyself, that wdiere thou art, there we may be 



tion ! and how pure and beautiful the life that should abstain 
from all appearance of evil ! But such outward peace, benig- 
nity, consistency, grace, beauty, purity, cannot be wrought by 
rule : these must spring from that communion with God in 
which praj-er is unbroken, and thanksgiving is perpetual ; in 
which no light of the Spirit is ever quenched by earthly pas- 
sions, no voice of the Spirit drowned by earthly cares ; but 
the whole nature — body, soul, and spirit — is brought into 
harmony through the pervading, sanctifying presence of the 
God of peace. For this let us pray without ceasing. Unto 
this, also, let us daily live. 



[Nos. 41, 151. 



Prayer. 

also. God the Holy Ghost, the pledge of future 
glory in our hearts ! seal us until the redemption 
of the purchased possession. We bless thee for 
the help this day received through thy holy Word 
and the prayers and praises of thy Church. We 
supplicate thy favor upon all who have heard thy 
Word, and upon those who have it not. We 
bless thee for thy mercy to this household, and 
commit ourselves to thy fatherly protection for 
the night. Keep us under the shadow of thy 
wings; and, Father! bring us, we pray thee, 
finally to rest in thee, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



419 



END OF THE YEAR. 



Isaiah Ixii. — 1. For Zion's sake will I not 
hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not 
rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as 
brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp 
that burnetii. 

2. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteous- 
ness, and all kings thy glory ; and thou shalt be 
called by a new name, which the mouth of the 
Lord shall name. 

3. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the 
hand of the Lord, and a rcyal diadem in the hand 
of thy God. 

4. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; 
neither shall thy land any more be termed Deso- 
late : but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy 
land Beulah ; for the Lord delighteth in thee, and 
thy land shall be married. 

5. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so 
shall thy sons marry thee ; and as the bridegroom 
rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice 
over thee. 

6. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, Jeru- 
salem ! which shall never hold their peace day nor 
night : ye that make mention of the Lord, keep 
not silence, 

7. And give him no rest, till he establish, and 
till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. 

Matthew xxv. — 1. Then shall the kingdom of 
heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their 
lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 



In the East, marriages are almost invariably celebrated at 
night. The bridegroom, with a party of his friends, goes to 
the house of the bride to bring her to his own house. A 
party of her friends attend her, and others join them on the 
way, illuminating the night with torches, and enlivening it 
with music. The women join the procession as it is return- 
ing to the house of the bridegroom : these may be his rela- 
tives and friends as well as those of the bride. Such were the 
virgins in the text, — friends of the bridegroom, who desired 
to honor him with their greeting, and to share in the festivi- 
ties of the marriage. Five, however, thought only of appear- 
ances : they put on their robes, they took up their lamps, they 
secured their places, but made no provision against delays. 



2. And five of them were wise, and five were 
foolish. 

3. They that were foolish took their lamps, and 
took no oil with them ; 

4. But the wise took oil in their vessels with 
their lamps. 

5. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slum- 
bered and slept. 

6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Be- 
hold, the bridegroom cometh : go ye out to meet 
him. 

7. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed 
their lamps. 

8. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us 
of your oil ; for our lamps are gone out. 

9. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; 
lest there be not enough for us and you : but 
go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for your- 
selves. 

10. And, while they went to buy, the bride- 
groom came; and. they that were ready went 
in with him to the marriage ; and the door was 
shut. 

11. Afterward came also the other virgins, say- 
ing, Lord, Lord, open to us. 

12. But he answered and said, Yerily I say 
unto you, I know you not. 

13. Watch, therefore ; for ye know neither the 
day nor the hour wherein the Son of man com- 
eth. 



The other five provided themselves for every emergency. The 
first represent those who have openly confessed Christ, have 
conformed to Christian ordinances, have begun the Christian 
life with somewhat of sincerity and zeal, but have failed to 
nourish in their hearts the needful supply of divine grace. 
The second have given greater heed to the inward power of 
illumination than to outward appearances. Hence their 
lamps may also burn dim, while the)' yield to momentary 
slumber ; but they keep in their hearts the grace that shall 
kindle them anew. Hence no discouragement can exhaust 
their patience, and no surprise can find them unprepared. 
The true preparation for death and heaven is the life which 
is hid with Christ in God. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[> T os. 4, 20, 39. 



God, who makest the outgoings of the morn- 
ing and the evening to rejoice ! thou crownest the 
year with thy goodness. Thy mercy gave us life 
at the first: that mercy hath followed us all the 
days of our lives, and hath brought us in safety to 
the close of another year. For all the past we 
bless thee, humbly confessing our unworthiness, 
and beseeching thee to forgive our sins. So teach 
us to number our days that we may apply our 
hearts unto wisdom. 

We bless thee, Lord ! for all the progress of 
thy kingdom in the year now gone. Grant that, 
in years to come, it may grow to fill the whole 



earth. Conscious of our own weakness, humbly 
confessing our sins, we cast ourselves upon thine 
infinite grace in Christ our Saviour for pardon, 
strength, and sanctification. May we as a family 
honor thee in our daily walk and conversation ! 
May old and young alike know the beauty of holi- 
ness, the joy of consecration to Christ ! Grant thy 
grace to all who are dear to us ; and grant us grace 
to hold all men dear for Christ's sake, and to win 
them to the knowledge of his gospel. And may the 
peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep 
our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love 
of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen. 



SERVICES FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



423 



NEW-YEAR'S DAY. 



Psalm xc. — 1. Lord, thou liast been our dwell- 
ing-place in all generations. 

2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or 
ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, 
even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 

3. Thou turnest man to destruction ; and sa} r - 
est, Return, ye children of men. 

4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as 
yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the 
night. 

5. Thou carriest them away as with a flood ; they 
are as a sleep : in the morning they are like grass 
which groweth up. 

6. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth 
up ; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 

7. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by 
thy wrath are we troubled. 

8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our 
secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 

9. For all our days are passed away in thy 
wrath : we spend our years as a tale that is told. 



The most ancient Jewish tradition ascribes this psalm to 
" Moses, the man of God ; " and the style and tone of the 
psalm accord with this tradition. We may assume, then, that 
we have here one of the most ancient sacred poems in the 
world : but it is true to the conditions of human life in all 
ages ; and its simple pathos thrills the heart to-day as ten- 
derly as when it was first uttered, more than three thousand 
years ago. 

Moses had seen the whole generation that came with him 
out of Egypt perish in the wilderness. In looking back over 
the forty years of the wandering, they seemed as a dream. 
A nation had vanished like the grass that springs up along 
the scanty water-courses of the desert, and withers beneath 
the scorching sun. It was as if a swift torrent from the gorges 
of the mountains had flooded their encampment and carried 
them away. Such is the littleness, the brevity, of human 
life, when measured by itself; and such has been the cease- 
less onsjoins; of the tide of destruction since first death entered 



10. The days of our years are threescore years 
and ten : and if by reason of strength they be four- 
score years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow ; 
for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 

11. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? 
Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 

12. So teach us to number our days, that we 
may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 

13. Return, O Lord ! how long ? and let it re- 
pent thee concerning thy servants. 

14. Oh ! satisfy us early with thy mercy, that 
we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 

15. Make us glad according to the days wherein 
thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we 
have seen evil. 

16. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and 
thy glory unto their children. 

17. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be 
upon us : and establish thou the work of our hands 
upon us ; yea, the work of our hands establish 
thou it. 



the world by sin. Through all the bustle and enterprise, the 
gayety and ambition, of the world, is still heard the sad refrain, 
" Return to dust, ye children of men." 

But Moses was surrounded by the unchanging mountains ; 
and before him was the land of promise, to which he was 
leading the people ; and so there came to him the thought of 
the everlasting God, whose covenant of mercy is as unchange- 
able as the mountains. The personal and absolute existence 
of Jehovah, his perpetual providence over the world, and his 
eternal power and glory in the creation, are here asserted as 
strong]} 7 as in the first chapter of Genesis. 

This thought of God's eternity, while it inspires awe and 
humility, is the true ground of confidence and hope. We 
can trust in the word and the grace of the unchanging 
Jehovah. He can give permanence to our feeble aims, and 
hopes of good ; and, if we apply our hearts to his ways, we 
shall find in him the life everlasting. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 69, 150, 185. 



Blessed be God for the goodness and mercy that 
have followed us all the days of our life ; for all the 
years that we have numbered, and for all the expe- 
riences of thy providence and grace that these years 
have brought us. Day by day thy hand hath 
preserved, sustained, defended us : thy Word has 
been our guide, thy Spirit our Comforter. To thee 
we owe our health, our home, and every joy and 
hope. Bless the Lord, O our souls ! and forget 
not all his benefits. 

Yet we acknowledge before thee, Lord ! that 
we have abused thy gifts, and slighted thy grace. 
Thou hast borne with our follies, our infirmities, 
and our sins ; and we beseech thee, for Christ's 
sake, take away from us whatever in thought, 
word, or deed, is evil in thy sight, and incline us 
ever to that which is good. 

With this new year help us to consecrate our- 



selves unto thee in newness of life, and to walk 
before thee as loving and faithful children. May 
it please thee to preserve us in health; to send us 
prosperity ; to bless us in our persons, in our fam- 
ily, in our friendships, and in all the labors of our 
hands; and, above all,' to keep us from the evil that 
is in the world, and to sanctify us for thine own 
will concerning us. Thou who art the same 
yesterday, to-day, and for ever ! in thee do we put 
our trust ; to thee do we commit our souls. 

We pray for the coming of thy kingdom, for 
the peace and prosperity of thy church, for the 
good of all men, for the salvation of the whole 
world. Grant us, we beseech thee, such a union 
with Christ, that, whether we live or die, we may 
be the Lord's, and finally may attain unto the life 
everlasting, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 



424 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



NEW-YEAR'S DAY. 



Psalm xci. — 1. He that dwellefch in the secret 
place of the Most High shall abide under the 
shadow of the Almighty. 

2. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and 
my fortress : my God ; in him will I trust. 

3. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare 
of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 

4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and 
under his wings shalt thou trust : his truth shall 
be thy shield and buckler. 

5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by 
night, nor for the arrow that rlieth by day, 

6. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in dark- 
ness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon- 
day. 

7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten 
thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come 
nigh thee. 

8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and 
see the reward of the wicked. 



9. Because thou hast made the Lord, which 
is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habita- 
tion ; 

10. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall 
any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 

11. For he shall give his angels charge over 
thee, to keep thee in all thy waj^s. 

12. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest 
thou dash thy foot against a stone. 

13. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder : 
the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample 
under feet. 

14. Because he hath set his love upon me, 
therefore will I deliver him : I will set him on 
high, because he hath known my name. 

15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer 
him: I will be with him in trouble; I will de- 
liver him, and honor him. 

16. With long life will I satisfy him, and show 
him my salvation. 



What nearness to God, what assurance of his protection, 
what confidence in his love, are expressed in the thought of 
dwelling in " the secret place of the Most High " ! To be 
permitted to think of God as our friend, though far off and 
invisible; to look forward to dwelling with God in heaven, 
and meanwhile to feel that he hears our prayer and helps our 
need, — this surely would be privilege and blessing enough : 
but here we read, not only of calling upon God as our 
Father, of going to him in prayer, of anticipating his presence 
in heaven, but of being admitted into his inner habitation, as 
to the very Holy of Holies in the temple, and there abiding. 
And he who is thus favored, so far from finding God a terror, 
— as men often conceive of him, and as he appeared to the 
people at Sinai, — finds himself covered and protected by the 



Almighty as tenderly and lovingly as the bird covers her 
brood. The place of God's presence is the place of refuge, 
of peace, of safety, of rest, to the soul that knows how to 
find him and has learned to trust in him. And every one 
can find him who seeks him by faith in Christ, and cultivates 
communion with him in the spirit of a little child. To such 
a one, nothing can come in reality as an evil. The storms of 
adversity and persecution, the calamities that agitate others 
with fear, and sweep away their possessions and their hopes, 
only drive this trusting soul the closer into its refuge, the 
nearer to its portion. And, to confirm the reality of this 
fellowship, God himself proclaims, " Because he hath set his 
love upon me, therefore will I deliver him : I will satisfy him, 
and show him my salvation." 



Appropriate Hymns,] Prayer. 

O Lord ! open thou our lips, and our mouth shall i ment of thy kingdom ! 
show forth thy praise. We praise thee for the 
majesty and glory of thy being, for the excellency | and hope ! and, by all the lessons of thy providence 



[Nos. 22, 56, 59. 

If thou shalt send adver- 
sity, may we glorify thee by patience, humility, 



of thy power and goodness, for thy faithfulness 
and loving-kindness unto the children of men. 
Surely goodness and mercy have followed us all 
the days of our lives : the lines have fallen unto us 
in pleasant places, and we have a goodly heritage. 
Thou, Lord, who delightest in mercy, hast shown 
thyself merciful even in the troubles and sorrows 
of life ; causing us thereby to know the pity of 
our Father, the grace of Christ our Saviour, the 
consolations of the Holy Ghost. With humility 
and gratitude would we trust in thee at all times, 
and commit our souls unto thee in well-doing. 

We bless thee that thou hast brought us to the 
beginning of a new year. Oh, may thy love sur- 
round us, sustain us ; thy grace sanctify and 
save us! We know not what a day may bring 
forth ; but we leave all that concerns us to thy 
wisdom and thy love. If it shall please thee to 
give us health and prosperity, may we use our 
strength in thy service, our means for the advanee- 



and tlty word, may we daily grow in grace ! 

Forgive us, O Lord ! that we have ever wandered 
from thee; that we have so often grieved and offend- 
ed thee. For the sake of Jesus Christ, the Son of 
thy love, blot out our transgressions, heal our 
backslidings, help our infirmities, and suffer us 
never more to fall into temptation. 

Bless us this day, we pray thee, and every day, 
in all the concerns of life: do thou minister to our 
necessities, multiply our comforts, prosper our un- 
dertakings, increase our joys, enlarge our useful- 
ness, and in all, and through all, enrich us witli 
thy mercy. Deal gently, Lord, with the sick and 
the dying; show favor to the needy and the out- 
cast; comfort the aged; guide the .young ; and lead 
all conditions of men to put their trust in thee, and 
to know thy salvation. May this family be thine in 
the covenant of thy grace, and all our kindred and 
friends be gathered with us at last in our Father's 
house, through Jesus our Lord! Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



425 



WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. 



Joshua xxiii. — 1. And it came to pass, along 
time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel 
from all their enemies round about, that Joshua 
waxed old and stricken in age. 

2. And Joshua called for all Israel, and for 
their elders, and for their heads, and for their 
judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, 
I am old and stricken in age : 

3. And ye have seen all that the Lord your God 
hath done unto all these nations because of you ; for 
the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you. 

4. Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these 
nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your 
tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I 
have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. 

5. And the Lord your God he shall expel them 
from before you, and drive them from out of your 
sight ; and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord 
your God hath promised unto you. 

6. Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and 
to do all that is written in the book of the law of 
Moses ; that ye turn not aside therefrom to the 
right hand or to the left ; 



7. That ye come not among these nations, these 
that remain among you ; neither make mention of 

1 the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, 
l neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them : 

8. But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye 
have done unto this day. 

9. For the Lord hath driven out from before 
you great nations and strong ; but as for you, no 
man hath been able to stand before you unto this 
day. 

Joshua xxiv. — 22. And Joshua said unto the 
people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye 
have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And 
they said, We are witnesses. 

23. iNow, therefore, put away (said lie) the 
strange gods which are among you, and incline 
your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. 

24. And the people said unto Joshua, The 
Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we 
obey. 

25. So Joshua made a covenant with the people 
that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance 
in Shechem. 



Joshua combined, in a remarkable degree, strategy for 
the conduct of war, and sagacity for the administration of 
civil affairs. He had also the moral courage to avow his 
dependence upon God, and to inculcate virtue and religion by 
precept and example. Having secured tor his people a coun- 
try by his arms, he did not seek to make himself king ; but, 
laying aside his command, he established a covenant or eon- 



stitiuion by which they should be governed. These great 
qualities and noble actions were reproduced in the leader and 
founder of our own nation ; and though neither our religion 
nor our republicanism would favor the canonizing of heroes 
and sages, yet all Americans will this day unite in thanks- 
giving to God for the gift of Washington. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Xos. 7, 129, 193. 



Thou, Lord, art God in heaven, and rulest over 
all the kingdoms of the earth ; and in thy hand is 
power and might, so that none is able to withstand 
thee. Thine eyes behold the nations : by thee 
princes rule, even all the judges of the earth ; and 
thine, Lord ! is the kingdom and the power and 
the glory forever. 

God, who by thy servant Moses didst lead 
forth thine Israel with a mighty hand and with an 
outstretched arm, who by thy servant Joshua didst 
bring them into the promised land, and by thy ser- 
vant David didst give them victory over their ene- j 
mies and establish them in peace! we bless thee; 
that when the men of this land were few and feeble, 
and sore oppressed, thou didst remember thy cove-j 
nant with our fathers, even the sure mercies of 
David, and didst raise up thy servant Washington' 
for a witness to the people, a ieader and commander 
to the people. We bless thee for the wisdom, the! 
courage, the faith, the fortitude, the patience, where- 
with thou didst endow him for the trials of war; 
and for the prudence, the integrity, the unselfish 
love of country and of mankind, wherewith thouj 
didst fit him for the establishing of government 
and the administration of affairs. We bless thee 



for the independence, the freedom, the order of this 
nation, secured by his valor, his wisdom, his up- 
rightness ; and we pray thee, most righteous and 
most merciful God ! that the example of his virtues 
may incite our rulers to the like patriotism and 
piety, and the memory of his counsels may preserve 
among the people the spirit of unity and peace. 

O Lord ! forgive us our sins, the sins of our 
rulers, the sins of the people. Bless thy servant 
the President of the United States, and all his 
counsellors ; bless the assembled Congress of the 
nation ; bless all governors and legislatures, all 
judges and magistrates ; bless the army and the 
navy, and all who are in any places of authoritj- 
and power throughout the land ; and grant that all 
their doings may be guided by thy Spirit, and or- 
dered by thy holy will. Bless, Lord ! we pray 
thee, the whole land, and all the inhabitants thereof; 
and grant that thy kingdom may rule over us 
from sea to sea. We give thee thanks for our 
home in this land of freedom and plenty ; for the 
daily benefits which load our lives ; and pray for 
grace to serve thee in the family, in the State, and 
in the Church, through Jesus Christ thy Son our 
Saviour. Amen. 



426 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FAST DAY. 



Leviticus xxvi. — 1. Ye shall make you no idols 
nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing 
image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone 
in your land, to bow down unto it ; for I am the 
Lord your God. 

2. Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence 
my sanctuary : I am the Lord. 

3. If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my com- 
mandments, and do them, 

4. Then I will give you rain in due season, and 
the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of 
the field shall yield their fruit ; 

5. And your threshing shall reach unto the vint- 
age, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing- 
time ; and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and 
dwell in your land safely. 

6. And I will give peace in the land, and ye 
shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; 
and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither 
shall the sword go through your land. 

7. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they 
shall fall before you by the sword. 

8. And five of you shall chase a hundred, and 
a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight ; 
and your enemies shall fall before you by the 
sword. 

9. For I will have respect unto you, and make 



you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my 
covenant with you. 

10. And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth 
the old because of the new. 

11. And I will set my tabernacle among you ; 
and my soul shall not abhor you. 

12. And I will walk among you, and will be 
your God, and ye shall be my people. 

13. I am the Lord your God, which brought you 
forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not 
be their bond-men ; and I have broken the bands 
of your yoke, and made you go upright. 

14. But if ye will not hearken unto me, and 
will not do all these commandments ; 

15. And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your 
soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all 
my commandments, but that ye break my cove- 
nant; 

16. I also will do this unto you : I will even ap- 
point over you terror, consumption, and the burn- 
ing ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause 
sorrow of heart : and ye shall sow your seed in 
vain ; for your enemies shall eat it. 

17. And I will set my face against you, and ye 
shall be slain before your enemies : they that hate 
you shall reign over you, and ye shall flee when 
none pursueth you. 



That there is a retribution upon nations for sins committed 
in their organic character all history testifies. The old Greek 
and Latin poets and sages recognized this truth, and some 
of them gave utterance to it with a terrible intensity. Any 
true philosophy of history must trace a connection between 
moral causes and material results in the career of nations ; 
and even those sciences of society and of nature which dis- 
own a providential government over the world, still acknowl- 
edge that retribution awaits the disobedience of laws. But 
how can we disown a Providence, when even physical laws 
carry with them a moral sanction in their effects upon com- 



munities and nations 1 The Bible fully recognizes the effect 
of natural causes, the operation of physical, social, and moral 
laws ; but it never loses sight of the fact that God is the 
author and administrator of these laws. Neither should 
we lose sight of it. Accepting all that science teaches us 
concerning the working of natural laws, yet we find in this 
very reign of law only another proof of the wisdom, the 
power, the justice, and the love of God; and through all, 
and above all, it is true for nations as for individuals, that 
he has set before them blessing and cursing, and life and 
death. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 54, 67, 68, 95, 234. 



Bow down thine ear unto us, O Lord ! we beseech 
thee, and hear the confessions, the supplications, 
and the praises which we bring unto thee, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. We have erred, and strayed 
from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed 
too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. 
We have offended against thy holy laws. We have 
left undone those things which we ought to have 
done, and we have done those things which we 
ought not to have done ; and there is no health in 
us. But thou, O Lord ! have mercy upon us mis- 
erable offenders, and, for Christ's sake, grant us 
grace ' to shun every evil way, and to live in all 
things unto the glory of thy holy name. 

What shall we render unto thee, thou Preserver 
of men ! for thy goodness to this family ; for the 
comforts of our home ; for our means of education 
and enjoyment ; for health and prosperity, and all 



the favors wherewith thou dost enrich our lives ? 
Oh, may we ever make to thee the glad return of 
grateful and loving hearts, and, as stewards of thy 
bounty, distribute freely to others the good we have 
freely received ! We beseech thee, Lord ! have 
mercy upon our land : preserve us from faction, 
violence, and misrule ; from luxury and impiety ; 
from neglect of thy Word and thy day. Give peace, 
Lord ! in our time ; keep our rulers in thy fear, 
j and save the nation from its sins. We commend 
unto thy mercy all who are in poverty or distress, 
in sickness or trouble ; we pray for all who are in 
ignorance, error, or sin, that thou wouldst gra- 
ciously enlighten and save them. Purify and exalt 
thy Church, and make all thy people perfect to do 
thy will. Perfect thy will in us, Lord ! and 
sanctify and save us for the Eedeemer's sake. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



427 



FAST DAY. 



Deuteronomy xxx. — 1. And it shall come to 
pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the 
blessing and the curse, which I have set before 
thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all 
the nations whither the Lord thy God hath driven 
thee, 

2. And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and 
shalt obey his voice according to all that I com- 
mand thee this day, thou and thy children, with 
all thine heart, and with all thy soul; 

3. That then the Lord thy God will turn thy 
captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will 
return and gather thee from all the nations whither 
the Lord thy God hath scattered thee. 

4. If any of thine be driven out unto the out- 
most parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy 
God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee : 

5. And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the 
land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt 
possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply 
thee above thy fathers. 

6. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine 
heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord 
thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy 
soul, that thou mayest live. 

7. And the Lord thy God will put all these 
curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate 
thee, which persecuted thee. 

8. And thou shalt return and obey the voice of 



The Bible always respects the freedom of the human will, 
and fastens upon man the responsibility of his actions and of 
their consequences. God's method of dealing is the same 
with nations as with individuals. Both are under law, and 
liable to retribution for sin ; but to both is opened the way of 
righteousness and peace. God sets before men the most power- 
ful motives to do right, — the promise of his favor, the help 
of his grace, the assurance of life. He is ever ready to for- 
give sin and to save the penitent. He comes nigh to men 
through his providence, blessing and guiding them ; he 
comes nigh by his word, speaking to the heart; he comes 



the Lord, and do all his commandments which I 
command thee tins day. 

9. And the Lord thy God will make thee plen- 
teous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy 
body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit 
of thy land, for good; for the Lord will again rejoice 
over thee for good, as he rejoiced over tby fathers ; 

10. If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the 
Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his 
statutes which are written in this book of the law, 
and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all 
thine heart and with all thy soul. 

17. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou 
wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and wor- 
ship other gods, and serve them ; 

18. I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall 
surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your 
days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jor- 
dan to go to possess it. 

19. I call heaven and earth to record this day 
against you, that I have set before you life and 
death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, 
that both thou and thy seed may live ; 

20. That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, 
and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou 
mayest cleave unto him (for he is thy life, and the 
length of thy days) ; that thou mayest dwell in the 
land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to 
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. 



nigh by mercies and by judgments, through both seeking 
us in love, and calling us to life : but the choice lies with 
ourselves ; and the result will be life or death, as we shall 
choose. 

The covenants of God with man always have conditions. 
Life was promised to Adam upon the condition that he should 
not eat the forbidden fruit. The covenant with Abraham was 
on the condition of faith. The promises to Israel were on 
the condition of obedience. Salvation is promised through 
Christ upon the condition of believing. Everywhere the 
choice of good or evil rests with man. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 67, 73, 175. 



O God, who didst create us in thine own image 
that we might know thee and enjoy thee forever ! 
we confess with shame that we have turned away 
from the blessedness that is found in thee to seek 
our good in the beggarly elements of this world. 
We have worshipped and served the creature more 
than the Creator; have abused our powers, mis- 
spent our time, wasted our opportunities, and have 
chosen death rather than life. We mourn before 
thee the sins of our land and of our times ; that 
intemperance, profaneness, dishonesty, corruption, 
impiety, and all forms of vice and iniquity, do so 
multiply and abound. We humbly beseech thee, 
Father ! mercifully to look upon our infirmities, 
and, for the glory of thy name, turn from us all 
those evils that we most justly have deserved; and 



grant that in all our troubles we may put our 
whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and ever- 
more serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, 
to thy honor and glory, through our only Media- 
tor and Advocate, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Sa- 
viour. 

We bless thee for thy great goodness to us as a 
family. Incline us ever, we pray thee, to the choice 
of that which is good in thy sight. Be very gra- 
cious to all our friends. Bless our land ; our rulers ; 
our schools and churches ; the poor and needy ; the 
sick, the unfortunate, the sorrowing; yea, bless all 
the people with thy salvation, and turn the nation 
unto thy ways. And unto the Father, the Son, 
and the Holy Ghost, be glory and dominion world 
without end. Amen. 



428 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



GOOD FRIDAY. 



Luke xxiii. — 44. And it was about the sixth 
hour ; and there was a darkness over all the earth 
until the ninth hour. 

45. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of 
the temple was rent in the midst. 

46. And, when Jesus had cried with a loud 
voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend 
my spirit ; and, having said thus, he gave up the 
ghost. 

47. Now, when the centurion saw what was 
done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was 
a righteous man. 

48. And all the people that came together to 
that sight, beholding the things which were done, 
smote their breasts, and returned. 

49. And all his acquaintance, and the women 
that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, be- 
holding these things. 

50. And heboid there was a man named Joseph, 



a councillor; and he was a good man, and a 
just : 

51. (The same had not consented to the counsel 
and deed of them:) he was of Arimathea, a city 
of the Jews ; who also himself waited for the king- 
dom of God. 

52. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the 
body of Jesus. 

53. And he took it down, and wrapped it in 
linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn 
in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 

54. And that day was the preparation, and the 
sabbath drew on. 

55. And the women also, which came with him 
from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sep- 
ulchre, and how his body was laid. 

56. And they returned, and jsrepared spices and 
ointments ; and rested the sabbath-day, according 
to the commandment. 



It was high noon when Jesus was suspended upon the 
cross. Between the hours of twelve and three a strange 
darkness overspread the sky, and a shuddering of the earth 
rent the veil that covered the most holy place. According to 
the other evangelists, many graves were opened, and departed 
saints re-appeared in bodily form. Jesus himself suffered a 
great horror of darkness, as though God had forsaken him ; 
yet not for a moment did he lose his faith or his submission. 
Forgiving his murderers, commending his mother to the care 
of John, he exclaimed, " It is finished ! " and yielded his 
spirit into the hands of his Father. To make sure that he 
was dead, a soldier thrust his spear into his side ; yet " not a 
bone of him was broken." Immediately the moral fruits of 
his passion upon the cross began to appear. Awed by his 
majestic innocence, touched by his marvellous pity, the thief 



bowed his soul in homage to Jesus as his Lord. The Roman 
captain confessed his faith in " this righteous man " as the Son 
of God. 

Great crimes call forth great virtues that lie dormant or 
hidden in many hearts ; and Joseph of Arimathea, and, 
according to John, Nicodemus also, both members of the 
Jewish council which had condemned Jesus against their 
protest, now came out openly, and braved the malice of their 
colleagues and the fury of the populace by avowing the 
faith in Jesus they had secretly cherished, and by tenderly car- 
ing for his burial. Women also, who had ministered to the 
necessities of Jesus while living, prepared with loving hands 
spices and ointments wherewith to embalm his body. And 
so the day of gloom and dread settled down at evening into 
the holy calm of the sabbath rest. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 86, 99, 116, 182. 



O Lord Jesus, who for our sakes didst endure 
such contradiction of sinners against thyself! grant 
us grace, that, like thee, we may be meek and lowly 
of heart. When offended and wronged by others, 
when persecuted by an evil and gainsaying world, 
may we remember Him, who, when he was reviled, 
reviled not again, and who from the cross prayed 
for the forgiveness of his enemies ! 

Our Father in heaven, we beseech thee forgive 
us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass 
against us. As thou dost forgive our manifold 
offences, may we ever show the spirit of forgive- 
ness toward all who do us harm ! Set a watch, 
Lord ! at the door of our lips, that we offend not in 
word : may we be holy, harmless, undefiled, and 
separate from sinners ! and, while we are bold and 
firm for thy truth and cause, in all that concerns 
ourselves may we study the things that make for 
peace ! Help us this day to resist temptation, to 
walk uprightly, to do good as we have opportunity, 
to relieve the suffering and the needy, to be kind 
toward all, and to overcome the world. 



Father of all mercies, we commend this house- 
hold to thy loving care. [Oh ! take these children 
into thine arms ; defend them from the power of 
evil ; draw them to the cross of Christ, that they 
may there be baptized into the love of Him who 
died for them.] Grant us, Lord ! such prosperity 
as shall please thee ; yet, in all that we possess and 
enjoy, help us ever to remember that we are not 
our own, but are bought with a price, — even the 
precious blood of Christ. We pray for thy Church 
which thou hast redeemed. Lord Jesus ! bring 
forth to the knowledge of all men the true oneness 
of thy flock in love and obedience to the one Shep- 
herd; and hasten the ingathering of the nations, 
that thou mayest see of the travail of thy soul, and 
be satisfied. Heavenly Father, we bless thee for 
the mercy that has brought us to the beginning of 
this day; we supplicate thy favor upon all our 
friends ; we pray thee to forgive our enemies ; and, 
O Lord ! prepare us for the great day of thine ap- 
pearing, and have mercy upon us, and upon all 
men, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



429 



EASTER SUNDAY. 



John XX. — 1. The first day of the week cometh 
Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto 
the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from 
the sepulchre. 

2. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Pe- 
ter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, 
and saith unto them, They have taken away the 
Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where 
they have laid him. 

3. Peter therefore went forth, and that other 
disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 

4. So they ran both together ; and the other dis- 
ciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sep- 
ulchre. 

5. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw 
the linen clothes lying ; yet went he not in. 

6. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and 
went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen 
clothes lie, 

7. And the napkin that was about his head, not 
lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together 
in a place by itself. 

8. Then went in also that other disciple which 
came first to the sepulchre ; and he saw, and be- 
lieved. 



The first wave of a great sorrow sweeping over the soul 
obliterates for a moment all grounds of hope, all promise of 
deliverance. Hence, though Jesus had distinctly foretold his 
resurrection, the disciples do not appear to have remembered 
this in the overwhelming thought that their Lord was dead. 
They had seen him expire on the cross ; they had seen the 
spear pierce his heart ; they had seen him taken down from 
the cross, and laid in the tomb, — a new tomb, hewn in the 
rock, in which no one had yet been buried ; they had seen a 
great stone fitted to the mouth of this tomb as its door, and 
had turned away to mourn for the dead, and provide for 
embalming the body. It was to finish the embalming, and 
to give vent to their grief, that the disciples hastened to the 
sepulchre in the dawn of the first day. Mary Magdalene 
was first at the spot, and was startled at finding the sepulchre 
open and empty. She ran for Peter and John ; and, while she 



11. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre, 
weeping ; and, as she wept, she stooped down and 
looked into the sepulchre, 

12. And seeth two angels in white, sitting, the 
one at the head, and the other at the feet, where 
the body of Jesus had lain. 

13. And they say unto her, "Woman, why weep- 
est thou ? She saith unto them, Because they have 
taken away my Lord, and I know not where they 
have laid him. 

14. And, when she had thus said, she turned 
herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not 
that it was Jesus. 

15. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest 
thou ? whom seekest thou ? She, supposing him to 
be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have 
borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, 
and I will take him away. 

16. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned 
herself, and saith unto him, Kabboni ; which is to 
say, Master. 

17. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not ; for I am 
not yet ascended to my Father : but go to my breth- 
ren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father 
and your Father, and to my God and your God. 



was gone, the other women who had started with her came to 
the tomb, saw the angels and heard their words, then hast- 
ened away to tell the news. That the body could not have 
been taken was evident ; for the door of the tomb had been 
sealed, and a Roman guard set over it, and the linen-clothes 
were disposed with the utmost care. But, in the intensity of 
her love and grief, Mary could not appreciate these tokens, and 
she was more bewildered than assured by the testimony of the 
angels. As she turned sorrowfully away, Jesus stood by her 
side. Pre-occupied with her grief, her eyes downcast and suf- 
fused with tears, she did not recognize him in the dim dawn. 
But the familiar voice of love brought her to his feet as 
when first she bathed them with her tears. Yes, this was 
he, the risen Lord! — the same gentle, loving Jesus, but 
clothed with an ineffable sanctity of person that mortals must 
not touch. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 6, 8, 78, 174. 



Thou art the King of glory, Christ ! Thou 
art the everlasting Son of the Father. W T hen thou 
hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst 
open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou 
sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the 
Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be 
our Judge. We therefore pray thee help thy ser- 
vants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious 
blood : make them to be numbered with thy 
saints in glory everlasting. W r e bless thee, 
Lord ! for the comforts of thy Word concerning 
those dear to us whom thou hast taken unto thy- 
self: may we, by thy grace, walk in their steps in 
all things wherein they followed thee, and so live 
unto thee, day by day, that we shall be ready at 
all times for thy coming ! 



O Thou who hast brought us again from sleep 
to behold the light of a new day ! help us so to con- 
fide in thee, to keep thee ever so near and so pre- 
cious to our thought, that we shall live above the 
fear of death, and look forward with joy to our 
final rest with thee. Grant us grace to bear all 
trials, resist all temptations, fulfil all duties, in the 
hope of thine appearing. As children of the light, 
may we shun all evil, and show forth thy praise ! 
Fill us this day with the peace of Christ and the 
hope of immortality. Bless thy Church in keeping 
the festival of the resurrection. May this house- 
hold, and all dear to us, be joined to the family 
of the saints on earth, and finally to the company 
of the redeemed in heaven, through Him who died 
for us ! — to whom be glory forever. Amen. 



430 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THE FOURTH OF JULY. 



Joshua i. — 1. Now, after the death of Moses, 
the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the 
Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' 
minister, saying, 

2. Moses my servant is dead : now therefore 
arise, go over this Jordan, thou and all this peo- 
ple, unto the land which I do give to them, even 
to the children of Israel. 

3. Every place that the sole of your foot shall 
tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said 
unto Moses. 

4. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even 
unto the great river, the River Euphrates, all the 
land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward 
the going-down of the sun, shall be your coast. 

5. There shall not any man be able to stand be- 
fore thee all the days of thy life : as I was with 
Moses, .so I will be with thee : I will not fail thee, 
nor forsake thee. 

6. Be strong and of a good courage ; for unto 
this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance 
the land which I sware unto their fathers to give 
them. 

Joshua xxi. — -43. And the Lord gave unto 
Israel all the land which he sware to give unto 
their fathers ; and they possessed it, and dwelt 
therein. 



How long it was from the call of Abraham to the settle- 
ment of the Israelites in Canaan ! — how long, again, from 
the first partial occupation of the promised land to the union 
of the tribes in a stable government, with a fixed capital ! 
Yet, through all this period of wandering, weakness, depend- 
ence, captivity, isolation, conquest, confederation, the Lord 
was mindful of his promise ; and this whole course of disci- 
pline was gradually working- out problems of national life 
which it takes centuries to solve. Hardly less marked were 
the leadings of Providence which issued in the constitution 
of the people of the United States into an independent nation. 
The early attempts at Spanish and French colonization, 



44. And the Lord gave them rest round about, 
according to all that he sware unto their fathers : 
and there stood not a man of all their enemies be- 
fore them ; the Lord delivered all their enemies 
into their hand. 

45. There failed not aught of any good thing 
which the Lord had spoken unto the house of 
Israel : all came to pass. 

Psalm exxii. — 1. I was glad when they said 
unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. 

2. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O 
Jerusalem ! 

3. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact 
together ; 

4. Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the 
Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks 
unto the name of the Lord. 

5. For there are set thrones of judgment, the 
thrones of the house of David. 

6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall 
prosper that love thee. 

7. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity 
within thy palaces. 

8. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I 
will now say, Peace be within thee. 

9. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I 
will seek thy good. 



which would have given this North-American continent to 
absolutism and Eomanism, were doomed to failure. The 
Pilgrim stock, embodying family, freedom, faith, was enabled 
to thrive : the English people, with their language, their laws, 
their liberty, became masters of the soil ; and, by the natural 
development of their principles and institutions, they came 
at length to the consciousness of nationality and the achieve- 
ment of independence. Upon this anniversary of our inde- 
pendence, remembering how God has guided and blessed us, 
all the tribes of this now great and compacted nation, in all 
their families, should unite to " give thanks unto the name of 
the Lord." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 69, 84, 193. 



God, the Lord of heaven and earth, who hast 
made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on 
all the face of the earth, and hast determined the 
times before appointed, and the bounds of their 
habitation ! we bless thee that in the fulness of time 
thou didst plant in this land a Christian people, 
and didst give them dominion over the wilderness 
unto the great river, and beyond even unto the 
great sea, toward the going-down of the sun. And 
we do thank thee, Lord God of our fathers, that 
thou didst look upon them in their affliction and 
oppression, and didst deliver them with a mighty 
hand and with an outstretched arm, and hast made 
of them a nation great, mighty, and populous, as at 
this day. We bless thee, Lord ! for our freedom 
and union ; for our arts and industries ; for our 



fields and mines ; for our trade and commerce ; for 
our homes, our schools, our churches ; and for all 
thy benefits unto this nation. Let the people 
praise thee, O God ! let all the people praise thee. 

Lord ! preserve us from war and discord, from 
famine, pestilence, and every evil ; and purify us 
from every sin. Bless thy servant the President of 
the United States, and all who are in authority; 
fill this thy Zion with judgment and righteous- 
ness. May the fear of the Lord be our treasure, and 
wisdom and knowledge the stability of our times ! 
So may we, as a people whom thou hast redeemed, 
help on the blessed day when the kingdoms of this 
world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and 
of his Christ; to whom be glory and dominion 
forever. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



431 



THANKSGIVING DAY. 



Psalm cxlviii. — 1. Praise ye the Lord. Praise 
ye the Lord from the heavens ; praise him in the 
heights. 

2. Praise ye him, all his angels; praise' ye him, 
all his hosts. 

3. Praise ye him, sun and moon ; praise him, all 
ye stars of light. 

4. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye 
waters that be above the heavens. 

5. Let them praise the name of the Lord ; for 
he commanded, and they were created. 

6. He hath also established them for ever and 
ever; he hath made a decree which shall not pass. 

7. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons 
and all deeps ; 

8. Fire and hail; snow and vapor; stormy wind 
fulfilling his word; 

9. Mountains, and all hills ; fruitful trees, and 
all cedars ; 

10. Beasts, and all cattle ; creeping things, and 
flying fowl ; 

11. Kings of the earth, and all people ; princes, 
and all judges of the earth ; 



12. Both young men and maidens, old men and 
children : 

13. Let them praise the name of the Lord ; for 
his name alone is excellent ; his glory is above the 
earth and heaven. 

14. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the 
praise of all his saints; even of the children of 
Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the 
Lord. 

Psalm cl. — 1. Praise ye the Lord. Praise God 
in his sanctuary ; praise him in the firmament of 
his power. 

2. Praise him for his mighty acts ; praise him 
according to his excellent greatness. 

3. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet ; 
praise him with the psaltery and harp. 

4. Praise him with the timbrel and dance ; 
praise him with stringed instruments and or- 
gans. 

5. Praise him upon the loud cymbals ; praise 
him upon the high-sounding cymbals. 

6. Let every thing that hath breath praise the 
Lord. Praise ye the Lord. 



" Every creature is full of the praise of God. The phenom- 1 
ena of Nature — clouds, snow, rain, wind — are his messen- \ 
gers : the unchangeable laws, according to which the countless \ 
worlds above pursue their course, proclaim the glory of his j 
omnipotent word. In our own world, the animal and vegetable I 
kingdoms, down to their lowest stages, bear the impress of! 
the goodness and omnipotence of God, and are a song of praise ; 
upon his glorious attributes. But it belongs to man, above 
every creature, as the priest of Nature, to give an audible ex- [ 



pression to her universal praise ; a service in which every rank, 
every age, and every generation, have abundant cause for en- 
gaging." The theme of praise in these psalms, the glory and 
the goodness of God in creation and providence, is of univer- 
sal and perpetual obligation. But especially should it inspire 
us on this day of national thanksgiving, in view of the exceeding 
riches of God's greatness and goodness and grace with which 
we of this land are favored. He hath not dealt so with any 
nation. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 43, 152. 



Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to tho 
Holy Ghost ; as it was in the beginning, is now, 
and ever shall be, world without end. We praise 
thee, God ! we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. 
All the earth dotli worship thee, the Father ever- 
lasting. Heaven and earth are full of the majesty 
of thy glory. 

God ! great is thy loving-kindness : accept our 
offering of thanks and praise. 

For our creation and preservation ; for our sleep 
last night, and our safety this morning ; for the 
comforts of this world, and the hopes of the world 
to come, — we bless thee, good Lord. 

For our stations and occupations in life ; for our 
dear relations and friends ; for all that reminds us 
of thee, and all opportunities of glorifying thee, — 
we bless thee, good Lord. 

For thy love in our redemption ; for thy free be- 
stowal of thine only-begotten Son ; for thine un- 
speakable gift of the Holy Spirit, — above all xve 
bless thee, good Lord.. 

AVe give thee thanks this day for home and 
country ; for knowledge and freedom ; for the favor 



of thy providence upon our land ; for the tokens of 
thy mercy in thy Church. Help us, Lord ! 
worthily to show forth thy praise. In all thy 
works, enable us to see thy hand; and, in tracing 
the laws of thy creation, may we never lose sight 
of thee, the Lawgiver ! And as by obedience to 
thee the heavens declare thy glory, and the earth 
showeth forth thy praise ; even so may we obey thy 
holy word in all things, and finally be glorified 
with Him who redeemed us, thy Son Jesus Christ 
our Lord. 

We beseech thee, Lord ! to continue the favor 
which thou hast shown unto us as a family. [May 
these children grow up in the knowledge and love 
of thy truth ! May they always incline to thy 
will, and walk in thy way ! May they be kept 
from the evil that is in the world, and be the fol- 
lowers of the Lord Jesus!] Dwell by thy good 
Spirit in the homes of all whom we love. Bless 
this community, our State, our nation, with good 
things, temporal and spiritual ; and do good, in 
thy loving-kindness, unto all men, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



432 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THANKSGIVING DAY. 



Deuteronomy xxviii. — 1. And it shall come to 
pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the 
voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do 
all his commandments which I command thee this 
day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high 
above all nations of the earth ; 

2. And all these blessings shall come on thee, 
and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the 
voice of the Lord thy God. 

3. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and bless- 
ed shalt thou be in the field. 

4. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the 
fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the 
increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 

5. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 

6. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, 
and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 

7. The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise 
up against thee to be smitten before thy face : they 
shall come out against thee one way, and flee be- 
fore thee seven ways. 

8. The Lord shall command the blessing upon 
thee in thy store-houses, and in all that thou set- 
test thy hand unto ; and he shall bless thee in the 
land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 

9. The Lord shall establish thee an holy people 



unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou 
shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, 
and walk in his ways. 

10. And all people of the earth shall see that 
thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they 
shall be afraid of thee. 

11. And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in 
goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of 
thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the 
land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to 
give thee. 

12. The Lord shall open unto thee his good 
treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land 
in his season, and to bless all the work of thine 
hand ; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and 
thou shalt not borrow. 

13. And the Lord shall make thee the head, and 
not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and 
thou shalt not be beneath ; if that thou hearken 
unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, 
which I command thee this day, to observe and to 
do them. 

14. And thou shalt not go aside from any of 
the words which I command thee this day, to the 
right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to 
serve them. 



Every growing nation aspires to be " the head ; " yet few I 
reach or long retain such a pre-eminence. Rome once boasted 
herself the mistress of the world ; but she was trodden under 
toot by the very barbarians for whom she had built roads to 
her capital. England is losing her title of " mistress of the 
seas." France can no longer claim to be the head of Euro- 
pean civilization ; and Germany, Russia, and the United 
States, which are now disputing the palm of leadership in the 
civilization of the future, may each repeat the experience of 
other nations in alternate supremacy and decline. In the long- 
run, moral causes determine the position of a people in the 



scale of nations ; the moral virtues of industry, temperance, 
justice, frugality, give success to material enterprises ; and 
honor, integrity, equity, and philanthropy secure an envi- 
able reputation abroad. Righteousness exalteth a nation. 
It is not the union of Church and State that secures this re- 
sult; on the contrary, the establishment of religion by the 
State has always proved detrimental to both : but a nation 
must have a conscience, a sense of right, of obligation, a 
moral standard of duty, which is higher than party or policy ; 
and only in keeping the commandments of God can there be 
a true and lasting peace. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 2, 32, 193. 



O Lord, our Maker and Preserver ! we give thee 
thanks for our being, our reason, and all other en- 
dowments and faculties of soul and body ; for thy 
continual care and watchful providence over us 
through the whole course of our lives ; for our health, 
friends, food, and raiment, and all the many com- 
forts and conveniences of life. Above all, we adore 
thy mercy in sending thine only Son into the world 
to redeem us from sin and eternal death, and in 
giving us the knowledge and sense of our duty to- 
wards thee. We bless thee for thy patience with 
us, notwithstanding our many and great provoca- 
tions ; and for all the directions, assistances, and 
comforts of thy Holy Spirit. 

God, our Father, from whom cometh every 
good and perfect gift! we render thanks to thee for 
thy favor to our land ; for freedom, knowledge, 
religion, which here abound ; for peace, prosper- 



ity, and plenty. Bless, Lord ! our schools and 
churches, our teachers and rulers ; and fill the land 
with righteousness. 

Thy mercies, Lord ! lead us to repentance. 
With one accord we present ourselves unto thee, a 
living sacrifice, for thy service and praise. Oh ! keep 
us ever in thy fear. May thy good providence, 
which hath preserved us through the night, attend 
us in all the duties of the day ! Lord ! we beseech 
thee, save us from sin, and send us prosperity : pros- 
per us in the household, in our business, in our 
studies, and in whatever we do. Bless us in 
our friendships, and bless our friends with thy love 
and grace. Make us useful to others, and service- 
able unto Christ our Lord. Bring us to the close 
of the day in peace ; and, finally, at the close of 
life receive us into thy rest, for Christ's sake. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



433 



THANKSGIVING. 



Psalm Ixv. — 1. Praise waiteth for thee, God ! 
in Zion ; and unto thee shall the vow he performed. 

2. Thou that hearest prayer ! unto thee shall 
all flesh come. 

3. Iniquities prevail against me : as for our 
transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. 

4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and 
causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell 
in thy courts : we shall be satisfied with the good- 
ness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. 

5. By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou 
answer us, God of our salvation ! who art the 
confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them 
that are afar off upon the sea ; 

6. Which by his strength setteth fast the moun- 
tains, being girded with power; 

7. Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise 
of their waves, and the tumult of the people. 

8. They also that dwell in the uttermost parts 
are afraid of thy tokens : thou makest the outgo- 
ings of the morning and evening to rejoice. 

9. Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it ; thou 
greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is 
full of water ; thou preparest them corn, when thou 
hast so provided for it. 

10. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly ; 



Now that the observation of the weather is taking the form 
of a science, there are some who think it an idle superstition 
to pray for rain, or to acknowledge God in the seasons. But 
what is the true significance of the daily weather-reports 
from Washington ? Simply this : That the extension of the 
telegraph makes it possible to gather from a wide region unto 
one focus reports of the state of the barometer, of the clouds, 
winds, and rains ; that these daily reports show a recurrence 
of facts which can be classified ; and the uniformity of facts 
points to certain laws. But nothing new has come to pass in 
Nature, and nothing has been displaced in the constitution 
or the government of the world. Science may have discov- 
ered some of the causes of changes of weather, but the Cause 
of causes remains in the invisible sphere of Power. Heterol- 
ogy will no more displace a Providence from the world than 
geology has displaced a Creator. The facts and laws of Na- 
ture furnish no proof against spiritual powers, which, from a 



thou settlest the furrows thereof; thou makest it 
soft with showers ; thou blessest the springing 
thereof. 

11. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness ; 
and thy paths drop fatness : 

12. They drop upon the pastures of the wilder- 
ness ; and the little hills rejoice on every side. 

13. The pastures are clothed with flocks ; the 
valleys also are covered over with corn ; they shout 
for joy; they also sing. 

Psalm Ixvii. — 1. God be merciful unto us, 
and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon 
us ; 

2. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy 
saving health among all nations. 

3. Let the people praise thee, God! let all 
the people praise thee. 

4. Oh ! let the nations be glad, and sing for joy ; 
for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and 
govern the nations upon earth. 

5. Let the people praise thee, God ! let all the 
people praise thee. 

6. Then shall the earth yield her increase ; and 
God, even our own God, shall bless us. 

7. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the 
earth shall fear him. 



higher sphere, may act through these laws or upon them. 
Our barometers and rain-guages no more supersede the care 
of our heavenly Father than our watches supersede the sun. 
Shall the discoverer of a law be applauded, and the almighty 
Framer of all laws be forgotten 1 Or shall laws themselves 
have the praise of that Intelligence which ordained them, and 
is still their Master 1 Nay: we will say with Tholuck, that 
" God reveals himself as omnipotent at the return of every 
spring, and uses his might for the bestowal of blessings. The 
goodness of God crowns the year as a diadem does the brow. 
Men find out his goings by the blessings of his paths. The 
jocund flocks clothe the pastures ; the very hills are girded 
with joy and gladness. Shall these rejoicings of Nature find 
no echo in the human heart ? Let men vie with Nature in 
thanksgivings ; let their rejoicings swell into praise and happy 
harvest-songs." 



Appropriate Hymns,] Prayer. 

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, 
and to sing praises unto thy name, Most High ! 
to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, 
and thy faithfulness every night. God our Pre- 
server ! we thank thee for the refreshment of sleep 
and the renewal of strength ; for the light of the 
morning, and for the promises and hopes that 
shine upon us from thy holy Word. We devote to 
thee our powers of reason, of affection, and of ac- 
tive service, praying that we may have grace to 
glorify thee in our bodies and our spirits which 
are thine. We thank thee for our home, our 
friends, the pleasant things that surround us, and 



[Nos. 32, 54, 163. 

world which thou hast made. Teach us, Lord ! 
to use this world as not abusing it ; and, in and 
through all that we receive, to chiefly desire and 
love thee, the Giver. We bring to thee our 
special thanksgivings for all the mercies, tempo- 
ral and spiritual, of another year. 

May each member of this family, and all who are 
dear to us, belong to the family of thy redeemed ! 
and, oh, may the redemption of Christ our Lord 
be applied unto all men by the saving grace of thy 
Holy Spirit ! Heal all sorrows, supply all needs, 
restrain all iniquity, and save the world through 
Him who died for all ; to whom, with the Father 



all the beautiful and serviceable things of the , and the Spirit, be glory everlasting. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FOREFATHERS' DAY. 



Psalm Ixxviii. — 1. Give ear, my people! to 
my law; incline your ears to the words of my 
mouth. 

2. I will open my mouth in a parable ; I will 
utter dark sayings of old ; 

3. Which we have heard and known, and our 
fathers have told us. 

4. We will not hide them from their children, 
showing to the generation to come the praises of 
the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful 
works that he hath done. 

5. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and 
appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded 
our fathers, that they should make them known to 
their children ; 

6. That the generation to come might know 
them, even the children which should be born ; who 
should arise and declare them to their children ; 

7. That they might set their hope in God, and 
not forget the works of God, but keep his com- 
mandments. 

13. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass 
through ; and he made the waters to stand as an 
heap. 

14. In the daytime also he led them with a 
cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. 



and 



15. He clave the rocks in the wilderness, 
gave them drink as out of the great depths. 

16. He brought streams also out of the rock, 
and caused waters to run down like rivers. 

Psalm xliv. — 1. We have heard with our ears, 
God ! our fathers have told us, what work thou 
didst in their daj^s, in the times of old. 

2. How thou didst drive out the heathen with 
thy hand, and plantedst them ; how thou didst 
afflict the people, and cast them out. 

3. For they got not the land in possession by 
their own sword, neither did their own arm save 
them ; but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the 
light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a 
favor unto them. 

4. Thou art my King, God ! command deliv- 
erances for Jacob. 

5. Through thee will we push down our enemies ; 
through thy name will we tread them under that 
rise up against us. 

6. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall 
my sword save me. 

7. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and 
hast put them to shame that hated us. 

8. In God we boast all the day long, and praise 
thy name forever. 



There is nothing local nor sectional, nothing vainglorious 
nor exclusive, in the commemoration of Forefathers' Day. It 
is a clay that belongs of right to the whole country, as mark- 
ing the beginning of its organic life ; for the true germ of 
this nation — of its civil and religious liberty, of its intelli- 
gence, its independence, and its moral strength — was in 
that little colony of Pilgrims which landed on Plymouth Rock 
on the 21st of December, 1620. By the study of the word of 
God, they had regained the primitive conception of the Church 
as a spiritual body of believers, self-governed under their al- 
legiance to Christ, their common head. For purity of faith 
and worship, they had separated from the State churches 
which had survived the Reformation or had grown out of it. 



Their training in the Christian democracy had qualified them 
for self-government in civil affairs ; and the compact which 
they framed before landing from " The Mayflower " was the 
root of our constitutional freedom. The Pilgrim colonists 
were true to their principles. Whatever were the errors and 
excesses of later colonies, no charge of bigotry or persecution 
lies at their door. Fidelity to truth, to duty, and to man, main- 
tained through severe and protracted sacrifices and sufferings, 
and a humble devotion to God, which made them willing to 
be as stepping-stones unto others for the advancement of his 
kingdom, entitle them to the grateful remembrance, not of 
their posterity only, but of all mankind. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nbs. 4, 14, 22. 



Give ear, Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest 
Joseph like a flock ! thou that dwellest between 
the cherubims, shine forth. Thou hast brought a 
vine out of Egypt; thou hast cast out the heathen, 
and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it, 
and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the 
land. She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and 
her branches unto the river. For the goodly in- 
heritance of this land, for plenty and prosperity, 



riches, in seeking and loving this world ! Oh ! save 
us, we beseech thee, from corruption and crime, 
and forgetfulness of God. Keep alive in us the 
faith and the virtues of our fathers. We bless 
thee for their patience, their courage, their devo- 
tion, their fidelity, their holy love and zeal, and 
for all which thou didst accomplish by them and 
for them. 

Incline our hearts, Lord ! to cleave to thy tes- 



ter freedom and order, for union and peace, for i timonies, and to be faithful witnesses for thy truth 



schools and churches, for thy holy day and thy 
holy word, we render thee, Lord ! most hearty 
thanks. Oh ! keep this people ever faithful to thee, 
the God of our fathers ; and do thou, Lord ! re- 
member unto us the mercies of thy covenant. 

Alas! how have we sinned against thee in pro- 
faning thy sabbaths, in disregarding thy Word, in 
boasting our own might and trusting our own 



May we of this household ever be upon the Lord's 
side ! May all our friends be the friends of God ! 
May our whole land be filled with righteousness ! 
Finally bring us, we beseech thee, to sit down with 
patriarchs, prophets, and psalmists, with pilgrims, 
apostles, and confessors, in the kingdom of our Fa- 
ther, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IX THE YEAR. 



435 



FOREFATHERS' DAY. 



Deuteronomy viii. — 1. All the commandments 
which I command thee this day shall ye observe to 
do, that ye may live and multiply, and go in and 
possess the land which the Lord sware unto your 
fathers. 

2. And thou shaft remember all the way which 
the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the 
wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to 
know what was in thine heart, whether thou would- 
est keep his commandments or no. 

3. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to 
hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou 
knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that 
he might make thee know that man doth not live 
by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth 
out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. 

4. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither 
did thy foot swell these forty years. 

5. Thou shaft also consider in thine heart, that 
as a man ehasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God 
chasteneth thee. 

6. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments 
of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to 
fear him. 

7. For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a 
good land ; a land of brooks of water, of fountains, 
and depths that spring out of valleys and hills ; 

8. A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and 
fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil -olive 
and honey ; 

9. A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without 
scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it ; a 



I land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills 
! thou mayest dig brass. 

10. "When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou 
shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land 
which he hath given thee. 

11. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy 
God in not keeping his commandments, and his 
judgments, and his statutes, which I command 
thee this day: 

12. Lest xchen thou hast eaten, and art mil, and 
hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 

13. And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, 
and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all 
that thou hast is multiplied ; 

11. Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou 
forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth 
out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bond- 
ace : 

1 17. And thou say in thy heart, My power and 
the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. 

18. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God ; 
for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, 
that he may establish his covenant which he sware 
unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 

19. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the 
Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve 
them, and worship them, I testify against you this 
day that ye shall surely perish. 

20. As the nations which the Lord destroyeth 
before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye 
would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord 
your God. 



A chief temptation and snare to nations as to individuals is | creation, and the prosperity that comes of these were the 
that pride of material possessions, which causes them to forget highest good of a people. Such an anniversary as this 



their dependence upon God. Never was a nation more 
favored than this by the Creator in the elements of material 
prosperity, and not even Israel itself was more manifestly led 
of God in its beginnings. Yet we boast our physical re- 
sources and material improvements as if these were our own 



should recall us to the salutary remembrance of our humble 
but pious beginnings, to a grateful sense of our dependence 
upon God, and to a penitential but cheerful renewal of the 
covenant of our Fathers. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Fra3^er. 



[Nos. 85, 141. 



thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel! our 
fathers trusted in thee: they cried unto thee, and 
were delivered ; they trusted in thee, and were not 
confounded. When, by reason of their devotion to 
Christ, afflictions and persecutions were multiplied 
to them in their native land, thou didst make the 
depths of the sea a way for thy ransomed to pass over, 
and didst bring them forth into a large place, and 
gavest this goodly land for an inheritance to them 
and their children forever. Oh ! grant us grace, 
we beseech thee, to be faithful to the trust that we 
have received, and to exalt the God of our fathers. 
Like them, may we revere thy name, obey thy 
word, keep holy thy day ; like them, may we count 
all things but loss for the knowledge of Christ Je- 
sus our Lord. "We lament before thee the sins and 



evils of our times : turn us again, God of hosts ! 
and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved. 
We give thee thanks, Lord ! for all thy faithful 
servants, who, having witnessed in their lives a 
good confession, have left the light of their good 
works to shine before thy Church on earth. 
Mercifully grant that we, being compassed about 
with so great a cloud of witnesses, may lay aside 
every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset 
us, and run with patience the race which is set be- 
fore us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher 
of our faith ; that so, departing this life with the 
seal of faith, we may attain unto the resurrection 
of the just, and with them enjoy the glory of thy 
kingdom made perfect in heaven, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 



436 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



CHRISTMAS. 



Luke ii. — 1. And it came to pass in those days 
that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus 
that all the world should be taxed. 

3. And all went to be taxed, every one into his 
own city. 

4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out 
of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city 
of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he 
was of the house and lineage of David), 

5. To be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife. 

7. And she brought forth her first-born son, and 
wrapped him in swaddling-clothes, and laid him in 
a manger ; because there was no room for them in 
the inn. 

8. And there were in the same country shepherds 
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock 
by night. 

9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon 
them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about 
them ; and they were sore afraid. 

10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not ; 
for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 
which shall be to all people. 

11. For unto you is born this day, in the city of 
David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

12. And this shall be a sign unto you : Ye shall 



find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying 
in a manger. 

13. And suddenly there was with the angel a 
multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and 
saying, 

11. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth 
peace, good will toward men. 

15. And it came to pass, as the angels were 
gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds 
said one to another, Let us now go even unto 
Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come 
to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto 
us. 

16. And they came with haste, and found 
Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a man- 
ger. 

17. And, when they had seen it, they made 
known abroad the saying which was told them con- 
cerning this child. 

18. And all they that heard it wondered at those 
things which were told them by the shepherds. 

19. But Mary kept all these things, and pon- 
dered them in her heart. 

20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and 
praising God for all the things that they had heard 
and seen, as it was told unto them. 



An order from Rome for taking the censns in Palestine 
was the means of fulfillinfr the prophecy uttered seven hun- 
dred years hefore, — that Christ should be born in Bethlehem. 
In those days, travellers lodged in a caravansary, — a large 
court, walled in on all sides, but open to the sky. In the cen- 
tre of the court was a raised platform, where the guests gath- 
ered by day, and slept by night. This was the inn proper. 
Around this, against the walls, were sheds, with stalls, or ar- 
cades, for goods, and beasts of burden. The census had 
brought such a crowd to Bethlehem, that Joseph and Mary 
tookrefugc in one of these side-nooks, where the cattle were 
housed and fed. 

With this beautiful simplicity was ushered in the grandest 
event in the history of the world, — the incarnation of the 
Son of God for our redemption. It was needful that the 
Lord should be born of woman : but his chosen mother was 
not, like the foster-mother of Moses, a king's daughter in her 
palace, but a poor and modest virgin, who aspired to nothing 
more than being the wife of the village-carpenter; and he 



was not born even in her humble home, but in a manger, 
where his mother was glad to find shelter for the night. It 
was necessary that this divine birth should be certified- by 
witnesses ; but these were not such dignitaries as are chosen 
to attest the birth of a prince. In the stillness of the night, 
to a few shepherds who were watching their flock in the lovely 
fields that slope away from the hill of Bethlehem, came the 
wondrous song of the angels announcing the birth of the 
Redeemer ; and these honest, simple-minded people went and 
saw the babe, and then told all that they had heard and 
seen. 

Thus Christ challenges our faith in his divinity by the 
lowly and gentle way in which he entered into our humanity. 
The voices of nature, of humanity, and of divinity, blended 
sweetly in his advent. The very air seems holy since it has 
borne such a message from heaven ; the very earth is con- 
secrated by the coming of the Son of God. Oh, may our 
hearts receive the Lord of heaven and earth, who still comes 
as a little child to every soul that seeks his peace ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 119, 173, 198. 



O Thou who didst humble thyself to be born of 
a virgin, the everlasting Son of the Father, the 
Prince of peace ! we bless and adore thee for thy 
grace and compassion for us sinners. We give 
thanks unto the Father, who so loved the world, 
that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever 
believeth in him should not perish, but have ever- 
lasting life ; we praise and worship the Son, who 
took upon him our nature that he might redeem us 
to God. Oh ! grant us, we beseech thee, thy peace, 
through the forgiveness of sin, reconciliation with 
God, and the indwelling of the Spirit, that we may 



glorify and praise thee in our lives for all that we 
have heard and seen of thy grace. 

[May the children of this family remember that 
Jesus came as a little child to bless them ! May 
| they give their hearts to his love !] And may we all, 
in the spirit of little children, love and serve Him 
who came into the world to save sinners! And, 
oh ! may the world be saved ; may all men come to 
Christ ; may peace reign on earth, and good will 
bind all hearts together for the glory of God ! 
And to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be honor 
and praise throughout all ages. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



437 



FOR A MARRIAGE. 



Matthew xix. — 4. And Jesus answered and said 
nnto them, Have ye not read, that he which made 
them at the beginning made them male and female, 

5. And said, For this cause shall a man leave 
father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, 
and they twain shall be one flesh ? 

6. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one 
flesh. What, therefore, God hath joined together, 
let not man put asunder. 

Ephesians v. — 23. For the husband is the 
head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the 
church ; and he is the savior of the body. 

24. Therefore as the church is subject unto 
Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in 
every thing. 

25. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ 
also loved the church, and gave himself for it ; 

26. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with 
the washing of water by the word, 

27. That he might present it to himself a glo- 
rious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any 
such thing ; but that it should be holy and with- 
out blemish. 

28. So ought men to love their wives as their 



own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth him- 
self. 

29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, 
but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord 
the church ; 

30. For we are members of his body, of his 
flesh, and of his bones. 

31. For this cause shall a man leave his father 
and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and 
they two shall be one flesh. 

32. This is a great mystery; but I speak con- 
cerning Christ and the church. 

33. Nevertheless, let every one of you in par- 
ticular so love his wife even as himself; and the 
wife see that she reverence her husband. 

Revelation xix. — 7. Let us be glad and rejoice, 
and give honor to him ; for the marriage of the 
Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

8. And to her was granted that she should be 
arrayed in fine linen, clean and white ; for the fine 
linen is the righteousness of saints. 

9. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are 
they which are called unto the marriage-supper of 
the Lamb. 



In all ages, and among all people, marriage has been made 
both a social and religious festival. On the banks of the 
Nile, at a Mohammedan wedding, I have witnessed a torch- 
light procession such as is described in the New Testament, 
and such ceremonial observances as are enjoined in the Book 
of Leviticus. In the heart of the desert I have participated 
in a wedding-festival, where the rudest music and dancing 
gave expression to the grim hilarity of the Bedouin nature. 
Among the Jews, marriage was always held in honor, both 
as a memorial of God's primitive blessing on the race, and as 
the vehicle of most precious prophecies for the future. 



Christianity has exalted marriage to the highest dignity, 
and crowned it with the most sacred beauty : it is the symbol 
of the union of Christ and his Church; and the consumma- 
tion of hope, purity, and joy in heaven, is typified under " the 
marriage-supper of the Lamb." Marriage is the festival of 
love, and, as such, should be attended with all that repre- 
sents beauty and felicity : it is the festival of joy ; and, as 
such, should be a time of pre-eminent joyousness to all who 
assist in its solemnities. But it is also a festival of conse- 
cration ; and it should be hallowed with the word of God and 
prayer. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 96, 134. 



Our Father in heaven, who, in the beginning, 
didst constitute the family in unity of interest, of 
affection, and of life, to be the fountain of earthly 
love, and the channel of thy heavenly grace, we 
bless thee for all the love and joy which, as mem- 
bers of this family, we have had together, and for 
all the good that has come to us of thy bounty and 
thy care. We bless thee for the tender and sacred 
names of husband and wife, of parent and child ; 
and we pray that our family union on earth may 
be the type and the prophecy of a union in ever- 
lasting love and joy in our Father's house. 

We thank thee, Lord! that changes in our 
earthly homes are subject to thy governance, and 
that the change which takes the children of our 
love to constitute anew the family in another home 
is by the ordering of the same gracious Providence 
which established this home at the first. We com- 
mend to thee the dear ones who this day shall be 
joined together in the most sacred of earthly ties ; 
beseeching thee, that, in taking the marriage-vow, 



thy holy fear maybe before their eyes, and the bless- 
ing of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, 
may be upon them, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
thou divine. Redeemer, who didst h allow 
the marriage festival with thy presence and bene- 
diction ! may we this day feel thy presence, and re- 
ceive thy blessing ! O thou holy and blessed 
Spirit, who hast declared marriage honorable in 
thy sight! shed over these beloved ones the sanc- 
tity of thy grace. Bless him [or her] whom we 
give, and her [or him'] whom we receive : may 
their union be for long years of joy in each other! 
may their love draw them the closer to the God of 
love ! may all the experiences of life bind them 
together in faith and hope ! Grant unto them all 
things needful in the present life ; and in the world 
to come, life everlasting. And may thy blessing 
abide with this household ! Help us to be true and 
loving in all the relationships of life ; and finally 
bring us to the family above, to the marriage-supper 
of the Lamb, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



438 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FOR A NEW HOME. 



2 Samuel vi. — 6. And, when they came to 
Nachon's threshing-floor, Uzzah put forth his hand 
to the ark of God, and took hold of it ; for the 
oxen shook it. 

7. And the anger of the Lord was kindled 
against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his 
error ; and there he died by the ark of God. 

8. And David was disjjleased because the Lord 
had made a breach upon Uzzah ; and he called 
the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day. 

9. And David was afraid of the Lord that day, 
and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to 
me ? 

10. So David would not remove the ark of the 
Lord unto him into the city of David ; but David 
carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the 
Gittite. 

11. And the ark of the Lord continued in the 
house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months ; and 
the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household. 

12. And it was told King David, saying, The 
Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and 
all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark 
of God. So David went and brought u^ the ark of 



God from the house of Obed-edom into the city 
of David with gladness. 

Psalm cxliv. — 9. I will sing a new song unto 
thee, God ! upon a psaltery and an instrument 
of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 

10. It is he that giveth salvation unto kings ; 
who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful 
sword. 

11. Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of 
strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, 
and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood ; 

12. That our sons may be as plants grown up 
in their youth ; that our daughters may be as 
corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a 
palace ; 

13. That our garners may be full, affording all 
manner of store ; that our sheep may bring forth 
thousands and ten thousands in our streets ; 

14. That our oxen may be strong to labor; 
that there be no breaking in, nor going out ; that 
there be no complaining in our streets. 

15. Happy is that people that is in such a 
case ; yea, happy is that people whose God is the 
Lord. 



The foundation of human society is the family. Not the 
individual, but the family, is the true unit of the state ; and 
the nation is properly not a numerical aggregate of individ- 
uals, but a combination of families. It is only through the 
door of the family that any one can enter into society ; for 
individual men are not created separate monads, but each is 
born into the world a member of a family. Hence whatever 
tends to preserve the home as a central point of interest and 
affection tends to give stability and sacredness to society it- 
self. That community, that people, are most likely to be 
well ordered, and peaceful in public affairs, among whom the 
homestead is cherished in the hearts of its citizens. Some one 
has said that no home is complete without the grandmother ; 
and certainly the blending of infancy, middle life, and old 
age, in one household, gives tenderness, grace, and dignity to 
domestic life. 



In setting up a new home, therefore, it is most becoming 
to consecrate it to God by the erection of the family-altar, 
and the invocation of his blessing. The ancient Eomans 
had their Penates, household gods, whose images guarded 
and blessed the hearthstone. The house of Obed-edom was 
blessed because it sheltered the ark of God. Moses never 
removed, his tent from place to place except upon the assur- 
ance that the divine presence would go up with him. So 
should we consecrate our home with prayer and thanksgiving, 
that, by the favor of God, our sons growing up with manly 
virtues, our daughters with womanly graces, may make the 
home as a garden of plenty, and a palaee of beauty and 
strength. 

Heaven is the perfection of the family and the home. 
There is our Father's house; there is Christ, our Elder Broth- 
er ; there the glad and blessed fellowship of the redeemed. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



fNos. 68, 124. 



Our Father in heaven, the God of all the fami- 
lies of the earth, we give thee thanks for the mani- 
fold blessings which we as a family have received 
at thy hand, — for our birth and education under 
Christian influences, for the comforts of our home, 
for the tender relationships of life. May the mer- 
cies of thy covenant abide with this household, 
and every member of it be joined to the family of 
thy people! Be thou our Father and our God; 
and may we know the love and joy of thy dear 
children ! blessed Lord Jesus ! come and take 
up thine abode with us, and fill our home with thy 
presence ; fill our hearts with thy peace. 

We bless thee that through another night thou 
hast kept our habitation in safety, and that we 
enter upon a new day surrounded with the to- 
kens of thy providence and grace. Create in us 



a clean heart, O God! and renew a right spirit 
within us, that in our lives this day we may 
show forth thine image, and glorify thee in our 
bodies and spirits which are thine. Forgive us 
the sins of our past lives ; and help us, Lord! to 
lead the new life in Christ Jesus. 

Be gracious to all dear to us ; bless them in their 
hearts and their homes; remember the family oi 
thy people ; have mercy upon such as have no 
home, upon the widow and the fatherless, the for- 
saken and outcast ; deliver such as are in bonds ; 
convert and restore thine ancient covenant people ; 
and hasten the time when all mankind shall dwell 
together as one family in Christ their Head. Final- 
ly, we beseech thee to bring us to our Father's house, 
to the Jerusalem that is above, to dwell with thee 
forever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



439 



ON THE BIRTH OF A CHILD. 



2 Kings iv. — 8. And it fell on a day, that 
Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great 
woman ; and she constrained hini to eat bread. 
And so it was, that, as oft as he passed by, he 
turned in thither to eat bread. 

9. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, 
I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which 
passeth by us continually. 

10. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, 
on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, 
and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick; and 
it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall 
turn in thither. 

11. And it fell on a day, that he came thith- 
er ; and he turned into the chamber, and lay 
there. 

12. And he said to G-ehazi his servant, Call this 
Shunammite. And, when he had called her, she 
stood before him. 

13. And he said unto him, Say now unto her, 
Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this 
care : what is to be done for thee ? Wouldest thou 
be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the 
host ? And she answered, I dwell among mine 
own people. 

14. And he said, What, then, is to be done for 



Among the Jews, a numerous offspring was regarded as a 
marked instance of divine favor, and the birth of a child was 
hailed with thanksgiving as a special gift of God. " Lo, 
children are a heritage of the Lord ; as arrows in the hand of 
a mighty man. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full 
of them." In the promised restoration of Israel, one of the 
loveliest features is the streets full of boys and girls at play. It 
was considered a great calamity to be childless, and especially 
to be without an heir to transmit one's name to posterity. 
The Shunammite woman had wealth, position, influence, — so 
much of worldly prosperity, that she had nothing to ask for 
even of the king ; but the promise of a child seemed a bless- 
ing too great to be believed. Life is still as great a mystery 
as when the promise of a son was given to her, to Hannah, 
to Sarah, or to Eve ; still as much a gift of God as when the 
" Son of the Highest " was promised to Mary. And, in all 
our earthly experiences, there is no expression of divine love 



her ? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no 
child, and her husband is old. 

15. And he said, Call her. And, when he had 
called her, she stood in the door. 

16. And he said, About this season, according 
to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And 
she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not 
lie unto thine handmaid. 

17. And the woman conceived, and bare a son 
at that season that Elisha had said unto her, ac- 
cording to the time of life. 

Zechariah viii. — 3. Thus saith the Lord : lam 
returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst 
of Jerusalem : and Jerusalem shall be called, A 
city of truth ; and the mountain of the Lord of 
hosts, The holy mountain. 

4. Thus saith the Lord of hosts : There shall 
yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of 
Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his 
hand for very age. 

5. And the streets of the city shall be full of 
boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. 

6. Thus saith the Lord of hosts : If it be mar- 
vellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people 
in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine 
eyes ? saith the Lord of hosts. 



to be compared with this. What love the babe brings ! what 
love it inspires ! what hope it awakens ! what joy it kindles ! 
how it draws around it all the hearts of the household in a 
tender sympathy, a sacred unity, which should bind them all 
the closer to their Father in heaven ! 

Oh, what a treasure of sweet thoneht 

Is here I what hope and joy and love, 
All in one tender bosom brought, 
For the all-gracious Dove 
To brood o'er silently, and form for heaven 
Each passionate wish and dream to dear affection given 1 

We are too weak, when Thou dost bless, 

To bear the joy. Help, Virgin-born, 
By thine own mother's first caress, 
That waked that natal morn 1 
Help, by the unexpressive smile that made 
A heaven on earth around the couch where 
Thou wast laid I 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 78, 201. 



God, our heavenly Father! we bless thee for 
the precious gift of thy love which hath come to 
gladden our home ; for the dear child which thou 
hast given us, for all the love it brings, and all the 
love it calls forth for itself and to thee. With glad- 
ness receiving this as our child, we pray that from 
its very birth it may be thy child, — adopted, 
sanctified, blessed by thee. May this precious life 
be spared for our comfort and joy, and for thy ser- 
vice and glory ! most merciful Father ! bless, 
we humbly beseech thee, the children of this 
family with healthful bodies and good understand- 
ings, with the graces and gifts of thy Holy Spirit, 
and with sweet dispositions and holy habits. [Es- 



pecially watch over those now far from us, and 
committed to the care and instruction of others.] 
May thy mercy and thy providence lead them 
through all the dangers and temptations of this 
evil world, and sanctify them wholly in their 
bodies, souls, and spirits, and keep them unblama- 
ble unto the coming of the Lord Jesus. 

Blessed Saviour, who thyself didst sanctify in- 
fancy by coming into the world a little child, and 
who didst take little children to thine arms and 
bless them, oh ! bless us, we pray thee, in training 
this child for thee ; and grant that we also, having 
the spirit of little children, may be of the kingdom 
of heaven, for thy name's sake. Amen. 



440 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FOR A BAPTISMAL SERVICE. 

[Note. — This service is inserted only for the accommodation of families which observe infant-baptism.] 



Psalm ciii. — 17. The mercy of the Lord is 
from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear 
him, and his righteousness unto children's children ; 

18. To such as keep his covenant, and to those 
that remember his commandments to do them. 

Isaiah xliv. — 3. I will pour my Spirit upon thy 
seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring ; 

4. And they shall spring up as among the grass, 
as willows by the water-courses. 

Mark X. — 13. And they brought young chil- 
dren to him that he should touch them; and his 
disciples rebuked those that brought them. 

14. But, when Jesus saw it, he was much dis- 
pleased, and said unto them, Suffer the little chil- 
dren to come unto me, and forbid them not ; for of 
such is the kingdom of God. 



15. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not 
receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he 
shall not enter therein. 

16. And he took them up in his arms, put his 
hands upon them, and blessed them. 

Matthew xviii. — 1. At the same time came the 
disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest 
in the kingdom of heaven ? 

2. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and 
set him in the midst of them, 

3. And said, Verily, I say unto you, Except ye 
be converted, and become as little children, ye shall 
not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

4. Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as 
this little child, the same is greatest in the king- 
dom of heaven. 



Christ's treatment of little children presents his character 
under a most winning aspect. Thrice it is recorded of the 
meek and holy Jesus that he was moved to indignation : once, 
at the buying and selling in the temple ; again, at the mocking 
of the Pharisees, because he healed a paralytic on the sabbath ; 
and now, the third time, at the repulse of little children by his 
own disciples. To refuse children access to his grace was to 
misrepresent his spirit, his mission, and his kingdom. In 
bringing the children at that moment, the mothers interrupted 
him in an important doctrinal discourse: yet Jesus suspended 
his teaching, and gave place to a sentiment, a symbol, a sacra- 
ment ; for the blessing was of the nature of a sacrament. It 
signified that there was a place in his thought, in his heart, 
in his mission, in his Church, for children who were too young 
to understand his teaching. And this symbol, or sacrament, 
was also the medium of a most precious doctrine. In the sec- 



ond incident, taken from Matthew, Jesus used the innocence 
and docility of a little child as a lesson to his disciples, — the 
child serving the purpose of comparison. But, in the first in- 
cident, neither the character of disciples nor the condition of 
discipleship was under discussion, but the relation of children 
to himself and his kingdom. Myriads of children are in 
heaven, beholding the face of his Father ; and the kingdom of 
grace and salvation upon earth is also for little children. It is 
pleasing to Christ that parents should bring their children to 
him in loving consecration, and that children should be em- 
bosomed within his Church. The question was not, "Are 
these children old enough to be in the kingdom 1 " but, " Are 
you young enough t In simple, loving trust and obedience, are 
you like little children 1 If so, come in yourselves, and suffer 
them to come." 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 2.3, 24, 124, 201. 



God, the Father of all the families of men ! 
we thank thee for thy great love in the gift of chil- 
dren; for all the joy they bring with them; for all 
the good thou dost prepare for them and by them. 
May the children of this family be thine in the 
covenant of thy love, and grow up in the household 
of faith ! 

We thank thee for the privilege of consecrating 
our children unto thee ; and pray, that, in bringing 
this child to thine altar this day, we may have a 
sincere and godly faith in thy covenant of mercy, 
and an earnest purpose to train him [or her'] up in 
thy ways. Oh, may thy good Spirit seal and sanc- 
tify the heart of this child ! Secure within thy 
fold, may he [or she] be kept from the evil that is 
in the world, and guided unto the life everlasting ! 
May we have grace to walk before him [or her] 
in thy ways, and to exemplify the beauty of the 
Christian life ! Help us, Lord ! ever to feel that 
this child is not ours, but thine ; ours only as the 
gift of thy love, to be nourished and trained for 
thee. May the love that the child brings to our 
hearts kindle within us a more deep and earnest 
love to our Father in heaven ! 



Oh ! give us the blessing of grateful hearts. Let 
thy Spirit be our teacher ; let thy Word be our 
guide ; let thy will be our supreme motive, and 
thy glory our constant aim. 

We bring thee thanks for the rest and refresh- 
ment of sleep, and for the comforts of the morning. 
Guide, keep, and prosper us this day. Bless all 
connected with us by whatever tie. May our ever- 
present God be with them, guiding them by his 
grace, defending them from temptation, fitting 
them by his providence for the varied duties of 
the present life, and for the joys of his saints in 
glory everlasting ! 

Bless everywhere the lambs of t\\j flock. We 
commend them to the Great Shepherd of the sheep, 
beseeching him to make them perfect, and to fold 
them in the arms of his mercy. And we commend 
to thy love and care the homeless, the wandering, 
the widow, and the orphan ; beseeching thee to 
provide for them in the fulness of thy grace. We 
leave ourselves, God ! in thy hands. May the 
holy sacrament of this day, begun, carried on, and 
ended in thee, redound, through Jesus, to thy 
praise and glory ! Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



441 



SERVICES FOR CHILDREN. 



Morning. 



Great God, and wilt thou condescend 
To be my Father and my Friend ? 
I a poor child, and thou so high, 
The Lord of earth and ah- and sky ! 

Art thou my Father ? Let me be 
A meek, obedient child to thee ; 
And try, in word and deed and thought, 
To serve and please thee as I ought. 



O Lord ! I am a little child ; and how can I speak 
to God, who is in heaven ? But I know that Jesus, 
the dear Saviour, once took little children in his 
arms and blessed them, and said, " Surfer the little 
children to come unto me, and forbid them not." O 
Lord ! I would come to thee, and ask for thy bless- 
ing upon me this day. I thank thee for taking 
care of me last night, and through all my life. I 
am sorry for all the wrong I have ever done ; and I 



Art thou my Father ? I'll depend 
Upon the care of such a Friend, 
And only wish to do and be 
Whatever seenieth good to thee. 

Art thou my Father ? Then at last, 
When all my days on earth are passed, 
Send down and take me in thy love 
To be thy better child above. 



pray thee, dear Saviour, to forgive me. Help me 
to-day to do right. May I love and obey my 
parents, be kind to my brothers and sisters, and to 
all my little playmates ! May I not get angry, nor 
speak naughty words, nor have naughty thoughts 
and feelings, nor do any thing that is wrong ! 
Bless my father and mother and brothers and sis- 
ters, and everybody that I love, and everybody else 
in all the world, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 



Evening. 



Kneel, my child ; for God is here ! 
Bend in love, but not in fear ; 
Kneel before him now in prayer ; 
Thank him for his constant care ; 

Praise Mm for his bounties shed 
Every moment on thy head ; 
Ask for light to know his will ; 
Ask for love thy heart to fill ; 



Heavenly Father, I know that God, who is in 
heaven, takes care of everybody and everything in 
this world; takes care even of the flowers and of 
the little birds : and I thank thee for taking care 
of me all through this day. I thank thee, heaven- 
ly Father, that I am so well and so happy ; that I 
have food to eat, and clothes to wear, and a bed to 
sleep in, and a good home, and such dear parents 
and kind friends. Oh, may I be always thankful 
and kind and good, and try to please my heavenly 
Father, and to make my parents and all around me 
happy ! 



Ask for faith to bear thee on 
Through the might of Christ his Son ; 
Ask his Spirit still to guide thee 
Through the ills that may betide thee ; 

Ask for peace to lull to rest 
Every tumult of thy breast ; 
Ask in awe, but not in fear : 
Kneel, my child ; for God is here ! 



Forgive every thing that I have done wrong this 
day ; and help me never to sin any more. 

When I am tired and sleepy, I love to think that 
my Father in heaven never sleeps, and is never 
tired of watching over me and taking care of me. 

" Now I lay me down to sleep, 
I pray the Lord my soul to keep : 
If I should die before I wake, 
I pray the Lord my soul to take." 

And this I ask for Jesus' sake. Amen. 



[Besides reading or repeating the verses above, the children may sing the following hymn.] 



Lamb of God, I look to thee ; 
Thou shalt my example be : 
Thou art gentle, meek, and mild ; 
Thou wast once a little child. 

Fain I would be as thou art ; 
Give me thine obedient heart : 
Thou art pitiful and kind ; 
Let me have thv loving mind. 



Loving Jesus, gentle Lamb, 
In thy gracious hands I am : 
Make me, Saviour, what thou art ; 
Live thyself within my heart. 

I shall then show forth thy praise ; 
Serve thee all my happy days : 
Then the world shall always see 
Christ, the Holy Child, in me. 



442 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SERVICE FOR CHILDREN. 



Morning. 



As a bird in meadows fair, 
Or in lonely forest, sings, 
Till it fills the summer air, 

And the greenwood sweetly rings : 
So my heart to thee would raise, 
O my God ! its song of praise, 
That the gloom of night is o'er 
And I see the sun once more. 



Bless to-day whate'er I do; 

Bless whate'er I have and love : 
From the paths of virtue true 

Let me never, never rove. 
By thy Spirit strengthen me 
In the faith that leads to thee ; 
Then, an heir of life on high, 
Fearless I may live and die. 



Father in heaven, I thank thee for all the beau- 
tiful things which thou hast made, — for the sun 
that shines so brightly, for the birds that sing so 
sweetly, for the pretty flowers, and the bright 
stars, and for every thing that makes the world so 
lovely and so happy. My heart is happy, too, 
when I think that God made me, and loves me, 
and takes care of me ; that he has given me such a 
nice home, and such dear parents and friends, and 
so many good things. But, oh ! I am sad and sorry 
when I think how often I have sinned against my 



Father in heaven, and done what I ought not to 
have done. Lord ! I pray thee to forgive me 
for Jesus' sake, and help me always to be good. 

I thank thee for the good sleep I had last 
night, and that this morning I am so well and 
happy. heavenly Father ! please take care of me 
to-day, and keep me from all harm and sin ; and 
bless father and mother, and all my dear friends, 
my playmates and schoolmates, and bless every- 
body with thy love and grace, for Christ's sake. 
Amen. 



Evening. 



I'm not too young for God to see : 
He knows my name, and nature too ; 

And all day long he looks at me, 

And sees my actions through and through. 

He listens to the words I say ; 

He knows the thoughts I have within; 
And, whether I'm at work or play, 

He's sure to see it if I sin. 



If some one great and good is near, 

It makes us careful what we do} 
And how much more we ought to fear 

The Lord, who sees us through and through I 

Thus, when inclined to do amiss, 

However pleasant it may be, 
I'll always try to think of this, — 

I'm not too young for God to see. 



God ! I thank thee that I have lived through 
another day, and have had so many things to make 
me happy. I thank thee that I have enough to 
eat and to wear ; that I have such dear friends ; 
that every day I can learn something new, and can 
enjoy the good and beautiful things which God 
has made. Oh ! may I always remember that every 
good thing I have comes from my Father in 
heaven ! and may I have a thankful heart ! May I 
try to do good to others around me, and to make 
everybody happy, by being kind and gentle, and 
loving and obedient ! Teach me and help me, 



Lord ! to be such a child as Jesus was on 
earth. Forgive all that I have done wrong this 
day. 

Now that the night has come again, I pray thee, 
Lord ! to take care of me while I sleep. Oh, may 
the good angels watch over me ! and may I awake 
in the morning full of health, full of love, full of 
joy, ready to praise and to serve thee ! Bless all 
my dear friends, all my little mates ; bless all 
poor people and sick people, and all children who 
have no home ; and, Lord ! show thy love to 
everybody, for Christ's sake. Amen. 



Remember thy Creator now, 
In these thy youthful days : 

He will accept thy earliest vow, 
And listen to thy praise. 

Remember thy Creator now, 
And seek him while he's near ; 

For evil days will come, when thou 
Shalt find no comfort near. 



Remember thy Creator now ; 

His willing servant be : 
Then, when thy head in death shall bow, 

He will remember thee. 



Almighty God, our hearts incline 
Thy heavenly voice to hear : 

Let all our future days be thine, 
Devoted to thy fear. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



443 



FOR CHILDREN. 



Sunday Morning. 



God of mercy, throned on high, 

Listen from thy lofty seat ; 
Hear, oh ! hear our feeble cry ; 

Guide, oh ! guide our wandering feet. 

Let us ever hear thy voice, 
Ask thy counsel every day : 

Saints and angels will rejoice 
If we walk in Wisdom's way. 



Thy home is with the humble, Lord ; 

The simplest are the best : 
Thy lodging is in childlike hearts ; 

Thou makest there thy rest. 

Dear Comforter 1 Eternal Love ! 

If thou wilt stay with me, 
Of lowly thoughts and simple ways 

I'll build a house for thee. 



Heavenly Father, I thank thee for this holy and 
blessed sabbath day ; that I have the Bible, and 
can learn of Jesus, who came to save me ; that I 
have been taught to love thee, and to know that 
God loves little children ; that I cau go to church 
and to Sunday school, and can join with good peo- 
ple in praying to God, and in singing his praise. 
Oh, may my heart be full of love to the Saviour, and 
full of thankfulness to my Father in heaven, who 
has done so much to make me good and happy ! 



I thank thee, Lord ! that thou hast taken 
care of me in the night, and that I am alive 
and well this morning. I thank thee for my 
dear parents and all my kind friends, and pray 
thee to bless them. And, Lord ! bless the 
poor children who have no parents and no 
home. May the Good Shepherd take care of 
them ! and, oh, may Jesus take care of me, and 
keep me from sin and harm, for his name's sake ! 
Amen. 



Sunday Evening. 



Through the day thy love has spared us ; 

Now we lay us down to rest : 
Through the silent watches guard us ; 
Let no foe our peace molest. 
Jesus, thou our guardian be : 
Sweet it is to trust in thee. 



Pilgrims here on earth, and strangers, 

Dwelling in the midst of foes, 

Us and ours preserve from dangers ; 

In thine arms may we repose. 

And, when life's short day is past, 
Rest with thee in heaven at last ! 



I thank thee, Lord ! that I have heard of 
Jesus as the Good Shepherd ; and I pray that I 
may be one of the lambs of his flock ; that he 
would feed me, and guard me, and guide me, and 
bless me. And, oh, may I always follow him, and 
never wander into the ways of sin ! I thank thee 
for all that I have learned of Jesus to-day at home 
and in the Sunday school, and pray that I may 
remember it, and that it may help me to do right. 
Lord ! I am sorry for all my sins ; and I pray 
thee to forgive them. 



Bless my dear, dear parents, and help me to 
make them happy. Bless all my dear friends ; 
and may they all be happy in loving the Sa- 
viour ! Bless all the children who have been 
at Sunday school to-day, and help them to be 
good; and bless the children who have nobody 
to teach them of the Saviour ; and, oh ! send 
the Bible and missionaries to every country, and 
teach everybody to love Jesus. Lord ! take 
care of me to-night, while I sleep, for Christ's sake. 
Amen. 



444 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



THE SICKNESS Oil DEATH OF A CHILD. 



Isaiah xl. — G. All flesh is grass, and all the 
goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. 

Psalm xc. — 5. They are like grass which grow- 
eth up. 

6. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth 
up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 

Psalm xxxix. — 4. Lord, make me to know 
mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; 
that I may know how frail I am. 

5. Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand- 
breadth, and mine age is as nothing before thee : 
verily every man, at his best state, is altogether 
vanity. 

2 Samuel xii. — 15. And the Lord struck the 
child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it 
was very sick. 

16. David, therefore, besought God for the child ; 
and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night 
upon the earth. 

17. And the elders of his house arose, and 
went to him, to raise him up from the earth ; 
but he would not, neither did he eat bread with 
them. 

18. And it came to pass on the seventh day that 
the child died. And the servants of David feared 
to tell him that the child was dead ; for they said, 



How often does this anguish of parental solicitude and 
prayer repeat itself in human experience ! Would that it 
were always followed with the same dignity of submission, the 
same serenity of hope ! To watch by the cradle for the com- 
ing of death, — it may be to the first-born ; to be told by the 
physicians that death must come ; to know by symptoms that 
death is near ; to sit in the shadowed chamber, where every 
step is hushed, and scarce a breath is audible, waiting for the 
decisive moment, — all this, as a first experience, gives to the 
soul an anguish of parting, a drear foreboding of loss, an awe 
of the invisible, such as mere nature is unable to bear. Yet 
so strong is the instinct to hold fast by life, so persistent is 
the vitality of hope, so indomitable the spirit of faith, that, 
against signs the most adverse, and fears the most oppressive, 
the soul will struggle on in prayer and watching to the last 
bitter end. In spite of the warnings of physicians and the more 
emphatic warnings of the disease, the heart will whisper to it- 
self, " Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that 



Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake 
unto him, and he would not hearken unto our 
voice : how will he then vex himself if we tell him 
that the child is dead? 

19. But, when David saw that his servants 
whispered, David perceived that the child was 
dead : therefore David said unto his servants, Is 
the child dead ? and they said, He is dead. 

20. Then David arose from the earth, and 
washed, and anointed himself, and changed his 
apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and 
worshipped : then he came to his own house ; and, 
when he required, they set bread before him, and 
he did eat. 

21. Then said his servants unto him, What 
thing is this that thou hast done ? thou didst fast 
and weep for the child while it was alive; but, 
when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat 
bread. 

22. And he said, While the child was yet alive, 
I fasted and wept ; for I said, Who can tell 
whether God will be gracious to me, that the child 
may live ? 

23. But, now he is dead, wherefore should I fast ? 
Can I bring him back again ? I shall go to him ; 
but he shall not return to me. 



the chil may live ? " It is well tnat this is so ; that the heart 
should be thrown thus simply and absolutely upon God, with 
the one feeling, that, if relief can come at all, it must come 
from him. Whatever the result, this feeling, and the faith 
that utters it, are for the moral health of the soul. But, if we 
thus cast the issue upon God, we should be ready to accept it 
as from God ; and, if death comes, anxiety and trouble should 
give place to comfort and hope. As we honored God by still 
calling upon him in prayer, against all human signs, so now 
should we honor him by acknowledging his hand, by cheer- 
fully trusting his will, and by accepting his promise and grace 
for the future. With but an imperfect knowledge of the fu- 
ture state, David comforted himself with the wise and profita- 
ble hope of preparing to meet again the child whom God had 
taken : how much more we, who, in the call of death, may 
hear again the voice of Jesus, saying, " Suffer the little children 
to come unto me, and forbid them not ; for of such is the king- 
dom of heaven " ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 105, 106, 201. 



Blessed Saviour, in thine earthly life thou didst 
have pity upon the sorrows and sufferings of men ; 
thou didst heal their sicknesses; yea, thou didst 
hear the cry of anguish for the dead, and didst give 
back to Jairus his daughter, and to the widow of 
ISTain her son. Oh ! hear our cry, we entreat thee, 
and spare the life of our dear child. Even against 
hope, we do yet hope in thy mercy. We have con- 
secrated this beloved child to thee; and, above all 
earthly wishes, our hearts' desire is that he [or 
she'] may live to serve thee in a holy and useful life 
on earth. But, Lord, heaven is thine also ; and, if 



it be thy will that he [or she] should go to serve 
thee in the higher life, oh ! help us to be willing. 
Also give unto us the strength of faith, the sweet- 
ness of patience, the serenity of submission, the joy 
of consecration. May we have grace to make it 
manifest that the fervor of natural affection hath 
only kindled the more our devotion to our Father 
in heaven ! May our affections be upon things 
above, our life be hid with Christ in God ! and, 
when he shall appear, may we and all our dear ones 
be with him in his glory, for his name's sake ! 
Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



445 



FOR THE DEATH OF A CHILD. 



I Kings xvii. — 17. And it came to pass after 
these things, that the son of the woman, the mis- 
tress of the house, fell sick ; and his sickness was 
so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 

18. And she said unto Elijah, What have I to 
do with thee, thou man of God ? art thou come 
unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay 
my son ? 

19. And he said unto her, Give me thy son. 
And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him 
up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon 
his own bed. 

21. And he stretched himself upon the child 
three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, 
Lord my God ! I pray thee, let this child's soul 
come into him again. 

22. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah ; and 
the soul of the child came into him again, and he 
revived. 

23. And Elijah took the child, and brought him 
down out of the chamber into the house, and deliv- 
ered him unto his mother ; and Elijah said, See ! 
thy son liveth. 

IVIark v. — 22. And behold, there cometh one of 
the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name ; and, 
when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 

23. And besought him greatly, saying, My little 



In a time of famine, Elijah had saved this widow and her 
child by a daily miracle. But suddenly the child was smitten 
down by disease ; and the frantic mother now felt that there 
was an aggravation in the very manner of his death. With 
a remnant of her pagan superstition, she upbraided both 
the prophet and herself. Elijah roused his spirit to the utmost 
energy of faith, and won back the child from the embrace of 
death. In the second miracle, a devout Jew besought Jesus 
to save a dying child. His faith, so strong, so positive, met 
with a ready answer ; but, oh, how his heart sank within 
him, when, with this great Physician at hand, word came that 
the child was dead ! Still Jesus pressed on, speaking such 
words of hope as only faith could receive : " Be not afraid ; 
only believe ; " and again, " She is not dead, but sleepeth." 
Where Elijah poured forth his soul in an agony of supplica- 
tion, calling upon God to help, Jesus spake from his own inner 



daughter lieth at the point of death : I pray thee, 
come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be 
healed ; and she shall live. 

24. And Jesus went with him ; and much peo- 
ple followed him, and thronged him. 

35. While he yet spake, there came from the 
ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, 
Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the 
Master any further. 

36. As soon as Jesus heard the word that was 
spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, 
Be not afraid ; only believe. 

38. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of 
the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them 
that wept and wailed greatly. 

39. And, when he was come in, be saith unto 
them, Why make ye this ado, and weep ? the dam- 
sel is not dead, but sleepeth. 

40. And they laughed him to scorn. But, when 
he had put them all out, he taketh the father and 
the mother of the damsel, and them that were with 
him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 

41. And he took the damsel by the hand, and 
said unto her, Talitha-cumi ; which is, being inter- 
preted, Damsel (I say unto thee), arise. 

42. And straightway the damsel arose, and 
walked ; for she was of the age of twelve years. 



consciousness, with the calmness of supreme majesty and 
power, " Maid, arise ! " 

Our Lord probably spake in the Aramean tongue ; and this 
word Talitha was a term of endearment, as if he had said, 
" Come, my child." Thus gently did he blend the tenderest 
of human feelings with almighty power ; and when the 
mourners, who just now had cavilled, were astounded as by 
an apparition from the world of spirits, he quietly convinced 
them of her restoration to life by commanding that some- 
thing should be given her to eat. By this miracle, Jesus spake 
words of everlasting comfort to parents bereaved of children ; 
for, though he does not seem to heed our agonizing cry by 
giving back our dead, we know that the same power will 
again waken them that sleep, and that the same compassion 
whispers to us, " Be not afraid ; only believe." 



Appropriate Hymns, 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 24, 105, 135. 



Blessed Saviour, we would hear thy voice, and 
believe. We bow in sorrow and submission at the 
footstool of Infinite Mercy. Thou hast taken from 
us, Lord ! a dear child, whom we had consecrated 
unto thee, and had fondly hoped to bring up in thy 
kingdom upon earth ; but thou hast consecrated 
him [or her~\ with the seal of death unto thy 
heavenly kingdom. Thy will, God ! be done. 
We bless thee for the gift of such a child ; for all 
the joy that his [or her] coming brought ; for all 
the love and hope he [or she'] had kindled in our 
hearts; for the privilege of possessing him [or her] 
as ours, and of training him [or her] for thee. 
And, now that thou hast claimed him [or her] for 



thine own, we bless thee for all the comfort and de- 
light we have had in him [or her] ; and we pray 
thee that the remembrance of thy goodness in this 
gift may incline us to trust thee in our sorrow. 
Oh! sanctify our hearts. [Bless these dear children 
who remain ; and, if it please thee, spare them to us ; 
but, Lord ! draw them to thyself in a love stronger 
and richer than ours.] And may our home be the 
more sacred because of this visitation ! Remember 
all families in affliction, and comfort them. Blessed 
Saviour, though thou dost not give back our dead, 
we would believe that they yet live with thee; and, 
we beseech thee, prepare us by thy grace to join 
them in the kingdom of thy Father. Amen. 



446 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



BEFORE A JOURNEY. 



Numbers X. — 29. And Moses said imto Hobab, 
the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father-in- 
law, We are journeying unto the place of which 
the Lord said, I will give it you : come thou with 
us, and we will do thee good ; for the Lord hath 
spoken good concerning Israel. 

30. And he said unto him, I will not go ; but 
I will depart to mine own land, and to my 
kindred. 

31. And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee ; for- 
asmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in 
the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead 
of eyes. 

32. And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it 
shall be, that what goodness the Lord shall do 
unto us, the same will we do unto thee. 

33. And they departed from the mount of the 
Lord three days' journey ; and the ark of the cov- 
enant of the Lord went before them in the three 
days' journey to search out a resting-place for 
them. 

34. And the cloud of the Lord was upon them 
by day when they went out of the camp. 



35. And it came to pass, when the ark set for- 
ward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine 
enemies be scattered ; and let them that hate thee 
flee before thee. 

36. And, when it rested, he said, Return, Lord ! 
unto the many thousands of Israel. 

Psaim cxxi. — 1. I will lift up mine eyes unto 
the hills, from whence cometh my help. 

2. My help cometh from the Lord, which made 
heaven and earth. 

3. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he 
that keepeth thee will not slumber. 

4. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither 
slumber nor sleep. 

5. The Lord 'is thy keeper; the Lord is thy 
shade upon thy right hand. 

6. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the 
moon by night. 

7. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; 
he shall preserve thy soul. 

8. The Lord shall preserve thy going-out and 
thy coming-in from this time forth, and even for- 
evermore. 



It was the pious custom of the patriarchs, in removing from 
place to place, to consult the will of God before changing 
their abode, and to supplicate his guidance on the way. 
Moses was accustomed to say to the Lord, " If thy presence 
go not with me, carry us not up hence ; " and, in journeying 
through the wilderness, the camp removed only when the cloud 
was lifted up from the tabernacle, and it halted in the place 
where the cloud abode. " At the commandment of the Lord, 
the children of Israel journeyed ; and, at the commandment of 
the Lord, they pitched : as long as the cloud abode upon the 
tabernacle, they rested in their tents." At the same time, 
Moses took advantage of the knowledge which his brother-in- 
law possessed of the desert in selecting the best route and 
the most favorable spots for encamping. So should we 
combine prudence and forethought with dependence upon 
God. " Prayer and provender hinder no man's journey." 



David has celebrated God's watchful providence over us in 
our journeyings, as defending us from the sun by day and the 
moon by night, as preserving us from all evil, and keeping 
our very feet from harm. Paul ascribed " a prosperous 
journey " to " the will of God ; " and James has instructed 
us, when we have a journey in view, to say, " If the Lord 
will, we shall live, and do this or that." In these days of 
frequent and hurried journeying, there is less time for such 
religious preparation, and often there is little thought of it. 
Yet, when we consider that the very facility and frequency 
of travel have multiplied both its pleasures and its perils, 
we surely shall bethink ourselves to commend to God those 
who are journeying by land or sea; and, in going from 
home, will commit ourselves to Him who is present every- 
where and at every moment, and who doth neither slumber 
nor sleep. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 4, 184. 



O God of infinite mercy and boundless majesty, 
whom neither space nor time can separate from 
those for whom thou carest ! be present, we beseech 
thee, with us thy servants, who desire everywhere 
to put our whole trust in thee. Do thou vouchsafe 
to be our guide and companion throughout the 
way which we are to pass over, that no adversity 
may harm, nor hinderance turn us aside; but that, 
all things being ordered by thee for our health 
and true prosperity, we may be watchful to do that 
which is well pleasing in thy sight, and be 
brought in due time to the haven where we would 
be, and, at the last, to thy heavenly kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Wherever we go, may we carry with us the sense 
of thy gracious presence ! may we abide in thy 
love ! may we do good unto all men as we have 
opportunity ! may we be delivered from all danger 



and evil ! And do thou, Lord ! bring us to our 
home again, enriched with the memory of thy 
goodness, with the experience of thy grace. 

We commend unto thy fatherly care all dear to us 
who are journeying abroad. If on the sea, do thou, 
Lord, give the winds and waves charge concerning 
them, that they suffer no harm ; if on the land, keep 
them from all perils of the way; and in thine own 
time bring them to their home in peace. Grant 
them grace everywhere and always to remember 
thee, to show forth thy praise, to do good as thou 
shalt give them opportunity. We commend unto 
thee all who are in peril on the land or on the sea, 
praying thee to grant them speedy deliverance and 
comforting grace. Guide us, Lord ! through all 
the journey of life ; give thine angels charge over 
us to keep us to the end, and finally to conduct us 
to the city of our God ; for Christ's sake. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



447 



FOR OLD AGE. 



Psalm xcii. — 1. It is a good thing to give 
thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto 
thy name, Most High ! 

2. To show forth thy loving-kindness in the 
morning, and thy faithfulness every night, 

3. Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon 
the psaltery ; upon the harp with a solemn sound. 

4. For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through 
thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy 
hands. 

12. The righteous shall flourish like the palm- 
tree ; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 

13. Those that be planted in the house of the 
Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. 

14. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age ; 
they shall be fat and flourishing ; 

15. To show that the Lord is upright: he is 
my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in 
him. 

Luke ii. — 25. And, behold, there was a man 
in Jerusalem, whose name tuas Simeon ; and the 
same man toas just and devout, waiting for the 
consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was 
upon him. 



26. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy 
Ghost that he should not see death before he had 
seen the Lord's Christ. 

27. And he came by the Spirit into the temple ; 
and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus 
to do for him after the custom of the law, 

28. Then took he him up in his arms, and 
blessed God, and said, 

29. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in 
peace, according to thy word ; 

30. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 

31. Which thou hast prepared before the face 
of all people ; 

32. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the 
glory of thy people Israel. 

33. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at 
those things which were spoken of him. 

34. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto 
Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the 
fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for 
a sign which shall be spoken against ; 

35. (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine 
own soul also ;) that the thoughts of many hearts 
may be revealed. 



How beautiful is the old age of piety, — the faith and devo- 
tion that through a long life have waited upon God, merging 
into the peace of Christ's coming, and the joy of the heavenly 
rest ! — no fears, no anxieties, no cares, no doubts, but a trust 
in God so calm and full, that even death is waited for in holy 
expectation, as the consolation promised to Israel, as the 
longed-for vision of Christ. This rich peace in prospect of 
death comes of a life of faith, "just and devout, according to 
the word of God." A holy life is the prelude of a happy 
death. But the aged saint is not simply waiting for his depart- 
ure : he is not severed from the present, and translated before- 
hand into the future. Sometimes such a one fancies, that, be- 
cause his days of activity are over, he has outlived his usefulness ; 
but his life of patience and hope, his mature and serene piety, 
his devout waiting upon God, are a continual argument for the 
gospel. He still brings forth fruit in old age. The cedar, 
with the growth of centuries upon it, still flourishes in majes- 
tic beauty. " The palm-tree remains green all the year 
round, in the cold of winter no less than in the heat of sum- 
mer. It grows slowly, but steadily, uninfluenced by those al- 



ternations of the seasons which affect other trees. Drawing 
its moisture from hidden springs, when the green of the 
meadows is withered, and the earth is parched to powder," 
the palm-tree still lifts aloft its verdant roof of leaves. 
Thus vigorous and refreshing was the piety of the aged 
Simeon amid the deadness of his times. But his hope 
and joy were not for himself alone. He longed and prayed 
for the salvation of the world, — a salvation which, coining 
with a peculiar glory to his own beloved nation, should also 
lighten the Gentiles, and shine upon the face of all people. 
He who would keep his own heart fresh, his own piety glow- 
ing, should carry in his heart, and remember in his prayers, 
the welfare of the whole world. Thus loving and praying, 
he can never grow old, never be weary, never really die ; 
for he is identified with that kingdom which is undving 
and sure. Christ's kingdom is the test of life and char- 
acter. By his gospel, which searches the thoughts of the 
heart, many fall through the condemnation of unbelief. Oh, 
be it ours to rise with Christ to that new life, which is salva- 
tion ! 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 184, 200, 202. 



Lord ! blessed is the man that trusteth in 
thee. Thou hast promised to thy saints that thou 
wilt never leave them nor forsake them : they 
shall mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall 
run, and not be weary ; they shall walk, and not 
faint. We thank thee for the examples and the 
evidences of piety in old age which thou hast 
caused to be recorded in thy holy Word ; for the 
lives of patriarchs and saints, who, through the 
changes and trials of many years, made proof of 
their faith and devotion unto thyself, and of thy 
love and faithfulness toward them. We bless thee. 
Lord ! for the dear friends whom thou hast 



spared to us in their old age, for their long ex- 
perience of thy goodness and grace, and for the 
testimony of their lives to the faith and hope of 
the gospel, and to the preciousness of Christ their 
Saviour. Do thou make bright and peaceful their 
declining days : may it please thee to keep them 
from sickness, pain, and sorrow ; spare them still 
to bless their children, and their children's chil- 
dren ; spare them to bless thy Church, and to wit- 
ness for thy mercy : may they still bring forth 
fruit in old age ! and, finally, may they be gathered 
like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season ! — 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



448 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FOR A TIME OF TROUBLE. 



2 Corinthians i. — 1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus 
Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our 
brother, unto the church of God which is at Cor- 
inth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia : 

2. Grace be to you and peace from God our 
Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

3. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God 
of all comfort ; 

4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that 
we may be able to comfort them which are in any 
trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are 
comforted of God. 

5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, 
so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 

6. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your 
consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the 
enduring of the same sufferings which we also 
suffer ; or whether we be comforted, it is for your 
consolation and salvation. 

7. And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, 
that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall 
ye be also of the consolation. 

8. For we would not, brethren, have you igno- 



Our trials should teach us to be comforters. The sympa- 
thy which the heart craves in sorrow it should be ready to 
impart to others. We should avoid being exacting in our 
grief: so far from monopolizing the sympathy of our friends, 
and insisting that every thing around us shall take the color 
of our woe, we should seek out those who are more wretched 
than ourselves, and relieve our sorrow by ministering to their 
consolation. Strong in his own spirit and in the resources of 
philosophy, resolute in faith, and confident in the grace of 
Christ, Paul, nevertheless, felt the need of Christian sympathy 
in his sufferings, and gave thanks for the prayers and gifts of 



rant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that 
we were pressed out of measure, above strength, 
insomuch that we despaired even of life ; 

9. But we had the sentence of death in our- 
selves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but 
in God which raiseth the dead ; 

10. Who delivered us from so great a death, and 
doth deliver; in whom we trust that he will yet 
deliver us : 

11. Ye also helping together by prayer for us, 
that, for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of 
many persons, thanks may be given by many on 
our behalf. 

12. For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of 
our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sin- 
cerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace 
of God, we have had our conversation in the world, 
and more abundantly to you-ward. 

13. For we write none other things unto you 
than what ye read or acknowledge ; and I trust ye 
shall acknowledge even to the end ; 

14. As also ye have acknowledged us in part, 
that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are 
ours in the day of the Lord Jesus. 



the Church. But he valued his experience of trial, and the 
comfort which came to himself, as qualifying him to comfort 
others in any trouble. Above all, he teaches us to prize the 
grace of God, which comes to us so richly and so tenderly in 
our sorrows. When we are lying, as it were, under sentence 
of death, and there remains no earthly help nor hope, how 
sweet it is to trust in God which raiseth the dead, the Fa- 
ther of mercies, and the God of all comfort ! If that trust 
is complete, our comfort will be greater than our tribula- 
tion ; our consolation in Christ will abound over all our 
sufferings. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 187, 188, 195, 200. 



Blessed be God for the hope and the consolation 
of the gospel ; for that faith which even now is 
our victory over the world, and which shall make 
us more than conquerors over death. May thy 
grace enable us to live as faithful and wise stew- 
ards who watch for the coining of their Lord ! We 
bring to thee this morning the powers which thou 
hast given us, the lives which thou hast spared, 
and, with thanksgiving for thy mercies, consecrate 
all that we are and all that we possess unto thy 
service and glory. 

We thank thee, Lord ! for the precious com- 
fort that remains to us concerning clear friends who 
have departed in the faith ; that to them heaven is 
even now a reality ; that they have no more want, 
nor sorrow, nor care, nor sin. Oh, may heaven be 
a reality to our faith ! and may the hope of it, yea, 
the assurance of it, as our home, lift us above all 
the temptations and trials of this present world ! 
Give to us strength for labors, courage for conflicts, 



patience under afflictions, fidelity to duty, and faith 
that shall endure to the end, and shall make us 
more than conquerors over death. May the true 
life be now begun in our souls, and daily may we 
live in thee ! Have mercy, Lord ! upon all who 
are sick or sorrowing ; upon the widow, the father- 
less, the poor, and the wretched. Succor them 
with thy might ; comfort them with thy grace. 

most merciful Saviour, our compassionate 
High Priest ! pity all our infirmities; heal our souls' 
sicknesses ; give us the joy of thy salvation, and a 
hope full of immortality. Strengthen us to live 
and labor for thee. Give us grace always to act 
as thy true servants, and to do every thing to thy 
glory. May each one of us be able to say, For 
me to live is Christ ; to die is gain ! And at 
length take us to rest with thee above, for thine 
own name and mercy's sake; and unto thee, with 
the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and 
glory, now and for evermore. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



449 



FOR SICKNESS OR OTHER CALAMITY. 



Job vii. — 1. Is there not an appointed time to 
man upon earth ? are not his days, also, like the 
days of a hireling ? 

2. As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, 
and as a hireling looketh for the reward of his 
work ; 

3. So am I made to possess months of vanity, 
and wearisome nights are appointed to me. 

4. When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, 
and the night he gone ? and I am fall of tossings 
to and fro unto the dawning of the day. 

6. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, 
and are spent without hope. 

7. Oh! remember that my life is wind: mine 
eye shall no more see good. 

8. The eye of him that hath seen me shall see 
me no more; thine eyes are upon me, and I am 
not. 

9. As the cloud is consumed, and vanisheth 
away ; so he that goeth down to the grave shall 
come up no more : 

10. He shall return no more to his house, neither 
shall his place know him any more. 

13. When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my 
couch shall ease my complaint ; 

14. Then thou scarest me with dreams, and ter- 
rifiest me through visions ; 



The pathetic lament of Job does not argue a spirit of im- 
patience or of complaint against God : it is the weakness of 
the flesh first expostulating with the harsh judgment of his 
friends upon his longing for death, and then appealing to the 
Almighty to send him the relief that he hoped for in the 
future state. He had borne with a majestic patience the sud- 
den loss of all earthly good ; but this protracted suffering 
from a disease that caused him to loathe himself had so far 
exhausted his nervous vitality and the spirit of hope, that 
even the instinct of life had died out within him. Never was 
a picture more true than this of the weariness of a prolonged 
and seemingly incurable sickness, which leaves no hope of 
life, yet does not bring the relief of death. In such a condi- 



15. So that my soul chooseth strangling, and 
death rather than my life. 

16. I loathe it; I would not live alway : let me 
alone ; for my days are vanity. 

20. I have sinned : what shall I do unto thee, 
thou preserver of men ? Why hast thou set me 
as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to 
myself ? 

21. And why dost thou not pardon my trans- 
gression, and take away mine iniquity ? for now 
shall I sleep in the dust ; and thou shalt seek me 
in the morning, but I shall not be. 

Psalm Ixxi. — 17. OGocl! thou hast taught me 
from my youth; and hitherto have I declared thy 
wondrous works. 

18. Now also, when I am old and gray-headed, 
God ! forsake me not; until I have showed thy 
strength unto this generation, and thy power to 
every one that is to come. 

19. Thy righteousness also, God ! is very high, 
who hast done great things: God! who is like 
unto thee ? 

20. Thou, which hast showed me great and sore 
troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring 
me up again from the depths of the earth. 

21. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and com- 
fort me on every side. 



tion, it is not wrong to wish to die. Yet Job humbled himself 
before God, and acknowledged his sinfulness and ill-desert, and 
did not murmur under the chastening hand of the Preserver 
of men. 

But when, as in the case of Hezekiah or of David, the hope 
of recovery is revived, how soon does the soul forget its 
troubles, and turn its mourning into praise ! With the elas- 
ticity of faith, it rebounds toward God with thanksgiving 
and joy. Such faith we should endeavor to maintain in the 
darkest hour ; not always the specific faith of recovery, but 
faith in the loving-kindness and the mercy of God, so con- 
stant and so assured, that, living or dying, we shall be the 
Lord's. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 27, 34, 47. 



Almighty and everlasting God, hear the pray- 
ers of thy afflicted servants, and with thine ears 
consider our calling. Hold not, we beseech thee, 
thy peace at our tears, but satisfy us with thy 
mercy, and show us thy work. Teach us neither 
to despise thy chastisements, nor to faint under 
thy rebukes, but with all lowliness and meek- 
ness, patience and resignation, to be content to do 
thy will, and, considering our latter end, to com- 
mit our souls unto thee in well-doing. 

almighty and eternal God, the Creator of all 
things, who hast made our days upon earth as it 
were a span-long, and our age even as nothing in 
respect of thee ! give us grace, we humbly beseech 
thee, to live under such a constant sense of our 
mortality, and of the shortness and uncertainty of 



this present life, that death may never surprise us 
in an hour that we are not aware ; but, beine al- 
ways provided with oil in our lamps, we may be 
ready, whenever the Bridegroom may come, to 
enter with him in to the marriage-feast, and re- 
ceive a blessing among those who watch and wait 
for the coming of their Lord. 

God, the Father of all mercies ! we beseech 
thee to grant to this thy servant deliverance from 
this present sickness : give unto him the sleep 
that thou givest to thy beloved; restore him to 
health and vigor, that he may show forth thy 
praise ; but, above all things, grant unto him and 
to all of us grace to accept thy holy will, prepa- 
ration for death, and, finally, an abundant entrance 
into thy kingdom, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 



450 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



A FUNERAL SERVICE. 



Job xiv. — 1. Man, that is born of a woman, is 
of few days, and full of trouble. 

2. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut 
down ; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth 
not. 

5. Seeing his days are determined, the number 
of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed 
his bounds that he cannot pass ; 

6. Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall 
accomplish, as a hireling, his day. 

7. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, 
that it will sprout again, and that the tender 
branch thereof will not cease. 

8. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, 
and the stock thereof die in the ground ; 

9. Yet through the scent of water it will bud, 
and bring forth boughs like a plant. 

10. But man dieth, and wasteth away ; yea, 
man giveth up the ghost, and where is he ? 

11. As the waters fail from the sea, and the 
flood decayeth and drieth up ; 

12. So man lieth down, and riseth not : till the 
heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be 
raised out of their sleep. 

14. If a man die, shall he live again? All the 



days of my appointed time will I wait, till my 
change come. 

18. And surely the mountain, falling, cometh to 
nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. 

19. The waters wear the stones: thou washest 
away the things which grow out of the dust of the 
earth, and thou destroyest the hope of man. 

20. Thou prevailest forever against him, and he 
passeth ; thou changest his countenance, and send- 
est him away. 

• 21.. His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it 
not ; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth 
it not of them. 

22. But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and 
his soul within him shall mourn. 

Job i. — 21. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath 
taken away : blessed be the name of the Lord. 

Job xix. — 25. I know that my redeemer liv- 
eth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon 
the earth. 

John xi. — 25. I am the resurrection and the 
life : he that believeth in me, though he were dead, 
yet shall he live ; 

26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me 
shall never die. 



TI13 Old-Testament saints — Job, Moses, David, Isaiah, 
Jeremiah — seem to have had an oppressive sense of the brevity 
of human life and the uncertainty of human expectations, 
little relieved by the hope of immortality which but dimly 
flickered across their path. The New Testament, written in 
the full light of that immortality as revealed by Christ, makes 
little comparatively of the mere article of death. The be- 
liever his already conquered death : he hath eternal life ; and 
dying is but falling asleep, or departing to be with Christ. 
Yet the elegy of Job retains all its pathos and solemnity upon 



the human side : " Man is more perishable than the tree, life 
more fleeting than the summer flood. As the flexible tran- 
sient drop of water will wear away the hardest stone, so the 
most trivial causes may undermine and sweep away the most 
substantial hopes that man has built; and, after all, he roust 
leave to an uncertain future the issue of his most cherished 
plans." How important, then, is it that in this world we should 
identify ourselves with the kingdom which cannot be moved, 
and for the future should trust in Him who is the resurrection 
and the life ! 



Appropriate Htmns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 42, 71, 158. 



O Lord Jesus Christ, who art the resurrection 
and the life, who didst thyself weep over the 
dead, and wert full of compassion toward the weep- 
ing widow of Nam, and art touched with the feel- 
ing of all our griefs and sorrows ! be with ns, we 
beseech thee, at this time, and sanctify to us the 
removal of one so dear to us. Grant us more and 
more to consider our latter end, and to turn to 
thee with all our hearts in true repentance and in 
lively faith. Let no repining or murmuring dis- 
honor our Christian profession. Give us sure con- 
fidence in thee for all that is to come, and prepare 
our souls to meet thee in that day when our spirits 
shall return to Him who gave them. Hear us for 
the sake of our only Saviour and Redeemer. 

Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of 
those who depart hence in the Lord, and with 
whom the souls of the faithful, after they are de- 
livered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy 
and felicity, we give thee hearty thanks for the 



good examples of all those thy servants, who, hav- 
ing finished their course in faith, do now rest from 
their labors. And we beseech thee, that we, with 
all those who are departed in the true faith of thy 
holy name, may have our perfect consummation 
and bliss, both in body and soul, in thy eternal and 
everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

O God, whose days are without end, and whose 
mercies cannot be numbered ! make us, we beseech 
thee, deeply sensible of the shortness and uncer- 
tainty of human life ; and let thy Holy Spirit lead 
us through this vale of misery in holiness and 
righteousness all the days of our lives, that, when 
we shall have served thee in our generation, we 
may be gathered unto our fathers, having the tes- 
timony of a good conscience, in the communion of 
thy Church, in the confidence of a certain faith, in 
the comfort of a reasonable, religious, and holy hope, 
in favor with thee, and in charity with the world. 
All which we ask through Jesus Christ. Amen. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



451 



AFTER A FUNERAL. 



I Thessalonians iv. — 13. I would not have you 
to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which 
are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others 
which have no hope. 

14 For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose 
again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will 
God bring with him. 

15. For this we say unto you by the word of the 
Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the 
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which 
are asleep. 

16. For the Lord himself shall descend from 
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch- 
angel, and with the trump of God ; and the dead 
in Christ shall rise first : 

17. Then we which are alive and remain shall 
be caught up together with them in the clouds to 
meet the Lord in the air ; and so shall we ever be 
with the Lord. 

18. Wherefore, comfort one another with these 
words. 

I Thessalonians v. — 1. But of the times and 



the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I 
write unto you. 

2. For yourselves know perfectly, that the day 
of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 

3. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, 
then sudden destruction cometh upon them, and 
they shall not escape. 

4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that 
that day should overtake you as a thief. 

5. Ye are all the children of light, and the children 
of the -day : we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 

6. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others ; but 
let us watch and be sober. 

7. For they that sleep, sleep in the night ; and 
they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 

8. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, put- 
ting on the breastplate of faith and love ; and for 
a helmet, the hope of salvation. 

9. For God hath not apppointed us to wrath, but 
to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 

10. Who died for us, that, whether we wake or 
sleep, we should live together with him. 



To believers in Christ the power and the fear of death are 
so far abolished that their dying is a " falling asleep," gentlv 
and securely, in the arms of their Lord. Their flesh shall rest 
in hope. The apostle here describes the blessed and glorious 
re-union of the saints, the living and the dead, at the coming of 
Christ. The saints who shall then be living on the earth shall 
not "prevent" (i.e., precede) "them which are asleep" in the 
order of ascent to the skies : but, first of all, the dead in Christ 
shall rise, and be borne upward to meet their Lord ; then the 
living saints, transformed like them into spiritual bodies, clos- 
ing up their ranks, shall follow in the grand triumphal march 



up to the gates of heaven. The promise of this glorious con- 
summation of our faith and hope is given for our comfort in 
parting from loved ones who have gone to be with Christ, and 
for our quickening in personal preparation for the coming of 
the Lord. If we ourselves are diligent and faithful in the 
service of Christ, if we keep bright our own faith in him as 
the Resurrection and the Life, then, instead of abandoning our- 
selves to grief at parting with Christian friends, we shalf look 
forward with sacred joy to the day when we shall meet them 
with Christ, and, in one blessed company, shall be ever with 
the Lord. 



Appropriate Hymns,] 



Prayer. 



[Nos. 42, 45, 46. 



Thou art the King of glory, 0- Christ ! Thou 
art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou 
hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst 
open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou 
sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the 
Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be 
our Judge. We therefore pray thee help thy ser- 
vants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious 
blood : make them to be numbered with thy 
saints in glory everlasting. We bless thee, 6 
Lord ! for the comforts of thy Word concerning 
those dear to us whom thou hast taken unto thy- 
self : may we, by thy grace, walk in their steps in 
all things wherein they followed thee, and so live 
unto thee, day by day, that we shall be ready at 
all times for thy coming ! 

Blessed Saviour, help us so to confide in thee, to 
keep thee ever so near and so precious to our 
thought, that we shall live above the fear of death, 
and look forward with joy to our final rest with 
thee. Grant us grace to bear all trials, resist all 
temptations, fulfil all duties, in the hope of thine 



appearing. As children of the light, may we shun 
all evil, and show forth thy praise ! 
_ We give thee thanks, O Lord ! for the blessed 
life and character of the dear one whom thou hast 
taken unto thyself. We thank thee for all that 
he [or she] was to us as a light and joy of our 
dwelling; as an example of all that is true and 
gentle, noble and good. We bless thee that for 
him [or her~\ we have no fears, no sorrows. But, 
Lord ! pity our sorrow for ourselves, and for all 
our dear friends. Sustain us under this trial, and 
cause it to work for our good. May our hearts go 
out in faith and love to thee, and in sympathy for 
all who mourn ! In this day of trouble, may we 
be filled with the peace of Christ and the hope 
of immortality ! May this household, and all dear 
to us, be joined to the family of the saints on 
earth, and finally to the company of the redeemed 
in heaven, through Him who died for us, and who 
liveth evermore! — to whom, with thee and the 
Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without 
end. Amen. 



J 



HYMNS AND TUNES. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



455 



GERMANY. L. M. 



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1. Earth has a joy unknown in heaven, — 
The new-born peace of sin forgiven : 
Tears of such pure and deep delight, 
Ye angels ! never dimmed your sight. 

Ye saw of old on chaos rise 
The beauteous pillars of the skies : 
Ye know where Morn exulting' springs, 
And Evening folds her drooping wings. 

Bright heralds of the Eternal Will, 
Abroad his errands ye fulfil ; 
Or, throned in floods of beamy day, 
Symphonious in his presence play. 

But I amid your choirs shall shine, 
And all your knowledge will be mine : 
Ye on your harps must lean to hear 
A secret chord that mine -will bear. 



2. 



Bless, O my soul ! the living God ; 
Call home thy thoughts that rove abroad ; 
Let all the powers within me join 
In work and worship so divine. 

Bless, O my soul ! the God of grace ; 
His favors claim thy highest praise : 
Why should the wonders he hath wrought 
Be lost in silence, and forgot V 

'Tis he, my soul, who sent his Son 
To die for crimes which thou hast done : 
He owns the ransom, and forgives 
The hourly follies of our lives. 

Let the whole earth his power confess ; 
Let the whole earth adore his grace : 
The Gentile with the Jew shall join 
In work and worship so divine. 



CHRISTMAS HYMN. 7s. 



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Fount of everlasting love 

Rich thy streams of mercy are : 

Flowing purely from above. 
Beauty marks their course afar. 

Lo ! thy Church, thy garden now, 
Blooms beneath the heavenly shower : 

Sinners feel and melt and bow ; 
Mild, yet mighty, is thy power. 

God of grace, before thy throne 

Here our warmest thanks we bring ; 

Thine the glory, thine alone : 
Loudest praise to thee we sing. 

Hear, oh ! hear our grateful song ; 

Let thy Spirit still descend ; 
Roll the tide of grace along, 

Widening, deepening, to the end. 



Children of the heavenly King, 
As ye journey, sweetly sing, — 
Sing your Saviour's worthy praise, 
Glorious in his works and ways. 

Ye are travelling home to God 
In the way the fathers trod : 
They are happy now, and ye 
Soon their happiness shall see. 

Fear not, brethren ; joyful stand 
On the borders of your land : 
Jesus Christ, your Father's Son, 
Bids you undismayed go on. 

Lord, submissive make us go, 
Gladly leaving all below: 
Only thou our Leader be, 
And we still will follow thee. 



456 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR 



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Lord our God ! arise ; 

The cause of Truth maintain ; 
And wide o'er all the peopled world 

Extend her blessed reign. 

Thou Prince of life ! arise, 

Nor let thy glory cease : 
Far spread the conquests of thy grace, 

And bless the earth with peace. 

Thou Holy Ghost ! arise ; 

Extend thy healing wing ; 
And o'er a dark and ruined world 

Let light and order spring. 

O all ye nations ! rise ; 

To God, the Saviour, sing ; 
From shore to shore, from earth to heaven 

Let echoing anthems ring. 



6. " The Lord is risen indeed : " 
Now is his work performed ; 
Now is the mighty Captive freed, 
And Death, our foe, disarmed. 

" The Lord is risen indeed : " 
The grave hath lost its prey : 

With him is risen the ransomed seed 
To reign in endless day. 

" The Lord is risen indeed : " 
He lives, to die no more ; 

He lives the sinner's cause to plead, 
Whose curse and shame he bore. 

" The Lord is risen indeed : " 

Attending angels, hear ; 
Up to the courts of heaven with speed 

The joyful tidings bear. 



ROTHWELL. L. M. 




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Tf. Before Jehovah's awful throne, 

Ye nations, bow with sacred joy : 
Know that the Lord is God alone ; 
He can create, and he destroy. 

We are his people, we his care, 

Our souls and all our mortal frame : 

What lasting honors shall we rear, 
Almighty Maker, to thy name ? 

We'll crowd thy gates with thankful songs, 
High as the heavens our voices raise; 

And Earth, with her ten thousand tongues, 
Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise. 

Wide as the world is thy command ; 

Vast as eternity, thy love : 
Firm as a rock thy truth must stand 

When rolling years shall cease to move. 







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8. Descend from heaven, immortal Dove ! 

Stoop down, and take us on thy wings : 
And mount, and bear us far above 
The reach of these inferior things. 

Oh for a sight, a blissful sight, 
Of our Almighty Father's throne ! 

There sits our Saviour crowned with light, 
Clothed in a body like our own. 

Adoring saints around him stand, 

And thrones and powers before hiin fall : 

The God shines gracious through the man, 
And sheds sweet glories on them all. 

When shall the day, dear Lord, appear, 
That I shall mount to dwell above, 

And stand and bow among them there, 
And view thy face, and sing and love ? 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



457 



SEASONS. 










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Happy the man whose hopes rely 
On Israel's God: he made the sky, 
And earth and seas, with all their train ; 
And none shall find his promise vain. 

His truth forever stands secure : 
He saves the oppressed; he feeds the poor; 
He sends the laboring conscience peace ; 
And grants the prisoner sweet release. 

The Lord hath eyes to give the blind ; 
The Lord supports the sinking mind : 
He helps the stranger in distress, 
The widow, and the fatherless. 

He loves his saints : he knows them well ; 
But turns the wicked down to hell. 
Thy God, O Zion ! ever reigns : 
Praise him in everlasting strains. 



—1-0 

Might I enjoy the meanest place, 
Within thy house, O God of grace ! 
Not tents of ease, nor thrones of power, 
Should tempt my feet to leave the door. 

God is our sun ; he makes our day : 
God is our shield ; he guards our way 
From all the assaults of hell and sin, 
From foes without and foes within. 

All needful grace will God bestow, 
And crown that grace with glory too : 
He gives us all things, and withholds 
No real good from upright souls. 

O God our King, whose sovereign sway 
The glorious hosts of heaven obey ! 
Display thy grace, exert thy power, 
Till all on earth thy name adore. 



DOWNS. C. M. 






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Father of mercies, in thy word 
What endless glory shines ! 

Forever be thy name adored 
For these celestial lines. 

Here my Redeemer's welcome voice 
Spreads heavenly peace around ; 

And life and everlasting joys 
Attend the blissful sound. 

Oh, may these heavenly pages be 

My ever-dear delight ! 
And still new beauties may I see, 

And still-increasing light ! 

Divine Instructor, gracious Lord, 

Be thou forever near ; 
Teach me to love thy sacred Word, 

And view my Saviour there. 



12. Why should the children of a King 

Go mourning all their days ? 
Great Comforter ! descend, and bring 
Some tokens of thy grace. 

Dost thou not dwell in all the saints, 
And seal them heirs of heaven ? 

When wilt thou banish my complaints, 
And show my sins forgiven '! 

Assure my conscience of her part 
In the Redeemer's blood ; 

And bear thy witness with my heart 
That I am born of God. 

Thou art the earnest of his love, 
The pledge of joys to come ; 

And thy soft wings, celestial Dove, 
Will safe convey me home. 



458 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



Spirited. 



TRURO. L. M. 



Dr. Burney. 










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13. Another six-days' work is done ; 
Another Sabbath is begun : 
Return, my soul, unto thy rest ; 
Enjoy the day thy God hath blest. 

Oh that our thoughts and thanks may rise 
As grateful incense to the skies, 
And draw from heaven that sweet repose 
Which none but he that feels it knows ! 

That heavenly calm within the breast — 
It is the pledge of that dear rest 
Which for the Church of God remains, — 
The end of cares, the end of pains. 

In holy duties let the day, 
In holy pleasures, pass away : 
How sweet a Sabbath thus to spend 
In hope of one that ne'er shall end ! 



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14. God ! beneath thy guiding hand 

Our exiled fathers crossed the sea; 
And, when they trod the wintry strand, 

With prayer and psalm they worshipped thee. 

Thou heard'st, well pleased, the song, the prayer : 
Thy blessing came ; and still its power 

Shall onward through all ages bear 
The memory of that holy hour. 

Laws, freedom, truth, and faith in God, 
Came with those exiles o'er the waves ; 

And, where their pilgrim-feet have trod, 
The God they trusted guards their graves. 

And here thy name, O God of love ! 

Their children's children shall adore, 
Till these eternal hills remove, 

And spring adorns the earth no more. 



Spirited. 



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15. Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, 

With all thy quickening powers; 
Kindle a flame of sacred love 
In these cold hearts of ours. 

Look, how we grovel here below, 
Fond of these trifling toys! 

Our souls can neither fly nor go 
To reach eternal joys. 

Dear Lord, and shall we ever live 
At this poor dying rate ? 

Our love so faint, so cold to thee, 
And thine to us so great ! 

Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, 
With all thy quickening powers; 

Come, shed abroad a Saviour's love, 
And that shall kindle ours. 



16. Come, let us join our cheerful songs 

With angels round the throne : 
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues 
But all their joys are one. 

" Worthy the Lamb that died," they cry, 

" To be exalted thus : " 
" Worthy the Lamb," our lips reply; 

" For he was slain for us." 

Jesus is worthy to receive 

Honor and power divine ; 
And blessings more than we can give 

Be, Lord, forever thine. 

Let all that dwell above the sky, 
And air and earth and seas, 

Conspire to lift thy glories high. 
And speak thine endless praise. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



459 



ROCKINGHAM. L. M. 



Dr. Lowell Masox. 




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17. How pleasant, how divinely fair, 

O Lord of hosts ! thy dwellings are ! 
With long desire my spirit faints 
To meet the assemblies of thy saints. 

Blest are the souls who find a place 
Within the temple of thy grace : 
There they behold thy gentler rays, 
And seek thy lace, and learn thy praise. 

Blest are the men whose hearts are set 
To find the way to Zion's gate : 
God is their strength ; and through the road 
They lean upon their helper, God. 

Cheerful they walk with growing strength 
Till all shall meet in heaven at length ; 
Till all before thy face appear, 
And join in nobler worship there. 



1§. The heavens declare thy glory, Lord ; 
In every star thy wisdom shines : 
But, when our eyes behold thy Word, 
We read thy name in fairer lines. 

The rolling sun, the changing light, 

And nights and days, thy power confess ; 

But the blest volume thou hast writ 
Reveals thy justice and thy grace. 

Sun, moon, and stars convey thy praise 
Round the whole earth, and never stand : 

So, when thy truth began its race, 
It touched and glanced on every land. 

Great Sun of Righteousness, arise ! 

Bless the dark world with heavenly light : 
Thy gospel makes the simple wise ; 

Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right. 



FULLER. C. M. 




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19. On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, 

And cast a wishful eye 
To Canaan's fair and happy land, 
Where my possessions lie. 

O'er all those wide-extended plains 

Shines one. eternal day : 
There God the Son forever reigns, 

And scatters night away. 

When shall I reach that happy place, 

And be forever blest ? 
When shall I see my Father's face, 

And in his bosom rest ? 

Filled with delight, my raptured soul 
Can here no longer stay : 

Though Jordan's waves around me roll, 
Fearless I'd launch away. 



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20. Far from these narrow scenes of night 

Unbounded glories rise, 
And realms of infinite delight 
Unknown to mortal eyes. 

There pain and sickness never come, 
And grief no more complains; 

Health triumphs in immortal bloom, 
And endless pleasure reigns. 

No cloud those blissful regions know, 
Forever bright and fair ; 

For sin, the source of mortal woe, 
Can never enter there. 

Prepare us, Lord, by grace divine, 
For thy bright courts on high ; 

Then bid our spirits rise, and join 
The chorus of the sky. 



460 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



Moderato 



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21. Lord ! thy heavenly grace impart, 
And fix my frail, inconstant heart : 
Henceforth my chief desire shall be 
To dedicate myself to thee. 

Whate'er pursuits my time employ, 
One thought shall fill my soul with joy : 
That silent, secret thought shall be, 
That all my hopes are fixed on thee. 

Thy glorious eye pervadeth space ; 
Thy presence, Lord, fills every place; 
And, wheresoe'er my lot may be, 
Still shall my spirit cleave to thee. 

Renouncing every worldly thing, 
And safe beneath thy spreading wing, 
My sweetest thought henceforth shall be, 
That all I want I find in thee. 



22. Thee we adore, Eternal Lord ; 

We praise thy name with one accord : 
Thy saints, who here thy goodness see, 
Through all the world, do worship thee. 

To thee aloud all angels cry, 

The heavens, and all the powers on high : 

Thee, holy, holy, holy King, 

Lord God of hosts, they ever sing. 

The apostles join the glorious throng ; 
The prophets swell the immortal song ; 
The martyrs' noble army raise 
Eternal anthems to thy praise. 

From day to day, O Lord ! do we 
Highly exalt and honor thee : 
Thy name we worship and adore, 
World without end, for evermore. 



MANOA.H. C. M. 







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23. 



See ! Jesus stands with open arms ; 

He calls ; he bids you come : 
Guilt holds you back, and fear alarms ; 

But, see ! there yet is room. 

Oh ! come, and with his children taste 

The blessings of his love, 
While hope attends the sweet repast 

Of nobler joys above. 

There with united heart and voice, 

Before the eternal throne, 
Ten thousand thousand souls rejoice 

In ecstasies unknown. 

And yet ten thousand thousand more 
Are welcome still to come : 

Ye longing souls, the grace adore; 
Approach ; there yet is room. 



24. There is a fold whence none can stray, 

And pastures ever green, 
Where sultry sun, or stormy day, 
Or night, is never seen. 

Far up the everlasting hills, 
In God's own light, it lies : 

His smile its vast dimensions fills 
With joy that never dies. 

One narrow vale, one darksome wave, 
Divides that land from this : 

I have a Shepherd pledged to save, 
And bear me home to bliss. 

O gentle Shepherd ! still behold 
Thy helpless charge in me, 

And take a wanderer to thy fold 
Who trembling turns to thee. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



461 



WARD. L. M. 



Dr. L. Mason. 




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25. 



Faith to the conscience whispers peace, 
And bids the mourner's sighing cease : 
By faith the children's right we claim, 
And call upon our Father's name. 

Faith feels the Spirit's kindling breath 
In love and hope that conquer death ; 
Faith brings us to delight in God, 
And blesses e'en his smiting rod. 

Such faith in us, O God ! implant, 
And to our prayers thy favor grant 
In Jesus Christ, thy saving Son, 
Who is our fount of' health alone. 

In him may every trusting soul 
Press onward to the heavenly goal, 
The blessedness no foes destroy, — 
Eternal love and light and joy 1 



26. With tearful eyes I look around : 

Life seems a dark and stormy sea ; 
Yet 'midst the gloom I hear a sound, 
A heavenly whisper, " Come to Me ! " 

It tells me of a place of rest ; 

It tells me where my soul may flee : 
Oh ! to the weary, faint, opprest, 

How sweet the bidding, " Come to Me ! 

" Come ; for all else must fail and die : 
Earth is no resting-place for thee. 

To heaven direct thy weeping eye : 
I am thy portion ; come to Me 1 " 

O voice of mercy, voice of love ! 

In conflict, grief, and agony, 
Support me, cheer me from above, 

And gently whisper, " Come to Me 1 " 



WARWICK. C. M. 







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27. My God, thy service well demands 

The remnant of my days : 
Why was this fleeting breath renewed, 
But to renew thy praise ? 

Thine arm of everlasting love 
Did this weak frame sustain 

When life was hovering o'er the grave, 
And nature sank with pain. 

Back from the borders of the grave, 
At thy command, I come ; 

Nor would I urge a speedier flight 
To my celestial home. 

Where thou appointest my abode, 
There would I choose to be ; 

For in thy presence death is life, 
And earth is heaven with thee. 



28. 



Oh for a closer walk with God, 
A calm and heavenly frame, 

A light to shine upon the road 
That leads me to the Lamb ! 

Return, O Holy Dove ! return, 

Sweet messenger of rest ! 
I hate the sins that made thee mourn, 

And drove thee from my breast. 

The dearest idol I have known, 

Whate'er that idol be, 
Help me to tear it from thy throne, 

And worship only thee. 

So shall my walk be close with God, 
Calm and serene my frame ; 

So purer light shall mark the road 
That leads me to the Lamb. 



462 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



FEDERAL STREET. L. M. 



H. K. Oliver. 



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29. Praise, Lord, for thee in Zion waits ; 
Prayer shall besieae thy templergates : 
All flesh shall to thy throne repair, 
And find, through Christ, salvation there. 

How blest thy saints ! how safely led ! 
How surely kept! how richly fed ! 
Saviour of all in earth and sea, 
How happy they who rest in thee ! 

Thy hand sets fast the mighty hills; 
Thy voice the troubled ocean stills : 
Evening and morning hymn thy praise, 
And earth thy bounty wide displays. 

The year is with thy goodness crowned ; 
Thy clouds drop wealth the world around; 
Through thee the deserts laugh and sing; 
And Nature smiles, and owns her King. 



30. When I survey the wondrous cross 

On which the Prince of glory died, 
My richest gain I count but loss, 
And pour contempt on all my pride. 

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, 
Save in the death of Christ my God : 

All the vain things that charm me most, 
I sacrifice them to his blood. 

See ! from his head, his hands, his feet, 
Sorrow and love flow mingled down ! 

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, 
Or thorns compose so rich a crown ? 

Were the whole realm of Nature mine, 
That were a present far too small : 

Love so amazing, so divine, 

Demands my soul, my life, my all. 



WARRINGTON. L. M. 




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31a The spacious firmament on high, 
With all the blue, ethereal sky, 
And spangled heavens, a shining frame, 
Their great Original proclaim. 

The unwearied sun, from day to day, 
Does his Creator's power display, 
And publishes to every land 
The work of an almighty hand. 

Soon as the evening shades prevail, 
The moon takes up the wondrous tale, 
And nightly to the listening earth 
Repeats the story of her birth ; 

While all the stars that round her burn, 
And all the planets in their turn, 
Confirm the tidings as they roll, 
And spread the truth from pole to pole. 




32. God of my life ! through all my days 

My grateful powers shall sound thy praise ; 
The sona; shall wake with opening light, 
And warble to the silent night. 

When anxious care would break my rest, 
And grief would tear my throbbing breast, 
Thy tuneful praises raised on high 
Shall check the murmur and the sigh. 

When Death o'er Nature shall prevail, 
And all my powers of language fail, 
Joy through my swimming eyes shall break, 
And mean the thanks I cannot speak. 

Soon shall I learn the exalted strains 
Which echo o'er the heavenly plains, 
And emulate with joy unknown 
The glowing seraphs round thy throne. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



463 



HEBRON. L. M. 



Dr. Lowell Mason. 



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33. Tlius far, the Lord hath led me on ; 

Thus far, his power prolongs my days ; 
And every evening shall make known 
Some fresh memorials of his grace. 

I lay my body down to sleep : 
Peace is the pillow for my head ; 

While well-appointed angels keep 

Their watchful stations round my bed. 

Faith in His name forbids my fear : 
Oh, may Thy presence ne'er depart 1 

And, in the morning, make me hear 
The love and kindness of thy heart. 

Thus, when the night of death shall come, 
My flesh shall rest beneath the ground, 

And wait thy voice to rouse my tomb, 
With sweet salvation in the sound. 



34. Why should we start, and fear to die ? 

What timorous worms we mortals are ! 
Death is the gate of endless joy ; 
And yet we dread to enter there. 

The pains, the groans, and dying strife, 
Fright our approaching souls away : 

Still we shrink back again to life, 
Fond of our prison and our clay. 

Oh ! if my Lord would come and meet, 
My soul should stretch her wings in haste, 

Fly fearless through Death's iron gate, 
Nor feel the terrors as she passed. 

Jesus can make a dying-bed 
Feel soft as downy pillows are, 

While on his breast I lean my head, 
And breathe my life out sweetly there. 



ST. GABRIEL. L. M. 






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35. Sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear, 
It is not night if thou be near : 
Oh, may no earth-born cloud arise 
To hide thee from thy servant's eyes ! 

Abide with me from morn till eve ; 
For without thee I cannot live : 
Abide with me when night is nigh ; 
For without thee I dare not die. 

Thou Framer of the light and dark, 
Guide through the tempest thine own bark : 
Amid the howling, wintry sea, 
We are in port, if we have thee. 

Come near and bless us when we wake, 
Ere through the world our way we take, 
Till in the ocean of thy love 
We lose ourselves in heaven above. 



36. God, in the gospel of his Son, 

Makes his eternal counsels known : 
'Tis here his richest mercy shines, 
And truth is drawn in fairest lines. 

Here sinners of a humble frame 

May taste his grace, and learn his name ; 

May read in characters of blood 

The wisdom, power, and grace of God. 

The prisoner here may break his chains, 
The weary rest from all his pains, 
The captive feel his bondage cease, 
The mourner find the way of peace. 

Here faith reveals to mortal eyes 
A brighter world beyond the skies; 
Here shines the light which guides our way 
From earth to realms of endless day. 



464 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



EVENING HYMN. L. M. 



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37. 



Glory to thee, my God, this night, 
For all the blessings of the light : 
Keep me, oh ! keep me. King of kings, 
Beneath thine own almighty wings. 

Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son, 
The ill that I this day have done ; 
That with the world, myself, and thee, 
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be. 

Be thou my guardian while I sleep ; 
Thy watchful station near me keep; 
My heart with love celestial fill, 
And guard me from the approach of ill. 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 
Praise him, all creatures here below ; 
Praise him above, ye heavenly host, — 
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 



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38. Come, O my soul ! in sacred lays 

Attempt thy great Creator's praise : 

But, oh ! what tongue can speak his fame ? 

What mortal verse can reach the theme ? 

Enthroned amid the radiant spheres, 
He glory, like a garment, wears : 
To form a robe of light divine, 
Ten thousand suns around him shine. 

In all our Maker's grand designs, 
Almighty power with wisdom shines: 
His works, through all this wondrous frame, 
Declare the glory of his name. 

Raised on Devotion's lofty wing, 
Do thou, my soul, his glories sing ; 
And let his praise employ thy tongue 
Till listening worlds shall join the song. 



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39. My soul, it is thy God 

Who calls thee by his grace : 
Now loose thee from each cumbering load, 
And bend thee to the race. 

Make thy salvation sure ; 
All sloth and slumber shun ; 
Nor dare a moment rest secure 
Till thou the goal hast won. 

Thy crown of life hold fast ; 
Thy heart with courage stay ; 
Nor let one trembling glance be cast 
Along the backward way. 

Thy path ascends the skies 
With conquering footsteps bright ; 
And thou shalt win and wear the prize 
In everlasting light. 






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40. How perfect is thy word, 

And all thy judgments just! 
Forever sure thy promise, Lord, 
And men securely trust. 

I hear thy word with love, 
And I would fain obey : 
Send thy good Spirit from above 
To guide me, lest I stray. 

Warn me of every sin ; 
Forgive my secret f:\ults : 
And cleanse this guilty soul of mine, 
Whose crimes exceed my thoughts. 

While with my heart and tongue 
I spread thy praise abroad, 
Accept the worship and the song, 
My Saviour and my God. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



465 



Words by Bonar. 



NEVERMORE BE SAD OR WEARY. 8s and 7s. 



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41. This is not my place of resting ; 

Mine's a city yet to come : 
Onward to it I am hasting, — 
On to my eternal home. 

In it all is light and glory ; 

O'er it shines a nightless day: 
Every trace of sin's sad story, 

All the curse, hath passed away. 

There the Lamb, our Shepherd, leads us 
By the streams of life along ; 

On the freshest pastures feeds us ; 
Turns our sighing into song. 

Soon we pass this desert dreary ; 

Soon we bid farewell to pain ; 
Never more are sad or weary ; 

Never, never sin again. 



42. Cease, ye mourners ! cease to languish 
O'er the grave of those you love : 
Pain and death, and night and anguish, 
Enter not the world above. 

While our silent steps are straying 

Lonely through night's deepening shade, 

Glory's brightest beams are playing 
Round the happy Christian's head. 

Light and peace at once deriving 
From the hand of God most high, 

In his glorious presence living, 
They shall never, never die. 

Now, ye mourners ! cease to languish 
O'er the grave of those you love : 

Far removed from pain and anguish, 
They are chanting hymns above. 



SEYMOUR 




43. 



To thy pastures fair and large, 
Heavenly Shepherd, lead thy charge ; 
And my couch, with tenderest care, 
'Mid the springing grass prepare. 

When I faint with summer's heat, 
Thou shalt guide my weary feet 
To the streams, that, still and slow, 
Through the verdant meadows flow. 

Safe the dreary vale I tread, 
By the shades of death o'erspread, 
With thy rod and staff supplied, — 
This my guard, and that my guide. 

Constant to my latest end 
Thou my footsteps shalt attend, 
And shalt bid thy hallowed dome 
Yield me an eternal home. 



Now the shades of night are gone ; 
Now the morning light is come. 
Lord, we would be thine to-day : 
Drive the shades of sin away. 

Fill our souls with heavenly light ; 
Banish doubt, and clear our sight : 
In thy service, Lord, to-day, 
Help us labor, help us pray. 

Keep our wayward passions bound; 
Save us from our foes around ; 
Going out and coming in, 
Keep us safe from every sin. 

When our work of life is past, 
Oh ! receive us all at last : 
Sin's dark night shall be no more 
When we reach the heavenly shore. 



466 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



Adagio e Piano. 



LUCERNE. L. M. 




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45. How vain is all beneath the skies ! 

How transient every earthly bliss! 
How slender all the fondest ties 
That bind us to a world like this 1 

The evening cloud, the morning dew, 
The withering grass, the fading flower, 

Of earthly hopes are emblems true, 
The glory of a passing hour. 

But though Earth's fairest blossoms die, 
And all beneath the skies is vain, 

There is a land whose confines lie 
Beyond the reach of care and pain. 

Thon let the hope of joys to come 
Dispel our cares, and chase our fears : 

If God be ours, we're travelling home, 
Though passing through a vale of tears. 



46. How blest the righteous when he dies ! 
When sinks a weary soul to rest, 
How mildly beam the closing eyes I 

How gently heaves the expiring breast 1 

So fades a summer cloud away ; 

So sinks the gale when storms are o'er ; 
So gently shuts the eye of day ; 

So dies the wave along the shore. 

A holy quiet reigns around, 

A calm which life nor death destroys : 
Nothing disturbs that peace profound 

Which his unfettered soul enjoys. 

Life's duty done, as sinks the clay, 
Light from its load the spirit flies ; 

While heaven and earth combine to say, 
" How blest the righteous when he dies 1 " 



Moderate. 



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When we in darkness walk, 
Nor feel the heavenly flame. 
Then is the time to trust our God, 
And rest upon his name. 

Soon shall our doubts and fears 
Subside at his control ; 
His loving-kindness shall break through 
The midnight of the soul. 

His grace will to the end 
Stronger and brighter shine ; 
Nor present things, nor things to come, 
Shall quench the spark divine. 

Blest is the man, O God I 
That stays himself on thee : 
Who waits for thy salvation, Lord, 
Shall thy salvation see. 



4§. My spirit on thy care, 

Blest Saviour, I recline : 
Thou wilt not leave me to despair ; 
For thou art love divine. 

In thee I place my trust ; 
On thee I calmly rest : 
I know thee good, I know thee just, 
And count thy choice the best. 

Whatc'er events betide, 
Thy will they all perform : 
Safe in thy breast my head I hide, 
Nor fear the coming storm. 

Let good or ill befall, 
It must be good for me, 
Secure of having thee in all, 
Of bavins: all in thee. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



467 



Con Spirito. 



PARK STREET. L. M. 



VENUA. 



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49. Jesus shall reign where'er the sun 

Doth his successive journeys run ; 
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore 
Till moons shall wax and wane no more. 

For him shall endless prayer be made, 
And praises throng to crown his head ; 

His name, like sweet perfume, shall rise 
With every morning sacrifice. 

Blessings abound where'er he reigns : 
The prisoner leaps to loose his chains, 

The weary find eternal rest, 

And all the sons of Want are blest. 

Let every creature rise, and bring 
Peculiar honors to our King ; 

Angels descend with fongs again, 
And earth repeat the loud Amen. 



50. Sweet is the work, my God, my King, 

To praise thy name, give thanks, and sing ; 
To show thy love by morning light, 
And talk of all thy truth at night. 

My heart shall triumph in my Lord, 
And bless his works, and bless his word : 
Thy works of grace — how bright they shine I 
How deep thy counsels ! how divine ! 

But I shall share a glorious part 
When grace hath well refined my heart, 
And fresh supplies of joy are shed, 
Like holy oil, to cheer my head. 

Then shall I see and hear and know 
All I desired or wished below, 
And every power find sweet employ 
In that eternal world of joy. 



MORNINGTON. S. M. 



Lord Mornington. 



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51. One sweetly-solemn thought 

Comes to me o'er and o'er : 
'Tis that I'm nearer home to day 
Than e'er I've been before ; 

Nearer my Father's house, 
Where many mansions be ; 

Nearer the solemn judgment-throne ; 
Nearer the crystal sea ; 

Nearer the bound where life 
Shall lay its burdens down ; 

Where I shall leave my ill-borne cross, 
And take my blood-bought crown. 

Saviour, perfect my trust; 

Confirm my feeble faith; 
And teach me fearlessly to stand 

Upon the shore of death. 



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52. How charming is the place 

Where my Redeemer, God, 

Unveils the beauties of his face, 

And sheds his love abroad ! 

Here on the mercy-seat, 

With radiant glories crowned, 

Our joyful eyes behold him sit, 
And smile on all around. 

To him our prayers and cries 
Our humble souls present : 

He listens to our broken sighs, 
And grants us every want. 

Give me, O Lord ! a place 
Within thy blest abode, 

Among the children of thy grace, 
The servants of my God. 



46£ 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



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53. Blest are the sons of peace 

Whose hearts and hopes are one ; 
Whose kind designs to serve and please 
Through all their actions run. 

Blest is the pious house 

Where zeal and friendship meet : 

Their songs of praise, their mingled vows, 
Make their communion sweet. 

From those celestial springs 
Such streams of pleasure flow, 

As no increase of riches brings, 
Nor honors can bestow. 

Thus on the heavenly hills 

The saints are blest above, 
Where joy, like morning dew, distils, 

And all the air is love. 



5<4. My soul, repeat His praise 

Whose mercies are so great ; 
Whose anger is so slow to rise, 
So ready to abate. 

God will not always chide ; 

And, when his wrath is felt, 
Its strokes are fewer than our crimes, 

And lighter than our guilt. 

His power subdues our sins ; 

And his forgiving love, 
Far as the east is from the west, 

Doth all our guilt remove. 

High as the heavens are raised 
Above the ground we tread, 

So far the riches of his grace 
Our highest thoughts exceed. 



CARROLL. L. M. 



Dr. L. Masos. 




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55. Great God, we sing thy mighty hand, 
By which supported still we stand : 
The opening year thy mercy shows; 
Let mercy crown it till it close. 

By day, by night, at home, abroad, 
Still we are guarded by our God, 
By his incessant bounty fed, 
By his unerring counsel led. 

With grateful hearts the past we own : 
The future, all to us unknown, 
We to thy guardian care commit, 
And peaceful leave before thy feet. 

When Death shall interrupt these songs, 
And seal in silence mortal tongues, 
Our helper, God, in whom we trust, 
In better worlds our souls shall boast. 



56. Up to the hills I lift mine eyes, — 
The eternal hills beyond the skies : 
Thence all her help my soul derives, 
There my almighty Refuge lives. 

He lives ! — the everlasting God 
That built the world, that spread the flood : 
The heavens with all their hosts he made, 
And the dark regions of the dead. 

He guides our feet, he guards our way ; 
His morning smiles bless all the day; 
He spreads the evening veil, and keeps 
The silent hours while Israel sleeps. 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow ; 
Praise him, all creatures here below ; 
Praise him above, ye heavenly host, — 
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



469 



CHESTERFIELD. C. M. 



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57. Oh for a faith that will not shrink, 
Though pressed by every foe ; 
That will not tremble on the brink 
Of any earthly woe ; 

A faith that shines more bright and clear 

When tempests rage without ; 
That when in danger knows no fear, 

In darkness feels no doubt ; 

That bears, unmoved, the world's dread frown, 

Nor heeds its scornful smile ; 
That seas of trouble cannot drown, 

Nor Satan's arts beguile ; 

A faith that keeps the narrow way 

Till life's last hour is fled, 
And with a pure and heavenly ray 

Lights up a dying-bed ! 



5§. When God revealed his gracious name, 
And changed my mournful state, 
My rapture seemed a pleasing dream, 
The grace appeared so great. 

The world beheld the glorious change, 
And did Thy hand confess ; 

My tongue broke out in unknown strains, 
And sung surprising grace. 

The Lord can clear the darkest skies ; 

Can give us day lor night ; 
Make drops of sacred sorrow rise 

To rivers of delight. 

Let those who sow in sadness wait 

Till the fair harvest come : 
They shall confess their sheaves are great, 

And shout the blessings home. 



ST. MICHAEL. C. M. 




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59. What shall I render to my God 

For all his kindness shown ? 
My feet shall visit thine abode, 
My songs address thy throne. 

How much is mercy thy delight, 

Thou ever-blessed God ! 
How dear thy servants in thy sight 1 

How precious is their blood ! 

How happy all thy servants are ! 

How great thy grace to me ! 
My life, which thou hast made thy care, 
. Lord, I devote to thee. 

Now I am thine, forever thine ; 

Nor shall my purpose move : 
Thy hand hath loosed my bonds of pain, 

And bound me with thy love. 



60. 



Faith adds new charms to earthly bliss, 
And saves me from its snares ; 

Its aid in every duty brings, 
And softens all my cares. 

Wide it unveils celestial worlds, 
Where deathless pleasures reign ; 

And bids me seek my portion there, 
Nor bids me seek in vain. 

Faith shows the precious promise sealed 
With the Redeemer's blood, 

And helps my feeble hope to rest 
Upon a faithful God. 

There, there, unshaken would I rest 

Till this frail body dies ; 
And then, on Faith's triumphant wings, 

To endless glory rise. 



470 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



PETERBOROUGH. C. M. 







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61. 



Come, Lord, and warm each languid heart ; 

Inspire, each lifeless tongue ; 
And let the joys of heaven impart 

Their influence to our song. 

Then to the shining realms of bliss 

The wings of faith shall soar, 
And all the charms of Paradise 

Our raptured thoughts explore. 

Sorrow and pain and tears and care 

And discord there shall cease, 
And perfect joy and love sincere 

Adorn the realms of peace. 

Lord, tune our hearts to praise and love ; 

Our feeble notes inspire ; 
Till in thy blissful courts above 

We join the heavenly choir. 



62. Happy the souls to Jesus joined, 

And saved by grace alone : 
Walking in all Thy ways, they find 
Their heaven on earth begun. 

The Church triumphant in thy love, 
Their mighty joys we know : 

They sing the Lamb in hymns above, 
And we in hymns below. 

Thee in thy glorious realm they praise, 
And bow before thy throne ; 

We in the kingdom of thy grace : 
The kingdoms are but one. 

The holy to the Holiest leads ; 

From hence our spirits rise : 
And he that in thy statutes treads 

Shall meet thee in the skies. 



ORTONVILLE. C. M. 



Dr. T. Hastings. 






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63. How sweet, how heavenly, is the sight, 

When those that love the Lord 
In one another's peace delight, 
And so fulfil his word ; 

When each can feel his brother's sigh, 
And with him bear a part; 

When sorrow flows from eye to eye, 
And joy from heart to heart ; 

When, free from envy, scorn, and pride, 

Our wishes all above, 
Each can his brother's failings hide, 

And show a brother's love ! 

Love is the golden chain that binds 

The happy souls above; 
And he's an heir of heaven who finds 

His bosom <rlow with love. 



64. Awake, my soul ! stretch every nerve, 
And press with vigor on : 
A heavenly race demands thy zeal, 
And an immortal crown. 

'Tis God's all-animating voice 
That calls thee from on high ; 

'Tis his own hand presents the prize 
To thine aspiring eye, — 

That prize with peerless glories bright, 
Which shall new lustre boast 

When victors' wreaths and monarchs' gems 
Shall blend in common dust. 

Blest Saviour, introduced by thee, 

Have I my race begun ; 
And, crowned with victory, at thy feet 

I'll lay my honors down. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



471 



COLCHESTER. C. M. 



Williams. 






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65. How shall the young secure their hearts, 
And guard their lives from sin V 
Thy Word the choicest rule imparts, 
To keep the conscience clean. 

'Tis like the sun, a heavenly light, 
That guides us all the day ; 

And, through the dangers of the night, 
A lamp to lead our way. 

Thy precepts make me truly wise : 

I hate the sinner's road ; 
I hate my own vain thoughts that rise ; 

But love thy law, my God. 

Thy word is everlasting truth : 

How pure is every page ! 
That holy book shall guide our youth, 

And well support our age. 



66. When the worn spirit wants repose, 
And sighs her God to seek, 
How sweet to hail the evening's close 
That ends the weary week 1 

How sweet to hail the early dawn 

That opens on the sight 
When first that soul-reviving morn 

Beams its new rays of light ! 

Sweet day ! thine hours too soon will cease ; 

Yet, while they gently roll, 
Breathe, heavenly Spirit, Source of peace, 

A sabbath o'er my soul. 

When will my pilgrimage be done, 
The world's long week be o'er, 

That sabbath dawn which needs no sun, 
That day which fades no more '( 



NEWHOPE. C. M. 




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67. 



Oh for a heart to praise my God ; 

A heart from sin set free ; 
A heart that's sprinkled with the blood 

So freely shed for me ; 

An humble, lowly, contrite heart, 

Believing, true, and clean, 
Which neither life nor death can part 

From Him that dwells within ; 

A heart in every thought renewed, 
And filled with love divine ; 

Perfect and right and pure and good ; 
A copy, Lord, of thine ! 

Thy nature, dearest Lord, impart ; 

Come quickly from above ; 
Write thy new name upon my heart, — 

Thy new, best name of Love. 



68. Whilst thee I seek, protecting Power, 
Be my vain wishes stilled ; 
And may this consecrated hour 
With better hopes be filled ! 

Thy love the power of thought bestowed ; 

To thee my thoughts would soar : 
Thy mercy o'er my life has flowed ; 

That mercy I adore. 

In each event of life, how clear 

Thy ruling hand I see 1 
Each blessing to my soul more dear 

Because conferred by thee. 

In every joy that crowns my days, 

In every pain I bear, 
My heart shall find delight in praise, 

Or seek relief in prayer. 



472 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



MONTGOMERY. L. M. 



T. B. Mason. 



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69. Jehovah reigns ! — he dwells in light, 
Girded with majesty and might : 
The world, created by his hands, 
Still on its firm foundation stands. 

But ere this spacious world was made, 
Or had its first, foundation laid, 
Thy throne eternal ages stood, 
Thyself the ever-living God. 

Like floods the angry nations rise, 
And aim their rage against the skies : 
Vain floods, that aim their rage so high ! 
At thy rebuke the billows die. 

Forever shall thy throne endure ; 
Thy promise stand forever sure ; 
And everlasting holiness 
Becomes the dwelling of thy grace. 



70. All people that on earth do dwell, 

Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; 
Him serve with fear, his praise forth tell 
Come ye before him, and rejoice. 

The Lord, ye know, is God indeed ; 

Without our aid he did us make : 
We are his flock ; he doth us feed ; 

And for his sheep he doth us take. 

Oh ! enter, then, his gates with praise ; 

Approach with joy his courts unto : 
Praise, laud, and bless his name always ; 

For it is seemly so to do. 

For why ? the Lord our God is good ; 

His mercy is for ever sure : 
His truth at all times firmly stood, 

And shall from age to age endure. 



WINCHESTER. L. M. 



Dr. Croft. 




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71. Asleep in Jesus ! — blessed sleep ! 

From which none ever wake to weep ; 
A calm and undisturbed repose, 
Unbroken by the last of foes. 

Asleep in Jesus ! — oh, how sweet 
To be for such a slumber meet ; 
With holy confidence to sing 
That death hath lost its venomed sting I 

Asleep in Jesus ! — peaceful rest, 
Whose waking is supremely blest : 
No fear, no woe, shall dim that hour 
Which manifests the Saviour's power. 

Asleep in Jesus ! — oh, for me 
May such a blissful refuge be ! 
Securely shall my ashes lie, 
And wait the summons from on high. 



72. " We've no abiding city here ; " 

Sad truth, were this to be our home : 
But let this thought our spirits cheer, 
" We seek a city yet to come." 

" We've no abiding city here ; " 
We seek a city out of sight, 
Zion its name : the Lord is there ; 
It shines with everlasting light. 

O sweet abode of peace and love, 
Where pilgrims freed from toil are blest! 
Had I the pinions of the dove, 
I'd fly to thee, and be at rest. 

But hush, my soul ! nor dare repine ; 
The time my God appoints is best : 
While here, to do his will be mine, 
And his to fix my time of rest. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



473 



LEAMING. L. M. 



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73. 



No more, my God, I boast no more, 
Of all the duties I have done : 

I quit the hopes I held before 
To trust the merits of thy Son. 

Now for the love I bear his name, 
What was my gain I count my loss : 

My former pride I call my shame, 
And nail my glory to his cross. 

Yes, and I must and will esteem 
All things but loss for Jesus' sake : 

Oh, may my soul be found in him, 
And of his righteousness partake ! 

The best obedience of my hands 
Dares not appear before thy throne ; 

But faith can answer thy demands 
By pleading what my Lord has done. 



74. Jesus, my all, to beaven is gone, — 
He whom I fix my hopes upon : 
His track I see, and I'll pursue 
The narrow way till him I view. 

This is the way I long have sought, 
And mourned because I found it not ; 
Till late I heard my Saviour say, 
" Come hither, soul ; I am the way." 

Lo ! glad I come ; and thou, blest Lamb 1 
Wilt take me to thee as I am : 
Nothing but sin I thee can give ; 
Nothing but love shall I receive. 

Now will I tell to sinners round 
How dear a Saviour I have found : 
I'll point to thy redeeming blood, 
And say, " Behold the way to God ! " 



AZMON. C. M. 



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75. Majestic sweetness sits enthroned 

Upon the Saviour's brow ; 
His head with radiant glories crowned, 
His lips with grace o'erflow. 

No mortal can with him compare 
Among the sons of men : 

Fairer is he than all the fail- 
That fill the heavenly train. 

To him I owe my life and breath, 
And all the joys I have : 

He makes me triumph over death ; 
He saves me from the grave. 

Since from his bounty I receive 
Such proofs of love divine, 

Had I a thousand hearts to give, 
Lord, they should all be thine. 



76. Thou art the Way : to thee alone 
From sin and death we flee ; 
And he who would the Father seek, 
Must seek him, Lord, by thee. 

Thou art the Truth : thy word alone 

True wisdom can impart : 
Thou only canst inform the mind, 

And purify the heart. 

Thou art the Life : the rending tomb 
Proclaims thy conquering arm ; 

And those who put their trust in thee 
Nor death nor hell shall harm. 

Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life : 
Grant us that way to know, 

That truth to keep, that life to win, 
Whose joys eternal flow. 



474 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



DENNIS. S. M. 




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yj 1 . If through unruffled seas 

Toward heaven we calmly sail, 
With grateful hearts, God ! to thee 
We'll own the fostering gale. 

But should the surges rise, 
And rest delay to come, 

Blest be the sorrow, kind the storm, 
Which drives us nearer home. 

Soon shall our doubts and fears 
All yield to thy control : 

Thy tender mercies shall illume 
The midnight of the soul. 

Teach us, in every state, 
To make thy will our own ; 

And, when the joys of sense depart, 
To live by faith alone. 



78. Blest are the pure in heart ; 

For they shall see their God : 
The secret of the Lord is theirs ; 
Their soul is Christ's abode. 

The Lord, who left the heavens 
Our life and peace to bring, 

To dwell in lowliness with men, 
Their Pattern and their King, — 

He to the lowly soul 

Doth still himself impart, 

And for his dwelling and his throne 
Chooseth the pure in heart. 

Lord, we thy presence seek : 
May ours this blessing be ! 

Oh ! give the pure and lowly heart 
A temple meet for thee. 



ARMENIA. C. M. 



S. B. Pond. 












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With joy we hail the sacred day 
Which God hath called his own ; 

With joy the summons we obey 
To worship at his throne. 

Thy chosen temple, Lord, how fair ! 

Where willing votaries throng 
To breathe the humble, fervent prayer, 

And pour the choral song. 

Let peace within her walls be found ; 

Let all her sons unite 
To spread with grateful zeal around 

Her clear and shining light. 

Great God ! we hail the sacred day 
Which thou hast called thine own ; 

With joy the summons we obey 
To worship at thy throne. 



80. Lift up your heads, eternal gates ! 

Unfold to entertain 
The King of glory : see ! he comes 
With his celestial train. 

Who is this King of glory ? who ? 

The Lord, for strength renowned, 
In battle mighty ; o'er his foes 

Eternal victor crowned. 

Lift up your heads, ye gates ! unfold 

In state to entertain 
The King of glory : see ! he comes 

With all his shining train. 

Who is this King of glory ? who ? 

The Lord of hosts renowned : 
Of sjlorv he ;ilone is King 

Who is with glory crowned. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



475 



ZANESVILLE. C. M. 



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God moves in a mysterious way 

His wonders to perform : 
He plants his footsteps in the sea, 

And rides upon the storm. 

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take : 
The clouds ye so much dread 

Are big with mercy, and shall break 
In blessings on your head. 

His purposes will ripen fast, 

Unfolding every hour : 
The bud may have a bitter taste ; 

But sweet will be the flower. 

Blind unbelief is sure to err, 
And scan his work in vain : 

God is his own interpreter, 
And he will make it plain. 



82. Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear 

My voice ascending high : 
To thee will I direct my prayer, 
To thee lift up mine eye. 

Thou art a God before whose sight 
The wicked shall not stand : 

Sinners shall ne'er be thy delight, 
Nor dwell at thy right hand. 

But to thy house will I resort 
To taste thy mercies there : 

I will frequent thy holy court, 
And worship in thy fear. 

Oh, may thy Spirit guide my feet 
In ways of righteousness ; 

Make every path of duty straight, 
And plain before my face ! 



BADEA. S. M. 



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83. 



Still with thee, O my God ! 

I would desire to be ; 
By day, by night, at home, abroad, 

I would be still with thee : 

With thee when dawn comes in, 
And calls me back to care ; 

Each day returning to begin 
With thee, my God, in prayer : 

With thee when day is done, 
And evening calms the mind ; 

The setting as the rising sun 
With thee my heart would find : 

With thee when darkness brings 

The signal of repose ; 
Calm in the shadow of thy wings, 

Mine eyelids I would close. 



84. Great, is the Lord our God, 

And let his praise be great : 
He makes his churches his abode, 
His most delightful seat. 

These temples of his grace — 
How beautiful they stand ! 

The honor of our native place, 
And glory of our land. 

Oft have our fathers told, 
Our eyes have often seen, 

How well our God secures the fold 
Where his own sheep have been. 

In every new distress 

We'll to his house repair ; 

We'll think upon his wondrous grace, 
And seek deliverance there. 



476 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



DEVIZES. C. M. 



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85. Let children hear the mighty deeds 
Which God performed of old ; 
Which in our younger years we saw, 
And which our fathers told. 

He bids us make his glories known, 
His works of power and grace ; 

And we'll convey his wonders down 
Through every rising race. 

Our lips shall tell them to our sons, 
And they again to theirs, 

That generations yet unborn 
May teach them to their heirs. 

Thus shall they learn in God alone 
Their hope securely stands, 

That they may ne'er forget his works, 
But practise his commands. 



§©. 



With joy we meditate the grace 

Of our High Priest above : 
His heart is made of tenderness ; 

His bosom glows with love. 

Touched with a sympathy within, 
He knows our feeble frame: 

He knows what sore temptations mean ; 
For he has felt the same. 

He, in the days of feeble flesh, 
Poured out his cries and tears ; 

And in his measure feels afresh 
What every member bears. 

Then let our humble faith address 

His mercy and his power : 
We shall obtain delivering grace 

In the distressing hour. 



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§7. 



Now let our souls, on wings sublime, 
Rise from the vanities of time, 
Draw back the parting veil, and see 
The glories of eternity. 

Shall aught beguile us on the road 
While we are walking back to God ? 
For strangers into life we comej 
And dying is but going home. 

Welcome, sweet hour of full discharge, 
That sets our longing souls at large, 
Unbinds our chains, breaks up our cell, 
And gives us with our God to dwell ! 

To dwell with God, to feel his love, 
Is the full heaven enjoyed above ; 
And the sweet expectation now 
Is the young dawn of heaven below. 



§§. 



Ye nations round the earth, rejoice 
Before the Lord, your sovereign King ; 

Serve him with cheerful heart and voice; 
With all your tongues his glory sing. 

The Lord is God ; 't is he alone 

Doth life and breath and being give : 

We are his work, and not our own ; 
The sheep that on his pastures live. 

Enter his gates with songs of joy ; 

With praises to his courts repair; 
And make it your divine employ 

To pay your thanks and honors there. 

The Lord is good ; the Lord is kind ; 

Great is his grace, his mercy sure ; 
And the whole race of man shall find 

His truth from ase to a<re endure. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



477 



LOVING-KINDNESS. L. M. 



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So let our lips and lives express 
The holy gospel we profess ; 
So let our works and virtues shine, 
To prove the doctrine all divine. 

Thus shall we best proclaim abroad 
The honors of our Saviour God, 
When his salvation reigns within, 
And grace subdues the power of sin. 

Our flesh and sense must be denied, 
Passion and envy, lust and pride ; 
While justice, temperance, truth, and love 
Our inward piety approve. 

Religion bears our spirits up, 
While we expect that blessed hope, 
The bright appearing of the Lord ; 
And faith stands leaning on his word. 



90. Awake, my soul ! and with the sun 
Thy daily stage of duty run ; 
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise 
To pay thy morning sacrifice. 

Glory to Thee, who safe hast kept, 
And hast refreshed me while I slept : 
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake, 
I may of endless life partake. 

Lord, I my vows to thee renew : 
Scatter my sins as morning dew ; 
Guard my first springs of thought and will, 
And with thyself my spirit fill. 

Direct, control, suggest, this day, 

All I design or do or say ; 

That all my powers, with all their might, 

In thy sole glory may unite. 



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91. I am weary of straying : oh ! fain would I rest 
In that far-distant land of the pure and the blest, 
Where sin can no longer its blandishments spread, 
And tears and temptations forever have fled. 

I am weary of hoping where hope is untrue, 
As fair, but as fleeting, as morning's bright dew : 
I long for that land whose blest promise alone 
Is changeless and sure as eternity's throne. 

I am weary of loving what passes away ; 
The sweetest, the dearest, alas ! may not stay : 
I long for that land where these partings are o'er, 
And death and the tomb can divide hearts no more. 

I am weary, my Saviour, of grieving thy love : 
Oh ! when shall I rest in thy presence above ? 
I am weary ; but, oh ! let me never repine [mine. 
While thy word and thy love and thy promise are 



92. 'Mid scenes of confusion, and creature complaints, 
How sweet to my soul is communion with saints: 
To find at the banquet of mercy there's room, 
And feel in the presence of Jesus at home 1 

Sweet bonds that unite all the children of peace, 
And thrice-precious Jesus, whose love cannot cease 1 
Though oft from thy presence in sadness I roam, 
I long to behold thee in glory at home. 

While here in the valley of conflict I stay, 
Oh ! give me submission, and strength as my day : 
In all my afflictions, to thee would I come, 
Rejoicing in hope of my glorious home. 

I long, dearest Lord, in thy beauty to shine; 
No more as an exile in sorrow to pine ; 
And in thy dear image arise from the tomb, 
With glorified millions to praise thee at home. 



478 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



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93. How beauteous are their feet 

Who stand on Zion's hill ; 
Who bring salvation on their tongues, 
And words of peace reveal ! 

How happy are our ears 

That hear this joyful sound, 

Which kings and prophets waited for, 
And sought, but never found ! 

How blessed are our eyes, 
That see this heavenly light ! 

Prophets and kings desired it long, 
But died without the sight. 

The Lord makes bare his arm 
Through all the earth abroad : 

Let every nation now behold 
Their Saviour and their God. 



94. Welcome, sweet day of rest, 

That saw the Lord arise ! 
Welcome to this reviving breast 
And these rejoicing eyes ! 

The King himself comes near, 
And feasts his saints to-day : 

Here we may sit, and see him here, 
And love and praise and pray. 

One day amidst the place 
Where my dear God has been 

Is sweeter than ten thousand days 
Of pleasurable sin. 

My willing soul would stay 
In such a frame as this, 

And sit, and sing herself away 
To everlasting bliss. 



WINDHAM 



L. M. 



Daniel Read. 




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95. A broken heart, my God, my King, 
Is all the sacrifice I bring : 
The God of grace will ne'er despise 
A broken heart for sacrifice. 

My soul lies humbled in the dust, 
And owns thy dreadful sentence just : 
Look down, O Lord ! with pitying eye, 
And save the soul condemned to die. 

Then will I teach the world thy ways ; 
Sinners shall learn thy sovereign grace : 
I'll lead them to my Saviour's blood, 
And they shall praise a pardoning God. 

Oh, may thy love inspire my tongue ! 
Salvation shall be all my song; 
And all my powers shall join to bless 
The Lord, my strength and righteousness. 



96. How blest the sacred tie that binds, 
In union sweet, according minds ! 
How swift the heavenly course they run 
Whose hearts and faith and hopes are one ! 

To each the soul of each how dear ! 
What jealous care ! what holy fear ! 
How doth the generous flame within 
Refine from earth, and cleanse from sin ! 

Together oft they seek the place 
Where God reveals his awful face : 
How high, how strong, their raptures swell, 
There's none but kindred minds can tell. 

Nor shall the glowing flame expire 
'Mid nature's drooping, sickening fire : 
Soon shall they meet in realms above, 
A heaven of joy, because of love. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



479 



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97. I send the joys of earth away : 

Away, ye tempters of the mind, 
False as the smooth, deceitful sea, 
And empty as the whistling wind ! 

Lord, I adore thy matchless grace, 

Which warned me of that dark abyss ; 

Which drew me from those treacherous seas, 
And bade me seek superior bliss. 

Now to the shining realms above 

I stretch my hands, and glance my eyes : 

Oh for the pinions of a dove 
To bear me to the upper skies ! 

There, from the bosom of my God, 
Oceans of endless pleasure roll : 

There would I fix my last abode, 
And drown the sorrows of my soul. 



9§. 



Great God ! to thee my evening song 
With humble gratitude I raise : 

Oh ! let thy mercy tune my tongue, 
And fill my heart with lively praise. 

My days, unclouded as they pass, 
And every gently-rolling hour, 

Are monuments of wondrous grace, 
And witness to thy love and power. 

Seal my forgiveness in the blood 
Of Jesus : his dear name alone 

I plead for pardon, gracious God ! 
And kind acceptance at thy throne. 

Let this blest hope mine eyelids close ; 

With sleep refresh my feeble frame : 
Safe in thy care may I repose, 

And wake with praises to thy name ! 



CHIMES. C. M. 



Dr. Lowell Mason. 







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99. To our Redeemer's glorious name 
Awake the sacred song : 
Oh, may his love — immortal flame ! — 
Tune every heart and tongue ! 

His love what mortal thought can reach, 
What mortal tongue display ? 

Imagination's utmost stretch 
In wonder dies away. 

Dear Lord, while we, adoring, pay 
Our humble thanks to thee, 

May every heart with rapture say, 
" The Saviour died for me ! " 

Oh. may the, sweet, the blissful theme 
Fill every heart and tongue, 

Till strangers love thy charming name, 
And join the sacred song! 



100. Lord, at thy table I behold 
The wonders of thy grace, 
But most of all admire that I 
Should find a welcome place. 

What strange, surprising grace is this, 
That such a soul has room ! 

My Saviour takes me by the hand ; 
My Jesus bids me come. 

Ye saints below, and hosts of heaven, 
In praise join all your powers : 

No theme is like redeeming love ; 
No Saviour is like ours. 

Had I ten thousand hearts, dear Lord, 
I'd give them all to thee ; 

Had I ten thousand tongues, they all 
Should join the harmony. 



480 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 




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101. How honored is the sacred place 
Where we adoring stand ! — 
Zion, the glory of the earth, 
And beauty of the land. 

Lift up the everlasting gates ; 

The doors wide open fling : 
Enter, ye nations that obey 

The statutes of our King ! 

Here shall you taste unmingled joys, 
And live in perfect peace, — 

You who have known Jehovah's name, 
And ventured on his grace. 

Trust in the Lord, forever trust, 
And banish all your fears : 

Strength in the Lord Jehovah dwells, 
Eternal as his years. 



102. 



There is an eye that never sleeps 

Beneath the wing of night ; 
There is an ear that never shuts 

When sink the beams of light ; 

There is an arm that never tires 
When human strength gives way ; 

There is a love that never fails 
When earthly loves decay. 

But there's a power which man can wield 

When mortal aid is vain, 
That eye, that arm, that love, to reach, 

That listening ear to gain. 

That power is prayer, which soars on high, 

Through Jesus, to the throne ; 
And moves the hand which moves the world, 

To bring salvation down. 



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103. Oh ! cease, my wandering soul, 
On restless wing to roam : 
All this wide world, to either pole, 
Has not for thee a home. 

Behold the ark of God ! 

Behold the open door ! 
Oh ! haste to gain that dear abode ; 

And roam, my soul, no more. 

There safe thou shalt abide, 
There sweet shall be thy rest, 

And, every longing satisfied, 
With full salvation blest. 

Then cease, my wandering soul, 
On restless win<j to roam : 

All this wide world, to either pole, 
Has not for thee a home. 



104. 



I love thy kingdom, Lord, 

The house of thine abode ; 
The Church our blest Redeemer saved 

With his own precious blood. 

I love thy Church, O God ! 

Her walls before thee stand, 
Dear as the apple of thine eye, 

And graven on thy hand. 

For her my tears shall fall, 
For her my prayers ascend ; 

To her my cares and toils be given, 
Till toils and cares shall end. 

Sure as thy troth shall last, 

To Zion shall be given 
The brightest glories earth can yield, 

And brighter bliss of heaven. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



481 



COWPER. C. M. 



Dr. Lowell Mason. 



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105. Blest hour, when righteous souls shall meet, 
Shall meet to part no more, 
And with celestial welcome greet 
On an immortal shore ! 

The parent finds his long-lost child ; 

Brothers on brothers gaze : 
The tear of resignation mild . 

Is changed to joy and praise. 

Each tender tie, dissolved with pain, 
With endless bliss is crowned : 

All that was dead revives again ; 
All that was lost is found. 

Congenial minds, arrayed in light, 
High thoughts shall interchange ; 

Nor cease, with ever-new delight, 
On wings of love to range. 



106. There is a glorious world of light 
Above the starry sky, 
Where saints departed, clothed in white, 
Adore the Lord most high. 

And hark ! amid the sacred songs 
Those heavenly voices raise, 

Ten thousand thousand infant tongues 
Unite in perfect praise. 

Soon will our earthly race be run, 

Our mortal frame decay : 
Parents and children, one by one, 

Must die, and pass away. 

Great God ! impress this solemn thought 

To-day on every breast : 
May both the teachers and the taught 

Be found among the blest ! 



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lO 1 ?. This is the day the Lord hath made ; 
He calls the hours his own : 
Let heaven rejoice, let earth be glad, 
And praise surround the throne. 

Hosanna to the anointed King, 

To David's holy Son ! 
Help us, O Lord ! descend, and bring 

Salvation from thy throne. 

Blest be the Lord, who comes to men 

With messages of grace ; 
Who comes in God his Father's name 

To save our sinful race. 

Hosanna in the highest strains 
The Church on earth can raise ! 

The highest heaven, in which he reigns, 
Shall give him nobler praise. 



10§. O Thou from whom all goodness flows ! 
I lift my soul to thee : 
In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes, 

Lord ! remember me. 

When trials sore obstruct my way, 

And ills I cannot flee, 
Oh ! let my strength be as my day : 

Dear Lord, remember me. 

When in the solemn hour of death 

1 wait thy just decree, 

Be this the prayer of my last breath, 
" Now, Lord, remember me." 

And when before thy throne I stand, 

And lift my soul to thee, 
Then with the saints at thy right hand, 

O Lord ! remember me. 



482 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 






ST. JOHN'S. 



L. M. 





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109. Sweet is the memory of thy grace, 
My God, my heavenly King : 
Let age to age thy righteousness 
In sounds of glory sing. 

God reigns on high, but ne'er confines 

His goodness to the skies : 
Through the whole earth his bounty shines, 

And every want supplies. 

How kind are thy compassions, Lord ! 

How slow thine anger moves ! 
But soon he sends his pardoning word 

To cheer the souls he loves. 

Sweet is the memory of thy grace, 
My God, my heavenly King : 

Let age to age thy righteousness 
In sounds of glory sing. 



11®. How bright these glorious spirits shine ! 



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How came they to the blissful seats 
Of everlasting day ? 

Lo ! these are they from sufferings great 
Who came to realms of light, 

And in the blood of Christ have washed 
Those robes which shine so bright. 

His presence fills each heart with joy ; 

Tunes every voice to sing : 
By day, by night, the sacred courts 

With glad hosannas ring. 

In pastures green he'll lead his flock, 
Where living streams appear ; 

And God, the Lord, from every eye 
Shall wipe away each tear. 



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111. 



The darkness disappears : 
The sons of earth are waking 
To penitential tears. 

Each breeze that sweeps the ocean 
Brings tidings from afar 

Of nations in commotion, 
Prepared for Zion's war. 

Rich dews of grace come o'er us 
In many a gentle shower, 

And brighter scenes before us 
Are opening every hour. 

Each cry to heaven going 
Abundant answer brings ; 

And heavenly gales are blowing, 
With peace upon their wings. 



112. See heathen nations bending 

Before the God of love, 
And thousand hearts ascending 
In gratitude above ! 

While sinners, now confessing, 
The gospel's call obey, 

And seek a Saviour's blessing, 
A nation in a day. 

Blest river of salvation, 
Pursue thy onward way ; 

Flow thou to every nation, 
Nor in thy richness stay : 

Stay not till all the lowly 

Triumphant reach their home ; 

Stay not till all the holy 
Proclaim the Lord is come. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



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113. Return, O wanderer ! now return, 
And seek thy Father's face : 
These new desires which in thee hurn 
Are kindled by his grace. 

Return, O wanderer ! now return : 
He hears thy humble sigh, 

He sees thy softened spirit mourn, 
When no one else is nigh. 

Return, wanderer ! now return ; 

Thy Saviour bids thee live : 
Go to his bleeding feet, and learn 

How freely he'll forgive. 

Return, wanderer ! now return, 
And wipe the falling tear : 

Thy Father calls ; no longer mourn ; 
His love invites thee near. 

Allegro Yigoroso. 



114. 



Great Father of each perfect gift, 
Behold, thy servants wait; 

With longing eyes and lifted hands 
We flock around thy gate. 

Oh ! shed abroad that choicest gift, 

Thy Spirit from above, 
To cheer our eyes with sacred light, 

And fire our hearts with love. 

With speedy flight may he descend, 

And solid comfort bring, 
And o'er our languid souls extend 

His all-reviving wing. 

Blest Earnest of eternal joy, 
Declare our sins forgiven, 

And bear with energy divine 

Our raj)tured thoughts to heaven. 



LABAN. S. M. 




115. Our heavenly Father, hear 
The prayer we offer now : 
Thy name be hallowed far and near ; 
To thee all nations bow. 

Thy kingdom come ; thy will 
On earth be done in love, 

As saints and seraphim fulfil 
Thy perfect law above. 

Our daily bread supply, 
While by thy Word we live ; 

The guilt of our iniquity 
Forgive as we forgive. 

Thine, then, forever be 
Glory and power divine : 

The sceptre, throne, and majesty 
Of heaven and earth are thine. 



116. Like sheep we went astray, 

And broke the fold of God ; 
Each wandering in a different way, 
But all the downward road. 

How glorious was the grace 

When Christ sustained the stroke ! 

His life and blood the Shepherd pays, 
A ransom for the flock. 

But God shall raise his head 
O'er all the sons of men, 

And make him see a numerous seed 
To recompense his pain. 

" I'll give him," saith the Lord, 
" A portion with the strong : 

He shall possess a large reward, 
And hold his honors Ions." 



484 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



Slowly. 



AVON. C. M. 



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117. Come, let us to the Lord our God 
With contrite hearts return : 
Our God is gracious, nor will leave 
The desolate to mourn. 

Our hearts, if God we seek to know, 
Shall know him, and rejoice : 

His coming like the morn shall be ; 
Like morning songs his voice. 

As dew upon the tender herb, 
Diffusing fragrance round ; 

As showers that usher in the spring, 
And cheer the thirsty ground : 

So shall his presence bless our souls, 
And shed a joyful light : 

That hallowed morn shall chase away 
The sorrows of the night. 



11§. Bright Source of everlasting love, 
To thee our souls we raise, 
And to thy sovereign bounty rear 
A monument of praise. 

Thy mercy gilds the path of life 
With every cheering ray ; 

Kindly restrains the rising tear, 
Or wipes that tear away. 

The widow's heart shall sing for joy ; 

The orphan shall be fed : 
The hungering soul we'll gladly point 

To Christ, the living bread. 

Thus what our heavenly Father gave 
Shall we as freely give ; 

Thus copy Him who lived to save, 
And died that we mio;ht live. 



ANTIOCH. C. M. 




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119. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! 
Let earth receive her King ; 
Let every heart prepare him room, 
And heaven and nature sing. 

Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns I 

Let men their songs employ ; 
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, 

Repeat the sounding joy. 

No more let sins and sorrows grow, 

Nor thorns infest the ground : 
He comes to make his blessings flow 

Far as the curse is found. 

He rules the world with truth and grace, 

And makes the nations prove 
The glories of his righteousness, 

And wonders of his love. 



120. all ye lands ! rejoice in God; 
Sing praises to his name : 
Let all the earth, with one accord, 
His wondrous acts proclaim. 

And let his faithful servants tell 

How, by redeeming love, 
Their souls are saved from death and hell, 

To share the joys above, — 

Tell how the Holy Spirit's grace 

Forbids their feet to slide ; 
And, as they run the Christian race, 

Vouchsafes to be their guide. 

Oh, then, rejoice, and shout for joy, 

Ye ransomed of the Lord ! 
Be grateful praise your sweet employ, 

His presence your reward. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



485 



HENRY. C. M. 



S. B. Pond. 



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121. God ! my heart is fully bent 
To magnify thy name : 
My tongue, with cheerful songs of praise, 
Shall celebrate thy fame. 

Awake, my lute ! nor thou, my harp! 

Thy warbling notes delay, 
While I, with earl)' hymns of joy, 

Prevent the dawning day. 

To all the listening tribes, Lord ! 

Thy wonders I will tell, 
And to those nations sing thy praise 

That round about us dwell ; 

Because thy mercy's boundless height 
The highest heaven transcends, 

And far beyond the aspiring clouds 
Thy faithful truth extends. 



122. A glory gilds the sacred page, 
Majestic, like the sun : 
It gives a light to every age ; 
It gives, but borrows none. 

The hand that gave it still supplies 
The gracious light and heat : 

Its truths upon the nations rise; 
They rise, but never set. 

Let everlasting thanks be thine 

For such a bright display- 
As makes a world of darkness shine 
With beams of heavenly day. 

My soul rejoices to pursue 
The steps of Him I love, 

Till glory breaks upon my view 
In brighter worlds above. 



ROSSINI. C. M. 



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123. Praise to the radiant Source of bliss, 
Who gives the blind their sight, 
And scatters round their wondering eyes 
A flood of sacred light. 

In paths unknown he leads them on 

To his divine abode ; 
And shows new miracles of grace 

Through all the heavenly road. 

The ways all rugged and perplexed 
He renders smooth and straight, 

And strengthens every feeble knee 
To march to Zion's gate. 

Through all the path I'll sing his name 

Till I the mount ascend 
Where toils and storms are known no more, 

And anthems never end. 



124. Happy the home when God is there, 
And love fills every breast ; 
Where one their wish, and one their prayer, 
And one their heavenly rest. 

Happy the home where Jesus' name 

Is sweet to every ear ; 
Where children early lisp his fame, 

And parents hold him dear. 

Happy the home where prayer is heard, 

And praise is wont to rise ; 
Where parents love the sacred Word, 

And live but for the skies. 

Lord ! let us in our home agree 

This blessed peace to gain : 
Unite our hearts in love to thee, 

And love to all will reion. 



486 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



DEDHAM. C. M. 



£• — — i — i 1 — &- --S* — * 




125. 



Long as I live I'll bless thy name, 

My King, my God of love : 
My work and joy shall be the same 

In the bright world above. 

Great is the Lord, his power unknown ; 

Oh 1 let his praise be great : 
I'll sing the honors of thy throne, 

Thy works of grace repeat. 

Thy grace shall dwell upon my tongue ; 

And, while my lips rejoice, 
The men who hear my sacred song 

Shall join their cheerful voice. 

Fathers to sons shall teach thy name, 
And children learn thy ways ; 

Ages to come thy truth proclaim, 
And nations sound thy praise. 



126. Thou must go forth alone, my soul, 
Thou must go forth alone, 
To other scenes, to other worlds, 
That mortal hath not known. 

Thou must go forth alone, my soul, 
To tread the narrow vale ; 

But He whose word is sure hath said 
His mercy shall not fail. 

Thou must go forth alone, my soul, 
To meet thy God above. 

But shrink not : he has said, my soul,' 
He is a God of love. 

His rod and staff shall comfort thee 

Across the dreary road, 
Till thou shalt join the blessed ones 

In heaven's serene abode. 



DITCHLING. C. M. 





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127. 



There is a land of pure delight, 
Where saints immortal reign : 

Infinite day excludes the night, 
And pleasures banish pain. 

There everlasting spring abides, 
And never-withering flowers : 

Death, like a narrow sea, divides 
This heavenly land from ours. 

Oh ! could we make our doubts remove, 
Those gloomy doubts that rise, 

And see the Canaan that we love 
With unbeclouded eyes ; 

Could we but climb where Moses stood, 
And view the landscape o'er, — 

Not Jordan's stream nor death's cold flood 
Should fright us from the shore. 



12§. Remember thy Creator now 
In these thy youthful days : 
He will accept thy earliest vow, 
And listen to thy praise. 

Remember thy Creator now, 
And seek him while he's near ; 

For evil days will come, when thou 
Shalt find no comfort near. 

Remember thy Creator now ; 

His willing servant be : 
Then, when thy head in death shall bow, 

He will remember thee. 

Almighty God ! our hearts incline 
Thy heavenly voice to hear : 

Let all our future days be thine, 
Devoted to thy fear. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



487 



Allegro. 



GROTON. C. M. 



Ch. Zeuner. 




129* Ye hosts of heaven, ye mighty ones, 
Ascribe with one accord 
The strength, the power, the majesty, 
To your almighty Lord. 

Give glory to his holy name, 

And honor him alone ; 
In beauty meet of holiness 

Approach his lofty throne. 

Jehovah's voice of majesty 

Is on the waters wide ; 
The God of glory thundereth, 

And on the seas doth ride. 

Jehovah sits upon the floods, 
And tempests rage in vain ; 

Jehovah sits as sovereign King, 
And evermore shall reign. 



130. Oh ! praise the Lord ; for he is good; 
In him we rest obtain : 
His mercy has through ages stood, 
And ever shall remain. 

Let all the people of the Lord 
His praises spread around ; 

Let them his grace and love record 
Who have salvation found. 

Now let the east in him rejoice, 
The west its tribute bring, 

The north and south lift up their voice 
In honor of their King. 

Oh ! praise the Lord ; for he is good ; 

In him we rest obtain : 
His mercy has through ages stood, 

And ever shall remain. 



MARLOW 




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131. Since all the varying scenes of time 
God's watchful eye surveys, 
Oh ! who so wise to choose our lot, 
Or to appoint our ways ? 

Good when he gives, supremely good ; 

Nor less when he denies : 
E'en crosses from his sovereign hand 

Are blessings in disguise. 

Why should we doubt a Father's love, 
So constant and so kind V 

To his unerring, gracious will 
Be every wish resigned. 

In thy fair book of life divine, 
My God, inscribe my name : 

There let it fill some humble place 
Beneath my Lord, the Lamb. 



132. Jehovah, God ! thy gracious power 
On every hand we see : 
Oh, may the blessings of each hour 
Lead all our thoughts to thee ! 

If on the wings of morn we speed 
To earth's remotest bound, 

Thy hand will there our footsteps lead, 
Thy love our path surround. 

Thy power is in the ocean-deeps, 
And reaches to the skies ; 

Thine eye of mercy never sleeps ; 
Thy goodness never dies. 

From morn till noon, till latest eve, 
Thy hand, God ! we see ; 

And all the blessings we receive 
Proceed alane from thee. 



488 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



Firm. 



SWANWICK. 



C M. 



Lucas. 



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133. Arise, ye people ! and adore ; 
Exulting strike the chord : 
Let all the earth, from shore to shore, 
Confess the almighty Lord. 

Glad shouts aloud, wide echoing round, 
The ascending God proclaim : 

The angelic choir respond the sound, 
And shake creation's frame. 

They sing of death and hell o'erthrown 

In that triumphant hour ; 
And God exalts his conquering Son 

To his right hand of power. 

Oh, shout, ye people ! and adore ; 

Exulting strike the chord : 
Let all the earth, from shore to shore, 

Confess the almighty Lord. 



134. Witness, ye men and angels, now 
Before the Lord we speak : 
To him we make our solemn vow, — 
A vow we dare not break, — 

That, long as life itself shall last, 
Ourselves to Christ we yield ; 

Nor from his cause will we depart, 
Or ever quit the field. 

We trust not in our native strength, 

But on his grace rely, 
That with returning wants the Lord 

Will all our need supply. 

Oh ! guide our doubtful feet aright, 

And keep us in thy ways ; 
And, while we turn our vows to prayers, 

Turn thou our prayers to praise. 



LISBON. S. M. 



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135. My spirit on thy care, 

Blest Saviour, I recline : 
Thou wilt not leave me to despair ; 
For thou art love divine. 

In thee I place my trust ; 

On thee I calmly rest : 
I know thee good, I know thee just, 

And count thy choice the best. 

Whate'er events betide, 
Thy will they all perform : 

Safe on thy breast my head I hide, 
Nor fear the coming storm. 

Let good or ill befall, 
It must be good for me, 

Secure of having thee in all, 
Of having; all in thee. 



136. 



My soul, be on thy guard : 

Ten thousand foes arise ; 
The hosts of Sin are pressing hard 

To draw thee from the skies. 

Oh ! watch and fight and pray ; 

The battle ne'er give o'er ; 
Renew it boldly every day. 

And help divine implore. 

Ne'er think the victory won, 

Nor lay thine armor down : 
Thy arduous work will not be done 
- Till thou obtain thy crown. 

Fight on, my soul, till death 
Shall bring thee to thy God : 

He'll take thee, at thy parting breath, 
Up to his blest abode. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



489 



OLMUTZ. S. M. 



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137* To God, the only wise, 

Our Saviour and our King, 

Let all the saints below the skies 

Their humble praises bring. 

'Tis his almighty love, 
His counsel, and his care, 

Preserves us safe from sin and death, 
And every hurtful snare. 

He will present our souls 
Unblemished and complete 

Before the glory of his face 
With joys divinely great. 

To our Redeemer, God, 

Wisdom with power belongs, 

Immortal crowns of majesty, 
And everlasting songs. 



138. 



Jesus, who knows full well 
The heart of every saint, 

Invites us all our griefs to tell ; 
To pray, and never faint. 

He bows his gracious ear ; 

We never plead in vain : 
Yet we must wait till he appear ; 

And pray, and pray again. 

Jesus, the Lord, will hear 
His chosen when they cry : 

Yes, though he may a while forbear, 
He'll help them from on high. 

Then let us earnest be, 

And never faint in prayer : 

He loves our importunity, 

And makes our cause his care. 



Arranged from Mozart. 




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139. My Saviour ! my almighty Friend ! 
When I begin thy praise, 
Where will the growing numbers end, — 
The numbers of thy grace ? 

Thou art my everlasting trust ; 

Thy goodness I adore : 
And, since I knew thy graces first, 

I speak thy glories more. 

My feet shall travel all the length 

Of the celestial road ; 
And march, with courage in thy strength, 

To see my Father, God. 

Awake, awake, my tuneful powers ! 

With this delightful song 
I'll entertain the darkest hours, 

Nor think the season long. 



14©. Eternal Wisdom ! thee we praise ; 
Thee the creation sings : 
With thy loved name rocks, hills, and seas, 
And heaven's high palace, rings. 

Thy hand — how wide it spread the sky ! 

How glorious to behold ! 
Tinged with a blue of heavenly dye, 

And starred with sparkling gold. 

Infinite strength and equal skill 
Shine forth the world abroad, 

Our souls with vast amazement fill, 
And speak the builder, God. 

But still the wonders of thy grace 

Our softer passions move : 
Pity divine in Jesus' face 

We see, adore, and love. 



490 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



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141. Praise the Lord, his glories show, 
Saints within his courts below, 
Angels round his throne above, 
All that see and share his love. 

Earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, 
Tell his wonders, sing his worth ; 
Age to age, and shore to shore, 
Praise him, praise him, evermore. 

Praise the Lord, his mercies trace ; 
Praise his providence and grace, — 
All that he for man hath done, 
All he sends us through his Son. 

Strings and voices, hands and hearts, 
In the concert bear your parts ; 
All that breathe, your Lord adore ; 
Praise him, praise him, evermore. 



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142. Softly now the light of day 

Fades upon my sight away ; 
Free from care, from labor free, 
Lord, I would commune with thee. 

Thou, whose all-pervading eye 
Nought escapes, without, within, 

Pardon each infirmity, 

Open fault, and secret sin. 

Soon for me the light of day 
Shall forever pass away : 
Then, from sin and sorrow free, 
Take me, Lord, to dwell with thee. 

Thou who, sinless, yet hast known 
All of man's infirmity, 

Then from thine eternal throne, 
Jesus, look with pitying eye. 



1 



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NORTHFIELD. C. M. 



J. INGALLS. 



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143. Behold the glories of the Lamb 
Amid his Father's throne ! 
Prepare new honors for his name, 
And songs before unknown. 

Let elders worship at his feet, 

The Church adore around, 
With vials full of odor sweet, 

And harps of sweeter sound. 

Now to the Lamb that once was slain 

Be endless blessings paid ; 
Salvation, glory, joy, remain 

Forever on thy head ! 

Thou hast redeemed our souls with blood, 

Hast set the prisoners free, 
Hast made us kings and priests to God; 

And we shall reign with thee. 



144. Come in, thou blessed of the Lord 1 
Stranger nor foe art thou : 
We welcome thee with warm accord, 
Our friend, our brother, now. 

The hand of fellowship, the heart 

Of love, we offer thee : 
Leaving the world, thou dost but part 

From lies and vanity. 

Come with us ; we will do thee good 
As God to us hath done : 

Stand but in him as those have stood 
Whose faith the victory won. 

And when by turns we pass away, 
And star by star grows dim, 

May each, translated into day, 
Be lost and found in him ! 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



491 



MAHALETH 




145. My God, my Portion, and my Love, 
My everlasting All, 
I've none but thee in heaven above, 
Or on this earthly ball. 

How vain a toy is glittering wealth 
If once compared with thee ! 

Or what's my safety or my health, 
Or all my friends, to me ? 

Were I possessor of the earth, 
And called the stars my own, 

Without thy graces and thyself, 
I were a wretch undone. 

Let others stretch their arms like seas, 
And grasp in all the shore : 

Grant me the visits of thy face, 
And I desire no more. 



146. Awake, ye saints ! and raise your eyes, 
And lift your voices high ; 
Awake, and praise the sovereign love 
That shows salvation nigh. 

Swift on the wings of time it flies ; 

Each moment brings it near : 
Then welcome, each declining day ! 

Welcome, each closing year ! 

Not many years their round shall run, 

Not many mornings rise, 
Ere all its glories stand revealed 

To our admiring eyes. 

Ye wheels of Nature, speed your course ! 

Ye mortal powers, decay ! 
Fast as ye bring the night of death, 

Ye bring eternal day. 



DENFIELD. C. M. 







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ll?. Dear Father, to thy mercy-seat 
My soul for shelter flies : 
'Tis here I find a safe retreat 
When storms and tempests rise. 

My cheerful hope can never die, 
If thou, my God, art near : 

Thy grace can raise my comforts high, 
And banish every fear. 

My great Protector, and my Lord, 
Thy constant aid impart : 

Oh ! let thy kind, thy gracious word 
Sustain my trembling heart. 

Oh ! never let my soul remove 
From this divine retreat : 

Still let me trust thy power and love, 
And dwell beneath thy feet. 



148. Oh ! 'twas a joyful sound to hear 
Our tribes devoutly say, 
" Up, Israel ! to the temple haste, 
And keep your festal day ! " 

At Salem's courts we must appear 
With our assembled powers, 

In strong and beauteous order ranged, 
Like her united towers. 

Oh ! pray we, then, for Salem's peace ; 

For they shall prosperous be, 
Thou holy city of our God, 

Who bear true love to thee. 

May Peace within thy sacred walls 
A constant guest be found 1 

With plenty and prosperity 
Thy palaces be crowned ! 



492 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



Allegretto. 



ROCKVILLE. C M. 



Ch. Zeuner. 



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149. Oil for a shout of sacred joy 

To God, the sovereign King ! 
Let every land their tongues employ, 
And hymns of triumph sing. 

While angels shout and praise their King, 
Let mortals learn their strains; 

Let all the earth his honor sing ; 
O'er all the earth he reigns. 

Rehearse his praise with awe profound : 
Let knowledge lead the song; 

Nor mock him with a solemn sound 
Upon a thoughtless tongue. 

Oh for a shout of sacred joy 
To God, the sovereign King 1 

Let every land their tongues employ, 
And hymns of triumph sing. 



150. Through endless years thou art the same, 
O thou eternal God ! 
Ages to come shall know thy name, 
And tell thy works abroad. 

The strong foundations of the earth 

Of old by thee were laid ; 
By thee the beauteous arch of heaven 

With matchless skill was made. 

Soon shall this goodly frame of things, 
Formed by thy powerful hand, 

Be. like a vesture, laid aside, 
And changed at thy command. 

But thy perfections all divine, 

Eternal as thy days, 
Through everlasting ages shine 

With undiminished rays. 



THAXTED. C. M. 






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151. Come, let us lift our joyful eyes 
Up to the courts above, 
And smile to see our Father there 
Upon a throne of love. 

Come, let us bow before his feet, 
And venture near the Lord : 

No fiery cherubs guard his seat, 
Nor double-flaming sword. 

The peaceful gates of heavenly bliss 

Are opened by the Son : 
High let us raise our notes of praise, 

And reach the almighty throne. 

To thee ten thousand thanks we bring, 
Great Advocate on high ; 

And glory to the eternal King, 
Who lays his anger by. 



152. 'Tis by thy strength the mountains stand, 
God of eternal power : 
The sea grows calm at thy command, 
And tempests cease to roar. 

Thy morning light and evening shade 

Successive comforts bring ; 
Thy plenteous fruits make harvest glad; 

Thy flowers adorn the spring. 

Seasons and times, and moons and hours, 
Heaven, earth, and air, are thine : 

When clouds distil in fruitful showers, 
The author is divine. 

Thy showers the thirsty furrows fill, 

And ranks of corn appear ; 
Thy ways abound with blessings still ; 

Thy goodness crowns the year. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



493 



HOLBEIN. C. M. 




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153. Lord, -when we bend before thy throne, 
And our confessions pour, 
Teach us to feel the sins we own, 
And hate what we deplore. 

Our broken spirit pitying see ; 

True penitence impart; 
Then let a kindling glance from thee 

Beam hope upon the heart. 

When we disclose our wants in prayer, 

May we our wills resign, 
And not a thought our bosoms share 

Which is not wholly thine ! 

May faith each meek petition fill, 

And waft it to the skies. 
And teach our hearts 'tis Goodness still 

That grants it or denies ! 



151. Oh ! happy is the man that hears 
Instruction's warning voice ; 
And who celestial Wisdom makes 
His early, only choice. 

For she hath treasures greater far 
Than east and west unfold ; 

And her rewards more precious are 
Than all their stores of gold. 

She guides the young with innocence, 
In Pleasure's paths to tread : 

A crown of glory she bestows 
Upon the hoary head. 

According as her labors rise, 
So her rewards increase : 

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 
And all her paths are peace. 



GEER. C. M. 




155. Amid the splendors of thy state, 
O God ! thy love appears, 
Soft as the radiance of the moon 
Among a thousand stars. 

In all thy doctrines and commands, 
Thy counsels and designs, 

In every work thy hands have framed, 
Thy love supremely shines. 

Sinai, in clouds and smoke and fire, 
Thunders thine awful name ; 

But Zion sings, in melting notes, 
The honors of the Lamb. 

Ansels and men the news proclaim 
Through earth and heaven above ; 

And all, with holy transport, sing 
That God the Lord is love. 



156. Early, my God, without delay, 

I haste to seek thy face : 
My thirsty spirit faints away 
Without thy cheering grace. 

So pilgrims on the scorching sand, 
Beneath a burning sky, 

Long for a cooling stream at hand ; 
And they must drink, or die. 

I've seen thy glory and thy power 
Through all thy temple shine : 

My God, repeat that heavenly hour, 
That vision so divine ! 

Not life itself, wiih all its joys, 
Can my best passions move, 

Or raise so high my cheerful voice, 
As thy forgiving love. 



494 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



WEST POINT. S. M. 



C. W. Beames. 







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157. 



Come, we that love the Lord, 

And let our joys be known ; 
Join in a song with sweet accord, 

And thus surround the throne. 

Let those refuse to sing 

That never knew our God ; 
But children of the heavenly King 

May speak their joys abroad. 

The hill of Zion yields 

A thousand sacred sweets 
Before we reach the heavenly fields 

Or walk the golden streets. 

Then let our songs abound, 

And every tear be dry : 
We're marching through ImmanuePs ground 

To fairer worlds on hi<;li. 



158. Oh for the peace of those 

Who slumber in the Lord ! 
Oh, be like theirs my last repose, 
Like theirs my last reward ! 

Their bodies in the ground 

In silent hope may lie 
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound 

Shall call them to the sky. 

Their ransomed spirits soar 
On wings of faith and love 

To meet the Saviour they adore, 
And reign with him above. 

With us their names shall live 
Through long succeeding years, 

Embalmed with all our hearts can give, 
Our praises and our tears. 



Andante Grazioso. 



FANE. 
Count six moderately for a measure. 



C M. 



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159. I know that my Redeemer lives ; 

He lives who once was dead : 
To me in grief he comfort gives ; 
With peace he crowns my head. 

He lives triumphant o'er the grave, 
At God's right hand on high, 

My ransomed soul to keep and save, 
To bless and glorify. 

He lives that I may also live, 
And now his grace proclaim ; 

He lives that I may honor give 
To his most holy name. 

Let strains of heavenly music rise, 
While all their anthem sin<r 

To Christ, my precious Sacrifice, 
And ever-living King. 



160. When all thy mercies, my God ! 
My rising soul surveys, 
Transported with the view, I'm lost 
In wonder, love, and praise. 

Ten thousand thousand precious gifts 
My daily thanks employ ; 

Nor is the least a cheerful heart, 
That tastes those gifts with joy. 

Through every period of my life, 
Thy goodness I'll pursue ; 

And after death, in distant worlds, 
The glorious theme renew. 

Through all eternity, to thee 
A joyful song I'll raise ; 

But, oh ! eternity's too short 
To utter all thy praise. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



495 



SILVER STREET. S. M. 



I. Smith. 




161. Awake! and sing the song 
Of Moses and the Lamb ; 
Tune every heart and every tongue 
To praise the Saviour's name. 

Soon shall we hear him say, 
" Ye blessed children, come ! " 

Soon will he call us hence away 
To our eternal home. 

Soon shall our raptured tongue 
His endless praise proclaim, 

And sweeter voices tune the song 
Of Moses and the Lamb. 

Sing, till we feel our hearts 
Ascending with our tongues ; 

Sing, till the love of sin departs, 
And grace inspires our songs. 



162. My God, my Life, my Love, 
To thee, to thee, I call : 
I cannot live if thou remove ; 
For thou art all in all. 

To thee, and thee alone, 
The angels owe their bliss : 

They sit around thy gracious throne, 
And dwell where Jesus is. 

Nor earth, nor all the sky, 

Can one delight afford, 
No, not a drop of real joy, 

Without thy presence, Lord. 

Thou art the sea of love, 
Where all my pleasures roll, 

The circle where my passions move, 
And centre of my soul. 



WALTON. C. M. 




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163. 



Once more, my soul, the rising day 

Salutes my waking eyes ; 
Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay 

To Him who rules the skies. 

Night unto night his name repeats, 

The day renews the sound, 
Wide as the heavens on which he sits 

To turn the seasons round. 

'Tis he supports my mortal frame ; 

My tongue shall speak his praise : 
My sins would rouse his wrath to name ; 

And yet his wrath delays. 

Great God ! let all my hours be thine 

'While I enjoy the light ; 
Then shall my sun in smiles decline, 

And bring a pleasant night. 



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164. Let every mortal ear attend, 
And every heart rejoice : 
The trumpet of the gospel sounds 
With an inviting voice. 

Eternal Wisdom has prepared 

A soul-reviving feast, 
And bids your longing appetites 

The rich provision taste. 

Rivers of love and mercy here 

In a rich ocean join ; 
Salvation in abundance flows 

Like floods of milk and wine. 

The happy gates of gospel grace 
Stand open night and day : 

Lord, we are come to seek supplies, 
And drive our wants away. 



496 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 






Andante. 



SEL.VIN. S. M. 



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165. Behold, the morning sun 
Begins his glorious way ! 
His beams through all the nations run, 
And life and light convey. 

But, where the gospel comes, 

It spreads diviner light : 
It calls dead sinners from their tombs, 

And gives the blind their sight. 

How perfect is Thy word ! 

And all Thy judgments just : 
Forever sure thy promise, Lord, 

And men securely trust. 

My gracious God, how plain 
Are thy directions given ! 

Oh, may I never read in vain, 
But find the path to heaven ! 



166. Give to the winds thy fears ; 
Hope, and be undismayed : 
God hears thy sighs, and counts thy tears ; 
God shall lift up thy head. 

Through waves, through clouds and storms, 
He gently clears thy way : 
. Wait thou his time ; so shall this night 
Soon end in joyous day. 

Still heavy is thy heart ; 

Still sink thy spirits down : 
Cast off the weight ; let fear depart ; 

Bid every care be gone. 

Far, far above thy thought 

His counsel shall appear 
When fully He the work hath wrought 

That caused thy needless fear. 



Allegretto. 



NINEVEH. C. M. 




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167. Let saints below in concert sing 
With those to glory gone ; 
For all the servants of our King, 
In earth and heaven, are one. 

One family, we dwell in him, 
One church above, beneath, 

Though now divided by the stream, 
The narrow stream, of death. 

One army of the living God, 
To his command we bow : 

Part of the host have crossed the flood, 
And part are crossing now. 

Lord Jesus, be our constant guide ; 

And, when the word is given, 
Bid death's cold flood its waves divide, 

And land us safe in heaven. 






16§. My God, the spring of all my joys, 
The life of my delights, 
The glory of my brightest days, 
And comfort of my nights ! 

In darkest shades if he appear, 

My dawning is begun : 
He is my soul's sweet morning-star, 

And he my rising sun. 

The opening heavens around me shine 
With beams of sacred bliss ; 

While Jesus shows his heart is mine, 
And whispers I am his. 

My soul would leave this heavy clay 
At that transporting word ; 

Run up with joy the shining way 
To embrace my dearest Lord. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



497 



Scotch Psalter. 




BjfI^g|f3|gIgj3S 



169. 



In all my vast concerns with thee, 

In vain my soul would try 
To shun thy presence, Lord, or flee 

The notice of thine eye. 

My thoughts lie open to the Lord 
Before they're formed within ; 

And, ere my lips pronounce the word, 
He knows the sense I mean. 

Oh wondrous knowledge, deep and high ! 

Where can a creature hide ? 
Within thy circling arms I lie, 

Beset on every side. 

So let thy grace surround me still, 

And like a bulwark prove, 
To guard my soul from every ill, 

Secured by sovereign love. 



1TO. Great God, how infinite art thou ! 
What worthless worms are we ! 
Let the whole race of creatures bow, 
And pay their praise to thee. 

Eternity, with all its years, 

Stands present in thy view : 
To thee there's nothing old appears ; 

Great God, there's nothing new. 

Our lives through various scenes are drawn, 
And vexed with trifling cares ; 

While thine eternal thought moves on 
Thine undisturbed affairs. 

Great God, how infinite art thou ! 

What worthless worms are we ! 
Let the whole race of creatures bow, 

And pay their praise to thee. 



PENTONVILLE. S. M. 



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171. Grace ! — 'tis a charming sound, 
Harmonious to my ear : 
Heaven with the echo shall resound, 
And all the earth shall hear. 

Grace first contrived a way 
To save rebellious man ; 

And all the steps that grace display 
Which drew the wondrous plan. 

Grace taught my wandering feet 
To tread the heavenly road ; 

And new supplies each hour I meet, 
While pressing on to God. 

Grace all the work shall crown 
Through everlasting days : 

It lays in heaven the topmost stone, 
And well deserves the praise. 



172. Come, sound his praise abroad, 
And hymns of glory sing : 
Jehovah is the sovereign God, 
The universal King. 

He formed the deeps unknown ; 

He gave the seas their bound : 
The watery worlds are all his own, 

And all the solid ground. 

Come, worship at his throne ; 

Come, bow before the Lord : 
We are his work, and not our own ; 

He formed us by his word. 

To-day attend his voice, 
Nor dare provoke his rod : 

Come like the people of his choice, 
And own your gracious God. 



498 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



HENDON. 7s. 





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173. Songs of praise the angels sang, 
Heaven with hallelujahs rang, 
When Jehovah's work begun ; 
When God spake, and it was done. 

Songs of praise awoke the morn 
When the Prince of peace was born ; 
Songs of praise arose when he 
Captive led captivity. 

Heaven and earth must pass away ; 
Sonsjs of praise shall crown that day : 
God will make new heaven and earth ; 
Songs of praise shall hail their birth. 

Saints below, with heart and voice, 
Still in songs of praise rejoice; 
Learning here, by faith and love, 
Songs of praise to sing above. 



174. " Christ, the Lord, is risen to-day ! " 
Sons of men, and angels, say. 
Raise your joys and triumphs high: 
Sing, ye heavens ; and, earth, reply. 

Love's redeeming work is done ; 
Fought the fight, the battle won : 
Lo ! our sun's eclipse is o'er ; 
Lo ! he sets in blood no more. 

Lives again our glorious King: 
Where, O Death ! is now thy sting ? 
Once he died our souls to save : 
Where thy victory, boasting Grave ? 

Soar we now where Christ has led, 
Following our exalted Head : 
Made like him, like him we rise ; 
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies 1 



MIGDOL. L. M. 



L. Mason. 




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175. The Lord — how wondrous are his ways ! 
How firm his truth ! how large his grace ! 
He takes his mercy for his throne, 
And thence he makes his glories known. 

Not half so high his power hath spread 
The starry heavens above our head 
As his rich love exceeds our praise, 
Exceeds the highest hopes we raise. 

Not half so far has Nature placed 
The rising morning from the west 
As his forgiving grace removes 
The daily guilt of those he loves. 

How slowly doth his wrath arise ! 
On swifter wings salvation flies ; 
Or, if he lets his an^er burn, 
How soon his frowns to pity turn ! 



lYG. Thine earthly sabbaths, Lord, we love ; 
But there's a nobler rest above : 
To that our laboring souls aspire 
With ardent pangs of strong desire. 

No more fatigue, no more distress ; 
Nor sin nor hell shall reach the place ; 
No groans to mingle with the songs 
Which warble from immortal tongues ; 

No rude alarms of raging foes ; 
No cares to break the long repose ; 
No midnight shade, no clouded sun, 
But sacred, high, eternal noon. 

Thine earthly sabbaths, Lord, we love ; 
But there's a nobler rest above : 
To that our laboring souls aspire^ 
With ardent pangs of strong desire. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



499 



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Israel Holdrayd. 



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17'}'. Praises to Him whose love has given, 

In Christ, his Son, the Light of heaven ; 
Who for our darkness gives us light, 
And turns to day our deepest night. 

Praises to Him in grace who came 
To bear our woe and sin and shame ; 
Who lived to die, who died to rise, 
The God-accepted sacrifice. 

Praises to Him who sheds abroad 
Within our hearts the love of God ; 
The Spirit of all truth and peace, 
Fountain of joy and holiness. 

To Father, Son, and Spirit now 
The hands we lift, the knees we bow : 
To thee, Jehovah, thus we raise 
The sinner's endless song of praise. 



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High in the heavens, eternal God, 
Thy goodness in full glory shines : 

The truth shall break through every cloud 
That veils and darkens thy designs. 

Forever firm thy justice stands 

As mountains their foundations keep : 

Wise are the wonders of thine hands ; 
Thy judgments are a mighty deep. 

Thy providence is kind and large ; 

Both man and beast thy bounty share : 
The whole creation is thy charge ; 

But saints are thy peculiar care. 

My God, how excellent thy grace, 

Whence all our hope and comfort springs ! 

The sons of Adam, in distress, 
Fly to the shadow of thy wings. 



PLEYEL'S HYMN. 7s. 




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179. Softly fades the twilight ray 
Of the holy sabbath day, 
Gently as life's setting sun 
When the Christian's course is run. 

Night her solemn mantle spreads 
O'er the earth as daylight fades : 
All things tell of calm repose 
At the holy sabbath's close. 

Still the Spirit lingers near 
Where the evening worshipper 
Seeks communion with the skies, 
Pressing onward to the prize. 

Saviour, may our sabbaths be 
Days of peace and joy in thee, 
Till in heaven our souls repose, 
Where the sabbath ne'er shall close ! 



1§0. Morning breaks upon the tomb ; 
Jesus scatters all its gloom : 
Day of triumph through the skies ; 
See the glorious Saviour rise ! 

Christians, dry your flowing tears ; 
Chase those unbelieving fears ; 
Look on his deserted grave ; 
Doubt no more his power to save. 

Ye who are of death afraid, 
Triumph in the scattered shade ; 
Drive your anxious cares away ; 
See the place where Jesus lay ! 

So the rising sun appears, 
Shedding radiance o'er the spheres ; 
So returning beams of light 
Chase the terrors of the nicrht. 



500 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



HOLLEY. 7s. 



George Hews. 







l£LS? 









sllllilflliilll 



181. What though downy slumbers flee, 
Strangers to my couch anil me? 
Sleepless, well I know to rest, 
Lodged within my Father's breast. 

While the stars unnumbered roll 
Round the ever-constant pole, 
Far above these spangled skies 
All my soul to God shall rise, 

'Mid the silence of the night, 
Mingling with those angels bright, 
Whose harmonious voices raise 
Ceaseless love and ceaseless praise. 

Through the throng his gentle ear 
Shall my tuneless accents hear ; 
From on high doth he impart 
Secret comfort to my heart. 



182. 



Depth of mercy ! — can there be 
Mercy still reserved for me? 
Can my God his wrath forbear ? 
Me, the chief of sinners, spare ? 

I have long withstood his grace, 
Long provoked him to his face, 
Would not hearken to his calls, 
Grieved him by a thousand falls. 

There for me the Saviour stands, 
Shows his wounds, and spreads his hands : 
God is love ! I know, I feel ; 
Jesus weeps, but loves me still. 

Now incline me to repent ; 
Let me now my sins lament, 
Now my foul revolt deplore, 
Weep, believe, and sin no more. 



Tenderly. 



STEELE. L. M. 




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183. My dear Redeemer and my Lord, 
I read my duty in thy Word ; 
But in thy life the law appears, 
Drawn out in living characters. 

Such was thy truth, and such thy zeal, 
Such deference to thy Father's will, 
Such love, and meekness so divine, 
1 would transcribe and make them mine. 

Cold mountains and the midnight air 
Witnessed the fervor of thy prayer ; 
The desert thy temptations knew, 
Thy conflict, and thy victory too. 

Be thou my pattern ; make me bear 
More of thy gracious image here : 
Then God, the Judge, shall own my name 
Amongst the followers of the Lamb. 



184. O Lord ! how full of sweet content 
Our years of pilgrimage are spent ! 
Where'er we dwell, we dwell with thee, ■ 
In heaven, in earth, or on the sea. 

To us remains nor place nor time ; 
Our country is in every clime : 
We can be calm and free from care 
On any shore, since God is there. 

While place we seek, or place we shun, 
The soul finds happiness in none ; 
sBut, with our God to guide our way, 
'Tis equal joy to go or stay. 

;Could we be cast where thou art not, 
That were indeed a dreadful lot ; 
But regions none remote we call, 
Secure of finding God in all. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



501 



STONEFIELD. L. M. 



Stanley. 



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185. Through every age, eternal God, 
Thou art our rest, our safe abode : 
High was thy throne ere heaven was made, 
Or earth thy humble footstool laid. 

Long hadst thou reigned ere time began, 
Or dust was fashioned into man ; 
And long thy kingdom shall endure 
When earth and time shall be no more. 

Death, like an overflowing stream, 
Sweeps us away : our life's a dream ; 
An empty tale; a morning flower, 
Cut down and withered in an hour. 

Teach us, O Lord ! how frail is man, 
And kindly lengthen out our span, 
Till a wise care of piety 
Fit us to die, and dwell with thee. 



186. 



Great God, whose universal sway 
The known and unknown worlds obey, 
Now give the kingdom to thy Son, 
Extend his power, exalt his throne. 

As rain on meadows newly mown, 
So shall he send his influence down; 
His grace on tainting souls distils 
Like heavenly dew on thirsty hills. 

The heathen lands, that lie beneath 
The shade of overspreading death, 
Revive at his first dawning light, 
And deserts blossom at the sight. 

The saints shall flourish in his days, 
Dressed in the robes of joy and praise ; 
Peace, like a river, from his throne 
Shall flow to nations yet unknown. 



HORTON. 7s. 



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187. " Come," said Jesus' sacred voice. — 

" Come, and make my paths your choice : 
I will guide you to_ your home : 
Weary pilgrim, hither come ! 

" Thou who, houseless, sole, forlorn, 
Long hast borne the proud world's scorn, 
Long hast roamed the barren waste, 
Weary pilgrim, hither haste ! 

" Ye who, tossed on beds of pain, 
Seek for ease, but seek in vain ; 
Ye by fiercer anguish torn, 
In remorse for guilt who mourn, — 

" Hither come ! for here is found 
Balm that flows for every wound ; 
Peace that ever shall endure; 
Rest eternal, sacred, sure." 



188. Lord, we come before thee now ; 
At thy feet we humbly bow. 
Oh ! do not our suit disdain : 
Shall we seek thee, Lord, in vain ? 

Lord, on thee our souls depend : 
In compassion now descend, 
Fill our hearts with thy rich grace, 
Tune our lips to sing thy praise. 

Comfort those who weep and mourn ; 
Let the time of joy return ; 
Those who are cast down, lift up, 
Strong in faith, in love, and hope. 

Grant that all may seek and find 
Thee a God supremely kind : 
Heal the sick, the captive free ; 
Let us all rejoice in thee. 



502 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



NUREMBERG. 7s. 







1§9. 



Thine forever ! Lord of life, 
Shield us through our earthly strife ; 
Thou, the Life, the Truth, the Way, 
Guide us to the realms of day. 

Thine forever ! Oh, how blest 
They who find in thee their rest ! 
Saviour, Guardian, heavenly Friend, 
Oh ! defend us to the end. 

Thine forever ! Saviour, keep 
These thy frail and trembling sheep : 
Safe alone beneath thy care, 
Let us all thy goodness share. 

Thine forever ! — thou our Guide, 
All our wants by thee supplied, 
All our sins by thee forgiven, 
Led by thee from earth to heaven. 



190. Glory to the Father give, — 

God, in whom we move and live : 
Children's songs delight his ear ; 
Children's prayers he deigns to hear. 

Glory to the Son we bring, — 
Christ, our Prophet, Priest, and King: 
Children, raise your sweetest strain 
To the Lamb ; for he was slain. 

Glory to the Holy Ghost : 
He reclaims the sinner lost : 
Children's minds may he inspire, 
Touch their tongues with holy fire I 

Glory in the highest be 

To the blessed Trinity, 

For the gospel from above, 

For the word that " God is love." 



OLD HUNDRED. L. M. 







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191. Arm of the Lord, awake, awake ! 

Put on thy strength ; the nations shake ; 
And let the world, adoring, see 
Triumphs of mercy wrought by thee. 

Say to the heathen from thy throne, 
" I am Jehovah, God alone : " 
Thy voice their idols shall confound, 
And cast their altars to the ground. 

No more let human blood be spilt, 
Vain sacrifice for human guilt ; 
But to each conscience be applied 
The blood that flowed from Jesus' side. 

Almighty God, thy grace proclaim ; 
In every land declare thy name ; 
Let adverse powers before thee fall, 
And crown the Saviour Lord of all. 



192. New every morning is the love 

Our wakening and uprising prove ; 
Through sleep and darkness safely brought, 
Restored to life and power and thought. 

New mercies, each returning day, 

Hover around us when we pray; 

New perils past, new sins forgiven, 

New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven. 

If on our daily course our mind 
Be set to hallow all we find, 
New treasures still, of countless price, 
God will provide for sacrifice. 

Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be 
As more of heaven in each we see : 
Some softening gleam of love and prayer 
Shall dawn on every cross and care. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



503 



SOLNEY. 8s and 7s. 




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193. Tarry with me, O my Saviour ; 
For the day is passing by : 
See ! the shades of evening gather, 
And the night is drawing nigh. 

Deeper, deeper, grow the shadows ; 

Paler now the glowing west : 
Swift the night of death advances ; 

Shall it be the night of rest ? 

Feeble, trembling, fainting, dying, 
Lord, I cast myself on thee : 

Tarry with me through the darkness ; 
While I sleep, still watch by me. 

Tarry with me, O my Saviour ! 

Lay my head upon thy breast 
Till the morning ; then awake me, — 

Morning of eternal rest 1 



194. Gently, Lord, oh ! gently lead us 

Through this lonely vale of tears, 
Through the changes thou'st decreed us, 
Till our last great change appears. 

When temptation's darts assail us, 
When in devious paths we stray, 

Let thy goodness never fail us ; 
Lead us in thy perfect way. 

In the hour of pain and anguish, 
In the hour when death draws near, 

Suffer not our hearts to languish, 
Suffer not our souls to tear. 

And, when mortal life is ended, 

Bid us on thy bosom rest, 
Till, by angel-hands attended, 

We awake anions the blest. 



Spirited. 



MENDON. L. M. 




195. A little child the Saviour came ; 

The mighty God was still his name : 
And angels worshipped as he lay, 
The seeming infant of a day. 

He who, a little child, began 
The life divine to show to man, 
Proclaims from heaven the message free, — 
" Let little children come to Me." 

We bring them, Lord, and, with the sign 
Of sprinkled water, name them thine : 
Their souls with saving grace endow ; 
Baptize them with thy Spirit now. 

Oh ! give thine angels charge, good Lord, 
Them safely in thy way to guard ; 
Thy blessings on their lives command, 
And write their names upon thy hand. 



196. No change of time shall ever shock 
My firm affection, Lord, to thee ; 
For thou hast always been my rock, 
A fortress and defence to me. 

To thee I will address my prayer, 
To whom all praise we justly owe ; 

So shall I, by thy watchful care, 
Be guarded safe from every toe. 

Let the eternal Lord be praised, — 
The Rock on whose defence I rest ; 

To highest heavens His name be raised 
Who me with his salvation blest. 

My God, to celebrate thy fame, 

My grateful voice to heaven I'll raise ; 

And nations, strangers to thy name, 
Shall learn to sing thy glorious praise. 



504 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



AMERICA. National Hymn. 6s & 4s. 






3a 



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My country, 'tis of thee, 
Sweet land of liberty, 

Of thee I sing: 
Land where my fathers died, 
Land of the pilgrims' pride, 
From every mountain-side 

Let freedom ring. 



My native country, thee, 
Land of the noble free, 

Thy name I love; 
I love thy rocks and rills, 
Thy woods and templed hills ; 
My heart with rapture thrills 

Like that above. 



197. 

Let music swell the breeze, 
And ring from all the trees 

Sweet Freedom's song; 
Let mortal tongues awake ; 
Let all that breathe partake ; 
Let rocks their silence break, 

The sound prolong. 



Our fathers' God, to thee, 
Author of liberty, 

To thee we sing : 
Long may our land he bright 
With freedom's holy light 1 
Protect us by thy might, 

Great God, our King. 




SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER. 



Wji. B. Bradbury. 



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Sweet hour of prayer 1 
That calls me from a world of care, 
And bids me at my Father's throne 
Make all my wants and wishes known. 
In seasons of distress and grief, 
My soul has often found relief, 
And oft escaped the tempter's snare, 
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer ! 



198. 

Sweet hour of prayer 1 
Thy wings shall my petition hear 
To Him whose truth and faithfulness 
Engage the waiting soul to bless; 
And since he bids me seek his face, 
Believe his word, and trust his grace, 
I'll cast on him my every care, 
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer 1 



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Sweet hour of prayer I 
May I thy consolation share. 
Till from Mount Pisgah's lofty height 
I view my home, and take my flight! 
This robe of flesh I'll drop, and rise 
To seize the everlasting prize; 
And shout, while passing through the air, 
" Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer I " 



ROCK OF AGES. 7s. 







Dr. T. Hastings. 
D.C. 



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Rock of ages, cleft for me. 

Let me hide myself in thee ; 

Let the water and the blood 

From thy wounded side that flowed 

Be of sin the perfect cure ; 

Save me, Lord, and make me pure. 



199. 

Should my tears forever flow, 
Should my zeal no languor know, 
This for sin could ne'er atone : 
Thou must save, and thou alone. 
In my hand no price I bring; 
Simply to thy cross I cling. 



While I draw this fleeting breath, 
When mine eyelids close in death, 
When I rise to worlds unknown, 
And behold thee on thy throne, 
Rock of ages, cleft for me, 
Let me hide myself in thee. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



505 



Words by (V.) 



WELCOME HOUR OF PRAYER. 

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Wii. B. Bradbury. 



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When softly o'er the distant hills 

The beams of morning break. 
When Nature breathes her choral hymn, 

My cheerful heart shall wake : 
My strength renewed, my soul refreshed, 

I'll bless a Father's care, 
And hail with pure and holy joy 

The welcome hour of prayer. 



200. 

When, like a giant in his course, 

The glorious orb of light, 
Ascending in the radiant sky, 

Has readied his noonday height, 
From earthly scenes I'll turn away 

To bless a Father's care, 
And hail with pure and holy joy 

The welcome hour of prayer. 



When slowly fades the silent eve 

Beneath the glowing west, 
And tranquil thoughts of heavenly peace 

Within my bosom rest, 
For all the mercies of the day 

I'll bless a Father's care. 
And hail with pure and holy joy 

The welcome hour of prayer. 



Allegro. 



ITALIAN HYMN. 6s and 4s. 



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Come, thou Almighty King I 
Help us thy name to sing; 

Help us to praise : 
Father all-glorious, 
O'er all victorious. 
Come and reign over us, 

Ancient of days. 



201. 

Jesus, our Lord, arise ; 
Scatter our enemies; 

Now make them fall : 
Let thine almighty aid 
Our sure defence be made. 
Our souls on thee be stayed : 

Lord, hear our call. 



Come, thou incarnate Word, 
Gird on thy mighty sword; 

Our prayer attend : 
Come, and thy people bless ; 
Come, give thy word success : 
Spirit of holiness, 

On us descend. 



CHRISTMAS. C. M. Double. 



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202. 



While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 

All seated on the ground, 
An angel of the Lord came down, 

And glory shone around. 

" Fear not," said he (for mighty dread 
Had seized their troubled mind) : 

" Glad tidings of great joy I bring 
To you and all mankind. 



" To you, in David's town, this day, 

Is born of David's line 
The Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord ; 

And this shall be the sign : — 

" The heavenly Babe you there shall find 

To human view displayed, 
All meanly wrapped in swathing-bands, 

And in a mancrer laid." 



508 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



Melody from the GERMAN, 
May be sung as a Solo. 



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COME, BROTHERS, ONWARD. 



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2. Come, venture 

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come, without de - lay : Je - sus, the Saviour, cries, "I am the way." 
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warfare here be - gun ; Fight till the prize is gained, The vict'ry won: 



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Come, join the happy throng: We're hast'ning on to heav'n, Where endless praise is giv'n In one glad song. 
No more in darkness roam, But Jesus' aid implore: He calls from yonder shore, " Children, come home." 
Then with the happy blest, In yonder heavenly hoine,~Where all the lov'd ones come, Safe - ly we'll rest. 



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OUR HOME SONG. 



HENRY TUCKER. 



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Our hearts are ver - y joy - ful in our hap - py home to-day. 
\ We'll never be discouraged, but we'll la - bor while we may, 
C. His gracious ear will listen while be - fore his throne we bend, 
( While many precious blessings he has scattered in our way, 
I For those who sit in darkness we must not forget to pray, 
j Our will-ing voices mingle in our happy home so dear, 
j We know that God is with us when we meet togeth - er here, 

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our cheerful song to-geth - er ; 
our cheerful song to-geth - er ; 
our cheerful song to-geth - er ; 
our cheerful song to-geth - er ; 
our cheerful song to-geth - er ; 
our cheerful song to-geth - er ; 
our cheerful song to-geth - er ; 
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SUFFER THEM TO COME. 



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1. Saviour,may a little child Through thy grace be reconcil-ed, Who can feel, indeed, within, 

2. Yes: tbou saidst,and that's my plea, "Suffer them to come to me ; Turn no lit - tie child away; 

3. Saviour, to thine arms I fly, Ere my childhood passes by ; In thy fear my years be passed, 



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Much of e - vil, much of sin ? Who can feel, indeed, within, Much of e- vil.much of sin? 

Heaven is filled with such as they. Turn no lit - tie child a-way;Heaven is filled with such as they." 

Whether first, or midst, or last; In thy fear my years be passed, Whether first,or midst, or last. 

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HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



507 



MORNING SONG. 



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blessings that we share In such a land a: 

that a Sav - iour came To bid our guilt 1 

eel - e - brate his praise With ev - ery fleet - in. 



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SOFTLY SHE FADED. 



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1. Softly she faded, As fades the twilight: Sweetly she murmured, ''Dear friends, adieu! There is no shadow, All,all,is peaceful, 
2. Gently beside her Sad tears were falling, Softly around her Strong arms were thrown, Fondly she whispered, 'Weep not for me, My 
3. Joys of the future,Home with her Saviour, When all is peaceful,Forevermore, Smiling and cheerful, Lisped she at parting," 



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Bright o'er the river Heav'n is in view. ' So'twas she faded.As fades the twilight,So'twas she murmured, 'Dear friends, adieu !' 
Saviour is here.And I'm going home.' So'twas she faded, As fades the twilight, So 'twas she murmured, 'I'm going home.' 
'Come to the Saviour, Jesus says come.' So'twas she faded,As fades the twilight,So'twas she murmured, 'Jesus says come.' 

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THE HOUR OF PRAYER. L. M. 




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1. When morn - ing dawns with 

2. When the bright sun has 

3. And still shall prayer be 



glo - rious light, And 
sunk to rest Be 
my delight, At 



sun - beams make my cham - ber bright, 
neath the o - cean's heav - ing breast, 
morn - ing, noon, and dark - some night, 

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All things a - round look calm and fair ; For 'tis the ho 

I love the shades that then ap - pear ; For 'tis the ho 

Till death shall end my hap - py days, And prayer be lost 



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508 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



BE A CHRISTIAN WHILE YOUR'E YOUNG. 

A. A. GRALEY. From " Happy Voices," by permission. 

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1. Oh ! won't you be a Christian While you're young? Oh ! won't you be a Christian While you're young ? Don't 

2. Oh .'won't you love the Saviour While you're young ? Ohhvon't you love the Saviour While you're young ? For 

3. Kemember, death may find you While you're young ; Remember, death may find you While you're young : For 

4. Oh! walk the path to glory While you're young ; Oh! walk the path to glory While you're young; For 

5. Then won'tyou be a Christian While you're young ? Then won't you be a Christian 'While you're young? Why 

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think it will be better To de - lay it un -til la - ter, But remember your Cre-a - tor While you're young. 

you he left his glory, And embraced a cross so gory : Won't you heed the melting story While you're young ? 

friends are often weeping, And the stars their watch are keeping, O'er the grassy graves where sleeping Lie the young. 

Jesus will befriend you, And from danger will defend you, And a peace divine will send you, While you're young. 

from the future borrow, When,ere comes another morrow, You may weep in endless sorrow, While you're young? 



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OH! WE ARE VOLUNTEERS. 

From " The Silver Chime," hy permission. 
Not too Fast. 7 — Four to each measure. 

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GEO. F. ROOT. 



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1. Oh! we are vol - unteers in the ar - my of the Lord, Forming in - to line at our Captain's word: 

2. The glo - ry of our flag is the emblem of the dove; Gleaming are our swords from the forge of love : 

3. Our foes are in the field, pressing hard on eve • ry side: En - vy, an - ger, ha - tred,with self and pride. 

4. Oh [glorious is the struggle in which we draw the sword; Glorious is the kingdom of Christ, our Lord: 



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AV^e are under marching or - ders to take the battle-field, And we'll ne'er give o'er the fight till the foe shall yield. 
We go forth, but not to bat - tie for earthly honors vain;'Tis a bright immortal crown that we seek to gain. 
They are cruel, fierce, and strong,ever ready to attack : We must watch and fight and pray,If we'd drive them back. 
It shall spread from sea to sea, It shall reach from shore to shore, And his people shall be blessed for evermore. 






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Come and join the ar - my, the ar - my of the Lord: Jesus is our Captain; we ral -ly at his word. 




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Lead-er we are sure to win. 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



509 



PRAISE THE GIVER OF ALL. 

SUITABLE FOE A FESTIVAL. 



WM. F. SHEITWIN. 



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1. Let us mingle our voices in chorus 

2. There is joy in the sunbeam that sparkles 

3. Let us join the glad music, and joyful 



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so bright, And calls the young blossoms to welcome the light ; 
ll - ly raise, In purest de - vo - tion,our ju - bi - lant praise : 

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The sweetness of thy soft, low voice, I am too deaf to hear. 
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But when I sleep, thou sleepest not, But watch -est pa - tient - ly. 

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HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



NATIONAL. 



s and joyous. 




Words and Music by Dr. HASTINGS. 



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1. How 

2. Tho' 

3. Let 

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swift - ly the years have heen roll - ing 

few now re - main who were ear - ly 

teachers with par - ents and children 

may the rich dews of the Spir - it 



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In founding the fab - 
In songs of thanks-giv 
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sped Since first the bright U - nion we cher - ish 

love, Full ma - ny its blessings have rich - ly 

praise ; Re - count - ing God's bless - ing with ho • ly 

own, Till con - verts un - numbered our tem - pies 



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to - day Its banners to en - terprise led. 

enjoyed, And gone to their mansions above, 

delight, A - dor - ing his works and his ways, 

shall fill, The Prince of sal - va - tion to crown. 



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its ju - bi - lee hail 

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OUR HEARTS ARE YOUNG AND JOYOUS. 




WM. B. BRADBURY. 



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hearts are young and joy - ous ; 'Tis spring-time with us now : The dew of life's bright 

can we e'er for - get Him Who is so good and kind ? No : rath - er would we 

know the harps of heav - en Would sound a glad - der strain, " There's joy a - mong the 

when up - on our foreheads The sil - ver locks shall fall, Or ear - ly comes the 

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morn - ing Is fresh 
love him With all 
an - gels," When one 

sha - dow, Which comes 



up - on 
our heart 
re - pents 
a - like 
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each brow. 

and mind. 

of sin. 

to all ; 



The world to us seems pleas 

But we can nev - er love 

Oh ! help us then, dear Sav - 

Still safe up - on thy bo - 



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him 

iour, 

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love its joys to share. God, in his ten - der kind - ness, Hath made it ver - y fair. 

til our hearts are clean : The precious blood of ' Je - sus Must wash them first from sin. 

give our hearts to thee : Let us, in youth's glad morn - ing, Thy loved dis - ci - pies be. 

spir - its shall re • cline, And, 'mid the joys of heav - en, We shall be ev - er thine. 



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HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



511 



SUNDAY-SCHOOL VOLUNTEER SONG. 



To the Leader. — The effect of this piece will be heightened by singing the first part responsively. 
Words written for this work. WM. B. BRADBURY. 

In marching movement. 




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, I AVe are marching on with shield and banner bright;We will work for God, and battle for the right ; We will 

/In the Sunday school our ax- my we prepare, As we ral - ly round our blessed standard there, And the 

D.C. We are marching onward, singing as we go, To the promised land, where living waters flow ; Come and 

r, ) We are marching on : our Captain, ev - ernear, Will protect us still; His gen- tie voice we hear : Let the 

i* Then awake, a - wake, our happy, happy soDg, We will shout for joy, and glad - ly march along ; In the 

o S We are marching on the strait and narrow way That will lead to life and ev - er - last-ing day, To 

' I We are marching on and pressing toward the prize, To a glorious crown beyond the glowing skies, To 

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praise his name,rejoicing in his might, And well work tillJe - sus calls. ) Then awake, 
Saviour's cross we early learn to bear, While we work tillJe - sus calls, j 
join our ranks as pilgrims here below, Come and work tillJe - sus calls. 

foe advance, we 11 never, ne -ver fear,For we'll work till Je - sus calls. ) 
Lord of hosts let every heart be strong, While we'll work tillJe- sus calls. J 
smiling fields that never will decay ; But we'll work till Je - sus calls. ) 
radiant fields where pleasure never dies, And we'll work till Jesus calls. S 



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ly march a 



happy song, happy song, Shout for joy, shout for joy, As we glad - ly march a • long. 



THE SAVIOUR'S LOVE. 



duet. Moderato. 



LESTA VESE. 




1. Soft be 

2. Soft as 

3. Pure as 

4. Pure as 






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Be eve - ry sigh your bo 

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To Him who bled up - on 



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512 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SOMETHING TO DO IN HEAVEN. 



Words by R. S. TAYLOR. 

25. — Two to each measure. 



WM. B. BRADBURY. 



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There'll be something in heaven for children to do ; None are i - die in that blessed land : 

There'll be lessons to learn of the wisdom of God As they wander the green meadows o'er; 
There'll be errands of love from the mansions a - bove To the dear ones that lin - ger be - low ; 

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There'll be loves for the heart. there'll be thoughtsfor the mind, And employment for each lit - tie hand. 

And they'll have for their teachers in that blest a - bode All the good that have gone there be - fore. 
And it may be our Father the children will send To be an - gels of mer-cy in woe. 

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There 11 be something to do, There'll be something to do, There'll be something for children to 
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THE ROYAL PROCLAMATION. 

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I ( Hear the roy - al proclamation, The glad tid - ings of sal - va - tion, ) 

' I Pub - lishing to every creature, To the ruined sons of Nature, )Je - sus reigns, Jesus reigns, Jesus reigns, 
> J See the roy - al banner flying, Hear the heralds loudly cry - ing, j 

'■ /" Reb - el sinners ! roy -al favor Now is of-feredby the Saviour :" I Je - sus reigns, Jesus reigns, Jesus reigns, 
, 5 Shout, ye tongues of every nation. To the bounds of the ere - a - tion ; j 

I Shout the praise of Judah s Lion,The Al - migh-ty Prince of Zi - on. I Je - sus reigns, Jesus reigns, Jesus reigns, 
( Shout, ye saints.make joyful men tion, Christ hath purchased our redemption; 1 
( An-gels,shout the pleas-ing sto-ry Thro' the brighter worlds of glo - ry, I Je - sus reigns, Jesus reigns,Jesus reigns, 



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Je - sus reigns; he reigns vic-torious, O - ver heaven ana earth most glorious; Jesus reigns, Jesus reigns, Jesus reigns ! 

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HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



513 



GUIDE US, SAVIOUR. 



8th P. M. 




1. God has said, "For- ev - er bless - ed Those who seek me in their youth : They shall find the 

2. Be oar strength, for we are weakness; Be our wisdom and our guide: May we walk in 

3. May thy watch-f ul an - gels hov - er Round us when there's e - vil near ! May we hide be - 

4. And when Death at last o'er - takes us, And we sink beneath his might, May that bless - ed 

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path of 
love and 
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meekness, Near - er 
cov - er Of thy 
wake us, Safe in 



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nar - row way of truth." Guide us, Sav - iour, Guide us, Sav - iour, In the 

to our Sav-iour's side ! Nought can harm us, Nought can harm us, While we 

wings in time of fear ! And in sor - row, And in sor - row, Comfort 

yon - der realms of light ; There for -ev - er, There for-ev - er, Chant thy 

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nar -row way of truth; Guide us, Sav - iour, Guide us, Sav - iour, In the nar - row way of truth, 
thus in thee a - bide ; Nought can harm us, Nought can harm us, While we thus in thee a- bide. 
our sad hearts,and cheer; And in sor - row, And in sor - row, Comfort our sad hearts, and cheer, 
praise with angels bright; There for-ev - er, There for-ev - er, Chant thy praise with an -gels bright! 



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"Words by Mrs. M. A. KIDDER. 
SOLO or DUET. 



HAPPY FESTAL DAY. 



Music by Mrs. PARKHTJRST. 



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1. Happy, hap - py fes - tal 

2. Let the joy - ful mu - sic 

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flay, 

eve, When with joy - ous hearts we meet, And with- in these 

float Soft - ly through the charm-ed air, While we join the 
eve ! Light-some hearts are here to - night ; Pleasant smiles and 

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cheerful walls 
ro - sy feast 
sparkling eyes 



Lov - ing friends and teach - ers greet ! Let us spend a 

Spread be - fore us sweet and fair. God has given his 

Meet us full of love and light. Let us sing our 

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pleas - ant hour 
chil - dren all 
fes - tal songs 

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Free from world - ly guile or art ; For we know our Fa - ther love?, Dear - ly loves, a cheer- ful heart. 
That a lov - ing hand could do; Fragrant flowers in field and wood, And the wholesome ber - ries too. 
Like the mer - ry birds in spring, While our praise to God a3 - cends,And our hap-py voi - ee? ring. 

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514 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



Slow and rjentle. 



JESUS OUR SHEPHERD. 



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1. Je - sus is our Shepherd, wip - ing ev - ery tear: Folded in his bo - sora, what have we to fear ? 

2. Je - sus is our Shepherd: well we know his voice: How its gentlest whis-per makes our hearts re-joice ! 

3. Je - sus is our Shepherd; for the sheep he bled : Ev-ery lamb is sprinkled with the blood he shed. 

4. Je - sus is our Shepherd: guid ed by his arm,Tho' the wolves may ra - ven, none can do us harm ; 




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let us fol - low whither 
E - ven when it chid - eth, tender is 
Then on each he set - teth his own se 
"When we tread death's val-ley, dark with fear-ful gloom, We will 

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he doth lead, To the thirs-ty des - 
its tone : None but he shall guide 
cret sign : They that have my Spir 



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ert or the dew-y mead. 

us; we are his a-lone. 

it, these (saith be) are mine, 
vil, vie - tors o'er the tomb. 

... N t\ ' N 'h 

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WE ARE COMING, BLESSED SAVIOUR. 

Words by MRS. LYDIA BAXTER. From the "Golden Censer.' 



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1. We are coming, blessed Saviour; We hear thy gentle voice : We would be thine for ev-er. And in thy love rejoice. 

2. AVe are coming, blessed Saviour, Our Father's house we see : A glorious mansion ev-er For children young as we. 

3. We are coming, blessed Saviour, That happy home isours:Ifhere we gam thy favor, We'll reach those fragrant bow'rs. 

4. AVe are coming, blessed Saviour, To crown our Jesus King, And then with angels ev-er His praises we will sing. 



FULL CHORUS. 






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AA r e are coming, we are coming, we are coming.blessed Saviour, AVe are coming, we are coming, AA 7 e hear thy gentle voice. 
AVe are coming, we are coming, we are coming.blessed Saviour, AVe are coming,we are coming, Our Father s house we see. 
AVe are coming, we are coming, we are coining, blessed Saviour, AVe are coming, we are coming, Thathappy home is ours. 
AVe are coming, we are coming, we are coming, blessed Saviour, AVe are coming, we are coming, To crown our Jesus King. 
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OUR HOME WITH JESUS. 
SOLO. CHORUS. SOLO. 



T. E. PERKINS. 



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1. My heav-en-ly home is bright and fair; AVe 11 be gathered home: 

2. Its glittering towers the sun outshine ; AAVll be gathered home 

3. My Fa - ther's house is built on high;AVe'll be gathered home : 



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Nor death, nor sighing, vis - it there : 
That heavenly mansion shall be mine : 
A - bove the arched and star-ry sky : 



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CHOR US ^ 

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We'll be gathered home, We'll wait till Je-sus comes, We'll wait till Jesus comes, We'll wait till Jesus comes, And we'll be gathered home. 




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HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



515 



Modi-rato. 



WHAT CAN A LITTLE CHILD DO? 



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|.l | CYes. 

1. What can a lit - tie child like me To hon - or Je - sus do ? I think I would 

2. I can - not preach his ho - ly Word, Nor alms a - bun - dant give, That heathen souls 

3. "What can a lit - tie child, then, do To hon - or Je - sus' name ? He can be - lieve 

4. The lit - tie tract, the gos - pel seed, His hands may scat - ter wide; And this shall tell 

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Cliristian be, — A faithful Christian too. 

know the Lord, W'ho died that they might live ; 

gos - pel true, And own his guilt with shame. 

Christ did bleed, And why for us he died. 



— I— # « a o ' — '— — *- 



Then tell me 
No oil have 
He can be - 
Then lift - ing 



how to hon - or God; To 

I for Je - sus' head, No 

lieve in Cal - va - ry; That 

lit - tie hands to pray, Where 



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shine as doth the star, Which sends its charming beams a-broad To bless the night from far. 

perfumes rare and sweet, No box of al - a - bas - ter made To break a - bove his feet. 

Je - sus died and rose ; And still to truth o - be - dient be, Who - ev - er may op - pose, 

none but God can see, The lit - tie child will find the way How he can use- ful be. 
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. "Words from the " Golden Shower," by permission. 



THE BEAUTIFUL LAND. 
Suitable for S. S. Concerts and Anniversaries. 




Music in part by W. C. (K7LVER. 



— — * — <—\ — S-i — 2 i-H — ' ■ — • — < '— i 

J *— 9— «-=• =^^= M-J-l 1 f— g— I 



1. There's a beau - ti - ful land, where flow - ers ev - er 

2. In the beau - ti - ful land the chil - dren ne'er grow 

3. In the beau - ti - ful land our Sa - viour we shall 

4. But the beau - ti - ful land is not for chil-dren a ■ 



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bloom, — A land 

old : On ev 

see, And hear his words of 

lone : There's room e - nough for 



all filled with 
ery lit - tie 



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o - dors rare, of sweet and rich per ■ 

head is placed a crown of shin - ing 

welcome, "Lit - tie chil -dren, come to 

ev - ery one a - round the Father's 



fume ; 

gold; 

me." 

throne. 



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And, when life's journey's end - ed, good 

A harp, tuned by an an - gel, in 

Then round his throne in glo - ry with 

Then join us, friends and par - euts, and 

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children there will stand 

ev - ery lit - tie hand : 

crowns and harps we'll stand, 

take us by the hand : 

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With white-robed saints in glo - ry 

They'll sing God s praise for-ev - er 

And praise the Lamb for - ev - er 

We'll journey on to - geth - er 



to 



that beau-ti - ful 

that beau-ti - ful 

that beau-ti - ful 

that beau-ti - ful 







516 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME.' 

STEPHEN C. FOSTER. 



T) UE T. A ska the questions. 
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1. What did our Lord and Sa - viour 

2. What did He say who from a - 

3. What were the words of Him who 

4. What did He say whose spir - it 

5. If on his mer - cy we re 
Instrumental. ' 

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When oth-ers wished to drive 
Came down to teach us kind - 

Nailed to the cross with thorns 
Hope to the liv • ing, life 

What will his words be when 

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us a - way? 
ness and love ? 

on his head ? 

to the dead? 
we die ? 

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SUNDAY-SCHOOL FESTIVAL-SONG. 



„ Not too fast. 


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CHESTER G. ALLEN. 

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1. We gath-er once more in our plensant 

2. How precious the lessons of wisdom 

3. Cre - a - tor, Re - deem-er, and Father 

4. And when we shall meet in that beau -ti - 

IS S S N \ S n ~ e ~ '^~ 

cv--|-|i- a fM ® tf $ t * p- ! 

l^ifJ^T^ " — ! 3'~ *2 ^ ^ : R *- 


re - treat ; And, cheerful - ly 
and truth That lead us to 

di - vine, For all our en - 
ful land, With spir-its made 

-a- k —''- -B- 

p> jV/» i- i- 

p P-Cp p w 

— ^ — 


smiling, each 
God in the 
joyments the 
per - feet in 
-P -ft- -*- 

t t — t : 

— — — 0— 


" r 

oth - er we greet. The 
days of our youth ! How 
glo - ry be thine. Thus 
glo - ry to stand, When 
p- p- .p. -p. 

:->— ^— *— t 2--T 

:_b_p_^_» b-| 




■* — } — * % rf — a — 



¥ 

sunshine of pleasure beams bright on our way : Oh hap-py re - turn of our 
pleasant to sing of the land of the blest ! — A home where the wea-ry for - 
far thou hast led us, and guarded our way : Oh! crown with thy blessings our 
a - ges unnumbered shall cir - cle a - way, We'll welcome e - ter - ni - ty's 



~4 — 1 — *~ 



_o s & 



j/ — i/ — ^ — ^ — 



-*- -*- -o- 

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Z_ -r z -f- -P- -*- 



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t=t: 



—¥- 



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f es - ti - val - day ! 
ev - er shall rest, 
f es - ti - val - day. 
f es - ti - val - day. 

■4- — w 1 

:I=b=p=b=b = :! 



CHORUS. 

=PZT=P=^S-HS~^ 

_ — __ I 1 — 0, 1 - 

*a ^ di /tf — 

-¥. 



¥ 9 ¥ 

Glad - ly we ren - der our 






tribute 



of 
-0-- 



praise ; 



. . -0- -P- m_^z -P- -P- -»~ - . 

|=p:i_p p — a — ? — £— I-i: — J= c p:iL_ 



Glad - ly in chorus our 
_p_. _p. -p_ 



vol - ces we raise ; 




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* — — — a—f— g — a — p— ^ — -N — n 5 — m 5 — ! — p — •« — ^— F- s — p — a 3-r^ - 

P r -i- -#- ^ ^ r 



Pas -tor and teachers, we joy - ful - ly say, "All 



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hail to our Sunday-school f es - ti - val - day ! " 
a_ _p_ _«,_ _p_ . 

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1 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



517 



THE HEAVENLY LAND. 

"A better country; that is, a heavenly." — Heb. xi. 16. 
Tico to rack measure. 

: i _4___4 s=rte=&cz±i 








love to think of the heaven - ly land, 'Where white - robed an - 

love to think of the heaven - ly land, Where my Re - deem - er 

love to think of the heaven - ly land, The saints' e - ter - nal 

love to think of the heaven - ly land; The greetings there well 

love to think of the heaven - ly land, That promised land so 



reigns ; 
home ; 
meet; 
fair. 



'-0 — p — — f_i: 

-i e> H 1 — +- 



E=tEEE= 



#- 



V — ■>—, 



3— -"- 

Where 

Where 

Where 

The 

Oh, 

f_— ft— 
1 r 



many a'' friend is gathered 



REFRAIN. 



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safe From fear 
iap - turous songs of tri - umph rise In end - 
palms and robes and crowns ne'er fade, And all 
harps, the song's, for - ev - er ours; The walks 
how my raptured spir - it longs To be 



9EE 



E 



and 
less, 
our 
the 
for - 

-0- 

f — -F-- 
p p— 



-m— 0— 3-+— i-~ — 

toil and care. 

joy - ous strains. 

joys are one. 

gol - den streets 

ev - er there! 

-P- -0 

-P 
-o 

-h 



:E 



-b=:l x 



There'll 
There'll 
There'll 
There'll 
There'll 



be 
be 
be 
be 
be 



no 
no 
no 
no 
no 




fa 



fca? 



—-0 ■^TZJ-^^—f J ^^—ZpC—Z 

9 — I — «■ hirf—. d—\ — I—; — d 1- — ' — 



part - ing, There'll be 






— e_ 



no part - ing, There '11 be 






1 






no part - ing, There'll be no part 

-f-i-r*- 5 — P C-r, n H— 



1_ 

-0- 

ing there. 



i@=a 



"WE LIFT OUR TUNEFUL VOICES. 




mf Cheerfully. 



(Picnic Song.) 
KARL K.E.DEN. 



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^ 



s<- 



C ill !-«-; § % % f 



In fresh me - lo - dious song, ,> And, 



We lift our tune-ful voices now 

While youth - f ul eyes with pleasure glow To see our hap - py thron; 

o S And ye who join the swelling lay, Sweet mel - o - dies em - ploy ) 

' \ To cheer us on our upward way, And praises blend with joy. J 



as we send 



3~ 

our 



Our teach - ers kind, whose 



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33 



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greeting to The breezes soft and mild, Let waves of cheerful praises flow From pure hearts un-dofiled. 
constant care We hon-or and approve, Let smiles, which all our fa - ces wear, Reward your works of love. 

0- \ k m m -©- -0- -»-" -0- -0- -0- -0 - - 0- -0- K N „ 



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f CHORUS. 



Repeat, pp 







Tra, la, tra, la, la, la, tra, la, tra, la, la, la, tra, la,la, la, la, la, la, la,la, tra, la,la, la, la. 
l£» 0- -0- . e s -0'- 0-0-0 0- -0 Z , Kl fe J 

J ^ — i L i^- i^-i^ — ^ — A — A- L n — ^ 



BiiES^0=*EPES=f 









518 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



Not too fast. 
~-s£Zmf— 



GENTLE WORDS. 



LESTA VESE. 






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3 — 4- — ! — 



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1. The sun may warm the grass to life, The dew the droop - ing 

2. But words that breathe of ten - der - ness, And smiles we know are 

3. They fall like gen - tie sum-mer - rain On parched and thirs - ty 

4. Bright smiles are like the morn - ing sun Shin - ing with ra - diant 

. . -»- -0- -0- 

*~T—~ — i — - » — r ! - i t— p 



flower; 

true, 
ground, 
light: 



gr-# = " ,/ ' : ^ = i=^= = - 




9 



The eyes grow bright, and watch 

Are warm - er than the sum ■ 

Such words none ev - er speak 

Kind words, when heard from an - 
-e 



v- 



the light Of Au - tumn's o - pening 

mer - time, And bright - er than the 

in vain : How sweet their thrill-ing 

y one, "Will make some life more 

~-0 



hour: 

dew. 

sound ! 

bright. 



:<?: 



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THE BEAUTIFUL WAY. 



, FANNY. 



1. Beau - ti - f ul way, hallowed and blest, Lead - ing us home to 

2. Soft - ly a voice mur - murs with -in, "Turn from the world and 

3. Beau - ti - ful way, peace - f ul and bright, Gent - ly from E - den 

4. Beau - ti - ful way, glad - ly we sing ; Praise and thanksgiv - ing 

-l-i==p:t==^=d^tp==fc 



CHESTER G. ALLEN. 



lil 



a man - sion of rest : 

the pleas - ures of sin ; 

re - fleet - ing its light ; 

to Je - sus we bring : 

.0 Q- -0- -.0- -0 , 




Wis - dom de - clares, " Hap - py 

Come and re - joice ; why will 

Cheerful the beam, tran - quil 

Still may his love teach us 



4| 



-#-- r~#-- T-0 



are they, 
ye stay? 
the ray, 
to pray, 
-0... ..0-. 

_v:±.,*_t_ 



Walk - ing 
Walk in 
Guid - ing 
Help us 



— 

with God in the beau - ti 

the shin - ing, the beau - ti 

the soul in the beau - ti 

to walk in the beau - ti 



II 



:e; 



Zf2TZtl 



ful way." 
ful way." 
ful way. 
ful way ! 

-ft- -0-. 



V-- 



KHi 



MORNING WALKS. 



SWEDISH MELODY. 




! r l 

, / A - wake from your slum - ber, and 
>■ Through mead-ows and for - ests and 



come with 
wood - lands 
The wood - lands are filled with sweet breath from 




trr - ing, our 

chasms, with 

tree - tops, the 



spir - its 
wings to 
heav - ens 



a 

a - 
the 
are 
our 

to 



song i 

long : t 

sky; i 

high. } 

feet ; \ 

greet. J 



The birds sing to 



The town 
No oak 



at 
of 



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the 



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ve\ - come the morn - ing and you, And sip their first break - fnst of 
backs, and the mown - tains in view, What joy is a - wait - ing your 
for - est for us is too high : The far - ther from earth we are, 



mmm 



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cy. -h-0- — — -0 — t 



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new - fall - en dew. 
com - rades and you ! 
near - er the sky. 

i 



HOME-WORSHIP FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. 



519 



SING HALLELUJAH. 



a 



Words from the " Polyphonic," by permission. 



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1. "We are on the o- cean sail - ing; Homeward bound we sweet-ly glide ; We are on the o- cean, 

2. Come on board ; oh ! ship for glo - ry ; Be in haste ; make up your mind : For our vessel's weighing 

3. You have kindred o - ver yon - der, On that bright and happy shore : By and by we'll swell the 

4. "When we all are safe - ly land - ed, We will shout our tri - als o'er ; We will walk a - bout the 






EM : 



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CHORUS. 



ff -# ■3.-3R — g^-Fg^? I n^ — S^-^-t-s— *— 5-FSiS- = l == « := «'- : »- :-*— »— Z-Fs-^^^Trf-t 

II _ ^* 5-tf 1 '- — i- --5 — tf — j*' 1 a — ^ — — — - - — i *— i-'-^-A 4 — s — " — - — i 1 K_u« a — £ — 5—4- 



sail - ing To a home beyond the tide. All the storms will soon be over; Then we'll anchor safe in harbor. We are 
anchor ; You will soon be left behind. All the storms will soon be over,Then well anchor safe in harbor. We are 
number, When the toils of life are o'er. All the storms will soon be over, Then we'll anchor safe in harbor. We are 
ci - ty, And we'll sing forev-er-more. All the storms of life are o -ver, Landed in a port of glo-ry ; No more 

-0- -» — *- ' -p- -»- -?~ -»- -#-- -*~ -»-• " 



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VK/rt spirit. 


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on the ocean, 
on the ocean 


t*i«=$: 

sailing 
sailing, 


— # — #-L#— -■ — # — i- 
To a home beyond the 

Safe at home beyond the 

' s ^ . .-*- . 

— L L-fT tzzp p 


-©— ' 

tide, 
tide. 


hi-*— s-hf 5=5±^!_fzzt*_ 

Where we'll sing halle - lu - jah, sing 
Last verse. 
And we'll sing halle - lu - jah, sing 

-0- -#- -#- -# »- 

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hal -le 
hal -le - 

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lu - jah, 
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Sing halle - lu-jah to God and the Lamb,Sing halle-lu - jah, sing hal-le-lujah,Sing hallelujah to God and the Lamb! 



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THE GRACIOUS CHOICE. 




E. ROBERTS. 



h — Nr-h — S J> 



p=a-i _«itpz=zz=i=z 

H *-T "#-•-• 







1. Come,children, join to sing, Hal - le - lu - jah ! A -men! Loud praise to Christ our King,Hallelujah! A- 

2. Come,lift your hearts on high, Hal - le - lu - jah! A -men! Let praises fill the sky, Hal-le - lu -jah! A- 

3. Praise yet the Lord a-gain, Hal - le - lu - jah ! A - men ! Life shall not end the strain,Halle - lu -jah ! A - 

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men! L/et all with heart and voice Before his throne rejoice; Praise is his gracious choice, Hallelujah! A - men. 

men! He is our guide and friend; To us he'll con -descend; His love shall never encLHal-le - lu-jah! A - men. 

men! On heaven's blissful shore His goodness we'll adore; Singing for-ev - er more, Hal-le - lu-jah! A- men. 

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INDEX. 



Genesis. 
i. 1-19 . 
i. 26-31 
ii. 18-24 
iii. 17-24 
iv. 3-15 
vi. 1-8 . 
vi. 13-22 
vii. 1, 7-12, 23. 2 
viii. 1-12 
viii. 15-22 
ix. 8-17 
xi. 1-9 . 
xii. 1-8 . 
xii. 10-20 
xiii. 1-13 
xiv. 14-24 
xv. 1-3, 5-18 
xvii. 3-10 
xviii. 1-10, 13, 14 
xviii. 16-33 
xix. 15-26 
xxi. 9-21 
xxii. 1-14 
xxiii. . 
xxiv. 29-49 
xxiv. 50-67 
xxvii. 6, 7, 9, 10. 
xxvii. 30-45 
xxviii. 10-22 
xxix. 1-20 . 
xxxii. 9-12, 24-3 
xxxv. 1-15 . 
xxxvii. 5-22 
xxxvii. 23-36 
xl. 1-23 
xii. 14-36 
xii. 39-49, 53-5 
xlii. 1-20 
xlii. 21-38 
xliii. 26-34 
xliv. 1-13 
xliv. 14-34 
xlv. 1-15 
xlvii. 1-12 
xlix. 33 
1. 1-3, 7-10, 12-26 



PAGE. 

17 
3 
3 

36 

37 

53 

54 

55 

56 

57 

58 

92 

93 

94 

95 

96 

97 

116 

117 

118 

119 

159 

161 

163 

164 

165 

196 

197 

198 

199 

200 

201 

211 

212 

213 

214 

215 

216 

227 

22S 

228 

229 

230 

231 

232 

232 



Exodus. 

i. 6-12, 22 

ii. 1-10 

ii. 11-25 

iii. 1-15 

iv. 1-14 

v. 1-18 

xi. 1-10 

xii. 21-34 

xiv. 15-31 

xv. 1-14, 16-19 

xv. 22-27 

xvi. 2-8 

xvi. 9-25 

xvii. 1-13 

xix. 1, 3-13, 10-20 

xx. 1-17 

xxiii. 14-17 

xxiv. 3-18 

xxxii. 1-14 

xxxii. 15, 16, 19, 20, 26-35 

xxxiii. 7-23 

xxxiv. 1, 2, 4-9, 28-35 

Leviticus. 
viii. 1-15 

xix. 1-5, 9-18, 32-37 . 
xxv. 1-17 
xxvi. 1-17 . 



Numbers. 
x. 29-36 

xiii. 17-20, 23-33 
xiv. 1-4 

xiv. 11-26, 28, 29 . 
xxi. 1-9 
xxiv. 15-19 . 

Deuteronomy. 
viii. 1-14, 17-20 
x. 1-5, 12-22 
xi. 1 . 
xi. 8-21 
xxiii. 24-25 . 
xxiv. 10-13 . 
xxviii. 58-68 
xxx. 1-10, 17-20 



PAGE. 

244 
244 
245 
246 
247 
248 
259 
249 
261 
262 
264 
264 
265 

41 

81 
267 

40 
270 
271 
272 

33 
273 



281 
283 
285 
426 



446 
294 
294 
295 
296 
413 



435 
299 
299 
300 

50 
304 

15 
427 



523 



524 


INDEX. 


Deuteronomy. 


PAGE. 


Job. page. 






iv. 12-21 306 


xxxiv. 1-7, 10-12 


. 301 


vii. 1-4, 6-10, 13-16, 20, 21 
ix. 1-15 .... 










. 449 
. 403 


Joshua. 




xiv. 1, 2, 5-12, 14, 18, 19-22 










. 414 


i. 1-6 ... . . 


. ' . . 430 


xix. 25 .... 










. 450 


iii. 5-17 ..... 


307 


xxviii. 12-23, 28 . 










. 349 


vii. 10, 13-26 .... 


. 308 


xxix. 1-5, 11-16 . 










. 393 


viii. 1-4, 28-35 . ... 


. ' . .309 


xxxi. 13, 14, 16, 17, 19-22, 24-2S 








383 


xxi. 43-45 


430 


xxxviii. 1-4, 7, 31-33 . 








71 


xxiii. 1-9 ..... 


425 




xxiv. 22-25 


. 425 


Psalms. 

i 83 


Judges. 




ii. ... 














25 


v. 1, 2, 4 7, 19 31 


. 31S 


iii. 














90 


vii. 2 7, 16-21, 22 


. 319 


iv. , 














90 


xvi. IS 30 


320 


viii. 
xi. 














71 

208 


Ruth. 




xii. 














208 






xiv. 1-7 














255 


ii. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8-17 .... 


. 332 


xv. 1-5 
xvi. 














29 
186 


1 Samuel. 




xvii. 5-9, 14, 15 . 














186 


ii. 1, 2, 6-10 .... 


38 


xix. 














49 


iii. 1-19 


. 340 


xx. 1-9 














194 


xii. 1-5, 8-15 .... 


. ■ . 341 


xxii. 1, 2, 7, 8, 11-19, 


22-31 












241 


xv. 22-30 


. 342 


xxiii. . 














32 


xvi. 10-13 


32 


xxiv. . 














176 


xvii. 34-37 


32 


xxv. 8-14 














167 


xvii. 3S-52 


. 343 


xxvii. 4-14 . 














418 


xxviii. 7, 8, 11-23 


344 


xxx. 2-5, 7, 8, 10-12 
xxxi. 1-7, 23, 24 . 














252 
287 


2 Samuel. 




xxxii. 1-5, 7 














182 . 


v. 1-12 


. 35S 


xxxiv. 1-9, 16, 18 














296 


vi. 6-12 


. 438 


xxxvi. 1-11 . 














417 


xii. 15-23 


. 444 


xxxvii. 1-11, 23, 24 














280 


xviii. 9-12, 14, 17, 24-_u, 20, 31-33 


359 


xxxvii. 32-40 
xxxix. 4-7, 9-13 . 














255 
323 


1 Kings. 




xxxix. 4, 5 . 














444 


iii. 1-15 


. 360 


xl. 6-11 














168 


viii. 22-24, 27-30, 54-01 


. 301 


xlii. 1-8, 11 . 














364 


xvii. 1-16 


374 


xliv. 1-8 . 














434 


xviii. 25-40 ..... 


. 375 


xiv. . 














121 


xix. 4-14 


. 376 


xlviii. 1-5, 7-14 . 














218 


xix. 15-21 


. 314 


xlix. 6-7, 10-14 . 














95 


2 Kings. 

ii. 8-12 

iv. 8-17 

iv. 18-21, 32-37 .... 

v. 1-14 

vii. 1, 2 


377 
. 439 
. 140 
. 387 
. 131 


1. 16-22 

li. ... 
Iv. 1-8, 16, 17, 22 
lvii. 1-3, 7-11 
lxi. 17-21 . 
Ixii. 1-12 . 
Ixiii. . 














136 
335 
191 
250 
449 
371 
371 


Neiiemiah. 




Ixiii. 1-S . 
Ixiv. 1-4, 10 
lxv 














370 
126 
433 


Esther. 




Ixvii. .... 














433 


vii. 1-10 


. 411 


lxviii. 15-20 . . . 














257 


viii. 15-17 ..... 


411 


lxxi. 1-5, 9-12, 16 
lxxi. 17-24 . 














127 
354 


Job. 




Ixxii. .... 














145 


i. 1-5, 13-22 .... 


. . . .293 


Ixxiii. 12-14, 16-20, 25 


26 . 












352 


i. 6-12 


. 128 ■ 


lxxviii. 18-21 . 














42 






lxxviii. 1-7, 13-16 














434 




♦ 



INDEX. 



525 



PSALMS. 

Ixxviii. 22-35 

Ixxx. 1-7 . 

Ixxxi. 11-16 

lxxxiv. 

Ixxxvii. 

xo. 

xc. 5, 6 

xci. 1-K3 

xoii. 1-4, 12-15 

xciii. . 

xciv. 12-14 

xcv. 

xovi. . 

xcvii. . 

xcviii. . 

ci. 

cii. 1, 6-8 

ciii. 

ciii. 17, 18 

civ. 1-9 

cv. 

cvii. 21-30 

ex. 

cxi. 1-5 

cxii. 

cxiii. . 

cxiv. 1-8 

cxiv. 14-21 

cxv. 

cxvi. . 

cxviii. 22-29 

cxix. 40-45 

cxix. 57-60, 63, 6 

cxx. 1-7 

exxi. . 

exxii. . 

exxiii. 1-3 

exxvi. 5, 

exxvii. 

exxvii. 1, 2 

exxviii. 

exxxi. . 

exxxii. 1-8, 13-16 

exxxiii. 1-3 

exxxiv. 1 

exxxvi. 1, 4-15 

exxxvii. 

exxxviii. 

exxxix. 1-12, 14-18, 23 

cxli. 

cxliv. 9-15 . 

cxlvi. 5-10 . 

exlvii. 1-6, 11, 12 

cxlviii. 



Proverbs. 

i. 20-33 . . 

iv. 14, 15, 20-27 . 

viii. 22, 23, 30-36 

ix. 1-6 ... 

X. 11-13, 18-21, 23, 31, 32 

xvi. 16-22, 25 



RAGE. 
134 
390 

75 
364 
218 
423 
444 
424 
447 

55 
CG2 
313 
395 
395 
176 
431 
407 
392 
440 

56 

93 
239 
137 
369 
394 
234 
416 

68 
106 
380 
210 

84 
139 
302 
8, 446 
430 
311 
207 
106 
207 
117 
SO, 176 
292 
162 
162 
263 
279 
234 
6 
303 
438 
193 
346 
431 



45 
133 
312 

51 
277 



Proverbs. 

xxi. 8-10, 19, 23, 24 . 
xxii. 1, 2, 4, 16. 22, 23 
xxiv. 11, 12, 17-20, 28, 
xxxi. 10-31 



ECCLESIASTES. 
V. 1, 2, 4 

v. 10-16 
viii. 2-5 



RAGE. 

. 159 

03 

46 

345 



Isaiah. 
i. 11-18 
iv.' 2-6 . 
v. 1-7 . 
ix. 1-8 . 
xi. 6 
xi. 1-10 
xii. 1-6 
xxv. 1,4-9 
xxviii. 14-18 
xxxii. 1,2,14-20 
xxxv. 1-6 
xl. 1-8 . 
xl. 9-17 
xl. 18-31 
xlii. 1-12, 16 
xliv. 3, 4 
1. 6-10. 
lii. 

liii. . 
lix. 1, 2, 14- 
lx. 1-14 
lx. 15-22 
Ixi. 1-3 
Ixii. 1-7 
lxiii. 1-14 



Jeremiah. . 
xii. 22-28 
xvii. 5-11 
xxiii. 24-29 
xxxi. 15-17 
xxxiii. 7-11 
1. 29-34 



EZEKIEL. 

i. 26-28 

viii. 1-4 

xiv. 12-14, 19, 20 

xvii. 22-24 . 

xviii. 1-4, 19-23 

xxxiii. 6-9 . 

xxxiv. 1-4, 8-10 

Daxiel. 

iv. 30-33 

v. 17-31 

vi. 4-11, 15-23 

ix. 21, 22, 25-27 

xii. 2, 3 



Hosea. 
vi. 1- 



47 
357 
278 



156 
154 
366 
110 
444 
111 
189 
258 
256 
154 
205 
414 
313 
177 

12 
440 
242 
192 
101 
416 
290 
122 

43 
419 
402 



372 
83 
70 
415 
181 
279 



322 
54 
173 
174 
235 
347 



92 
389 
404 
243 

89 



386 



526 



INDEX. 



Joel. page. 

ii. 28-32 11 

iii. 14-20 305 

Jonah. 

ii. 1-7 204 

iii. 3-10 143 

MlCAH. 

iv. 1-7 305 

Habakkutc. 

iii. 17-19 379 

Zechabiah. 

viii. 3-6 439 

xiii. 1, 6, 7 105 

xiv. 6, 7, 20 122 

Malachi. 

iii. 1-5. 31 

iv. 1-5 28 



Matthew. 
ii. 1-12 
ii. 13-23 
iii. 1-12 
iv. 1-11 
iv. 18-25 
v. 1-12 
v. 13-24 
v. 29-37 
v. 38-48 
vi. 1-8, 16-18 
vi. 19-34 
vii. 1-12 
vii. 13-29 
ix. 27-38 
x. 16-22, 37- 
x. 24-33 
xi. 1-19 
xi. 20-30 
xii. 22-30 
xii. 31-37 
xii. 38-50 
xiii. 24-30, ; 
xiii. 44-58 
xiv. 22-33 
xv. 21-31 
xvi. 1-12 
xvi. 13-20 
xvi. 21-27 
xviii. 1-4 
xviii. 5-14 
xviii. 15-22 
xviii. 23-35 
xix. 4-6 
xx. 1-16 
xxiii. 1-12 
xxiii. 13-28 
xxiii. 29-33, 
xxiv. 1-22 
xxiv. 23-35 



-43 



413 

415 

27 

326 

314 
43 
44 
45 

40 
47 



125 
126 
127 
142 
143 
155 
156 
203 
187 
188 
204 
205 
275 
276 
277 
440 
302 
303 
304 
437 
339 
347 
348 
391 
396 
397 



Matth£w. 

xxiv. 36-51 . 
xxv. 1-13 . 
xxv. 14-30 . 
xxv. 31-46 . 
xxvi. 36-47 . 
xxvi. 47-58, 69- 



Makk. 

i. 21-34 

i. 35-45 

ii. 1-12. 

ii. 13-22 

ii. 23-28 

iii. 1-6 . 

iv. 1-9, 14-2 

iv. 26-34 

iv. 35-41 

v. 1-20 . 
V. 22-24, 35, 
v. 25-34 
vi. 1-13. 
vi. 14-29 
vii. 1-16 
viii. 31-38 
ix. 14-29 
x. 13-16 
x. 35-52 
xi. 12-14, 21 
xii. 1-12 
xii. 13-27 
xii. 28-37, 41 
xiv. 22-27 
xiv. 55-65 

Luke. 

ii. 1, 3-5, 7-20 
ii. 22, 24-38 
ii. 25-35 
ii. 40-52 
iv. 16-32 
vii. 1-10 
vii. 11-17 
vii. 36-50 
ix. 28-36 
ix. 51-62 
x. 1-16 
x. 17-24 
x. 25-37 
xi. 5-13 
xi. 37-46 
xii. 1-9. 
xii. 13-21, 3 
xii. 49-59 
xiii. 1-9 
xiii. 23-35 
xiv. 1-14 
xiv. 15-24 
xv. 1-10 
xv. 11-32 
xvi. 1-15 
xvi. 19-31 
xvii. 1-10 



PAGE. 
398 
419 
400 
401 
102 
406 



40 



INDEX. 



527 



Luke. 

xvii. 11-19 
xvii. 20-37 
xix. 1-10 
xix. 11-27 
xxii. 1-16 
xxii. 24-38 
xxiii. 26-43 
xxiii. 44-56 
xxiv. 13-32 
xxiv. 36-49 

John. 

i. 1-18 . 
i. 19-28 
i. 29-42 
i. 43-51 

. ii. 1-11 . 
ii. 13-25 
iii. 1-21 
iii. 25-36 
iv. 1-15 
iv. 16-30 
iv. 31-42 
. iv. 43-54 
v. 1-15 . 
v. 16-29 
v. 30-47 
vi. 1-14 
vi. 22-36 
vi. 37-47 
vi. 48-58 
vi. 59-71 
vii. 14-31 
vii. 37-53 
viii. 12-29 
viii. 30-45 
viii. 46-59 
ix. 1-16 
ix. 24-41 
x. 1-18 . 
x. 19-42 
xi. 1-17 
xi. 18-37 
xi. 25, 26 
xi. 38-54 
xii. 1-19 
xii. 20-36 
xii. 37-48 
xiii. 1-17 
xiii. 18-35 
xiv. 1-14 
xiv. 15-31 
xv. 1-10 
xv. 11-27 
xvi. 1-20 
xvi. 23-33 
xvii. 1-13 
xvii. 14-26 
xviii. 28-40 
xix. 1-18 
xix. 19-30 
xx. 1-8. 11. 



l'AGE. 

380 
120 
383 
384 
98 
405 
103 
428 
2 
105 



153 

28 

5 

29 

30 

31 

209 

202 

64 

65 

66 

67 



91 
131 
132 

133 
134 
135 

82 
189 
166 
167 
168 
193 
195 
253 
254 
328 
329 
450 
330 
297 
298 
403 

99 
338 

34 
100 
366 
367 
368 
258 
S69 
370 
407 
408 
104 
429 



John. 

xx. 19-31 
xxi. 1-13 
xxi. 15-25 

Acts. 

i. 1-14 . 

i. 15-26 

ii. 37-47 

iii. 1-11 

iii. 12-26 

iv. 1-22 

iv. 23-37 

v. 1-16 . 

v. 17-32 

vii. 51-60 

viii. 5-25 

viii. 26-40 

ix. 1-18 

ix. 19-31 

ix. 32-43 

x. 1-18 

x. 34-48 

xii. 1-17 

xiii. 32-48 

xiv. 8-22 

xv. 5-21 

xvi. 13-24 

xvi. 25-40 

xvii. 16-19, 22-32 

xviii. 1-11 

xix. 

xx. 17-38 

xxii. 12-14, 16-30 

xxiii. 1-11 

xxv. 1-12 

xxvi. 19-32 

xxvii. 21-35, 38, 3 

xxviii. 1-15 . 

xxviii. 16-31 

Romans. 

i. 16-25, 28-32 
ii. 1-16 
iii. 10-31 
iv. 1-12, 20-25 
v. . 

vi. 1-23 
vii. 9-25 
viii. 1-13 
viii. 14-27 
viii. 28-39 
ix. 14-33 
x. 1-21 
xii. 14-21 
xiii. 

xiv. 1-17 
xv. 1-13 
xi. 22-36 



', 41- 



PAGE. 

18 
409 
410 



73 

136 

76 

77 

13 

22 

79 

80 

123 

19 

124 

20 

21 

22 

323 

169 

170 

171 

219 

220 

221 

222 

223 

233 

235 

237 

238 

286 

287 

288 

289 

315 

316 

317 



107 

35 

108 

109 

112 

321 

84 

85 

86 

67 

260 

14 

280 

278 

388 

394 

337 



1 Corinthians. 
i. 17-31 
ii. 



9 
206 



528 



INDEX. 



1 Corinthians. 

iii. 5-15 
x. 1-15 
x. 16-33 
xi. 23-34 
xii. 12-31 
xiii. 
xv. 

xv. 20-38 
xv. 39-58 

2 Corinthians. 

i. 1-14 . 
iii. 

iv. 6-18 
v. 1-10 . 
v. 11-21 
vi. 1-18 
xii. 1-10 

Galatians. 
ii. 15-21 
iii. 16-29 
iv. 1-11, 21-26, 2? 
v. 1-6, 13-26 
vi. 

Ephesians. 

i. 1-14 . 
i. 15-23 
ii. 1-7 . 
ii. 8-21 . 
iii. 8-21 
iv. 17-32 
v. 23-33 
vi. 1-20 

Philippians. 
i. 12-30 
ii. 1-11 

iii. 1-14, 20, 21 
iv. 1-13 



1 Thessaloniaxs. 
iv. 13-18 
v. 1-10 . 

v. 12-28 



PAGE. 

207 
42 
3S1 
266 
310 
129 
113 
114 
115 

448 
274 
250 
306 
291 
236 
322 



336 
116 
160 
8S2 
399 



184 
185 
185 
210 
257 
324 
437 
325 



23 

130 
379 
158 



451 
451 
418 



2 Thessalonians. 
i. 1-12 . 



1 Timothy. 

ii. 8-14 . 



vi. 6-21 



2 Timothy. 
i. 1-15 . 
ii. 1-15 . 

iv. 1-8, 16-18 

Hebrews. 
i. 1-14 . 
ii. 18-16 



346 



345 
226 
152 



417 

24 



Hebrews. page. 

iii 144 

iv. 1-16 327 

vi 178 

vii. 17-28 138 

viii 146 

ix. 1-14 . 147 

ix. 15-28 148 

x. 1-18 149 

X. 19-31, 35-39 150 

xi. 1-10, 12-16 10 

xi. 17, 19-30, 32-40 217 

xii. 1-13 362 

xii. 14-29 268 

xiii. 1-3, 5-21 282 



James. 

i. 1-21 . 
i. 22-27 
ii. 1-13 . 
ii. 14-26 
iii. 

iv. 1-17 
v. 1-20 . 



Jude. 

6, 7, 17-21 

Revelation. 
i. 4-8 . 
iii. 1-13 
iii. 14-22 
v. 9-14 . 
vi. 12-17 
xii. 7-12 
xiv. 13-16 
xv. 1-4, 7, 8 
xix. 7-9 
xix. 11-16 
xx. 11-15 
xxi. 1-8 



H 

62 

63 

62 

157 

284 

m 



1 Peter. 

i. 3-12 243 

i. 13-25 355 

ii. 1-12 ... 256 

ii. 13-25 390 

iii. 8-22 224 

iv. 1-19 363 

v ,. 194 

2 Peter. 

i. 1-21 353 

ii. 4-9 53 

iii 59 

1 John. 

i. 1-3, 6-10 135 

iv. 7-21 .162 

v. 9-13, 20 202 



119 



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386 
130 
291 
155 
187 
263 
437 
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